Prized NRL clash could be goer in Bay

Wayne Jack says the council is working hard on getting an NRL game here. Photo / Glenn Taylor

An NRL rugby league game may be played in Napier next year.

The possibility was confirmed yesterday to Hawke's Bay Today by Napier City Council chief executive Wayne Jack, who said: "We're working very hard on getting an NRL game here within 12 months."

Mr Jack was unable to reveal which teams could play in the match, planned for McLean Park.

"With any major sports event, a lot of forward planning is necessary, and there is a lot of competition between cities, including cities in Australia," he said.

Discussions were also "under way" relating to other events the council was targeting for Napier and the park, including a proposal for a "drop-in" cricket pitch which would enable games to be staged earlier in summer.

New Zealand Cricket was "very excited", he said, particularly because of Napier's reliable climate.

Mr Jack said apart from the economic benefits of big events, there were also big gains in social development.

Hawke's Bay is also set to stage the international between the All Blacks and Argentina on September 6. Only about 2,300 tickets remain available for the test, with more than 20,000 sold.

The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's commercial manager, Jay Campbell, believes that once people see how fantastic the view is from the new seating, the last tickets will be snapped up.

Additional seating of 9,500 is being built on the embankment especially for the All Blacks' match, which will take the ground's capacity to just over 22,500.

• For more information on tickets, visit hbrugby.co.nz.