Young fan yells for yellow

Rachel Raihania 9 of Taradale won a Hawke's Bay Today sponsored competition, Hurricane for a day.

Rachael Raihania looks "pretty good" in yellow.

But donning a jersey worn by her favourite high flying Super Rugby team is actually the least exciting part of her day.

The youngster gets to spend time meeting some of her on-field heroes - Hurricanes players she has backed from the couch since she was small.

Rachel, 9, was selected as the winner of a Hawke's Bay Today sponsored competition for one lucky kid to become a 'Hurricane For a Day'.

Her prize? An opportunity to run the match ball out to the centre of McLean Park for Friday's clash against the Highlanders; tickets to the game for her family, and an opportunity to join the Hurricanes closed captain's run with nine friends.

It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for the girl who hailed from the windy city.

"She played rippa rugby when we were living in Wellington, she still loves watching rugby on TV, I guess that's my fault," her father Francis Raihania says.

"She's quite a social girl in any sport that she plays, she loves meeting her team mates."

Rachel had no idea her dad had entered the competition and was overjoyed when he picked her up from school and broke the news yesterday.

"He just said I entered you in a comp and you won, I was like 'oh my gosh'," she said. "I like watching rugby, I like watching the team score cool tries."

The young fan would be "too excited" to sleep as she awaited the game and a chance to get up close to player Victor Vito.

The popular competition attracted nearly 200 entries via email.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for any young rugby fan to be part of the team for a day," Hawke's Bay Today editor Andrew Austin said.

"We had a great response and I know Rachel and her family will enjoy the action at tomorrow's game."

Rugby fans are in for a big night with the Hurricanes effectively a 'home' side for the Bay, emerging as the top team and a genuine contender for the Super 15 title.

Eleven thousand seat tickets were sold for the match starting 7.35pm tomorrow, Hawke's Bay Rugby Union commercial manager Jay Campbell said.

"Sales are going extremely well ... but we have still got plenty left and we just encourage people to come along, the weather gods look like they are going to play ball for us."

The ideal candidate was a passionate rugby fan, more precisely a passionate Hurricanes fan, he added.

"This is a money can't buy experience, she gets to be at the captain's run and bring nine friends to the closed captain's run, mix and mingle with the players, get some autographs and run the ball onto the field."