The grandstand at Central Park in Waipukurau, in use during a Premier grade rugby match in June. Photo / File
The grandstand at Central Park in Waipukurau, in use during a Premier grade rugby match in June. Photo / File
A rugby field grandstand that is possibly the oldest in Hawke's Bay that's still in regular use is set for a spruce-up with a grant from major rugby sponsor Bunnings Warehouse.
The grandstand is at Waipukurau's Central Park, which is leased by the Central Hawke's Bay Rugby and Sports Clubthrough a trust and long-owned by the Central Hawke's Bay Rugby Sub-union.
Hawke's Bay Today was unable this week to clarify the age of the grandstand, but it was thought to be well over 75 years old.
The Central club is one of five rugby clubs nationwide which will receive $30,000 each in Bunnings Warehouse products and materials from the inaugural $300,000 Bunnings Rugby Assist fund, a grassroots project linked to the new partnership with the New Zealand Rugby Union.
The club has plans for its clubhouse and changing facilities (originally established by the Waipukurau HSOB club), as well as the wooden grandstand, which includes five changing rooms.
The facilities are used during all games at Central Park and also during such events as the Central Hawke's Bay A and P Show, each November.
The grandstand also gets regular use at the CHB A and P show. Photo / File
The Dannevirke Sports Club has also been granted $30,000, while 15 other clubs throughout the country have each been granted $10,000.
Central club member Jade Connelly, who applied on behalf of the club, which has more than 200 members, is ecstatic to have been successful and said the club "can't wait" to put the funds to good use and improve the community space for generations to come.
Club captain Logan McKay said the club has plans for what "we want to do" at the park, which includes relining and repainting the grandstand and upgrading the showers.
He said while it's not the club that owns the grandstand it does have an obligation to maintain it. Some work had been done by the area's Ross Shield primary schools tournament interests, an obligation around its hosting of the tournament by rotation, the last time being in 2018.
The grant would be the kick-start to realising the dreams of the club in protecting and improving the grandstand, and more support would be needed, McKay said.
New Zealand Rugby general manager Community Rugby, Steve Lancaster, said the response to Bunnings Rugby Assist had been "very positive", with applications lodged by a third of the almost-500 clubs in New Zealand.
"Selecting the successful clubs was especially difficult, not just because of the quantity but because all the clubs that entered were really worthy applicants. We're looking forward to seeing how the successful clubs bring their projects to life," said Lancaster.
Bunnings director New Zealand Ben Camire said: "The passion and dedication shown by the club volunteers and communities who applied for Bunnings Rugby Assist is really encouraging. They share our goal of helping to build grassroots rugby, which is at the heart of every community in this country."
Rugby clubs who missed out in 2021 will have another chance to apply for the Bunnings Rugby Assist next year.
