Busy visit for 'Canes

Rugby

The Hurricanes Super 15 rugby squad will face a busy schedule in Masterton on Friday.

Three of their players will help serve breakfast at the Kids Kai Time promotion early that morning while their coaching staff will talk to local club and representative coaches over coffee and muffins at Solway Park.

The Wairarapa-Bush under-14 and under-16 teams from last season will then attend a training session at Memorial Park, starting about 9am.Hurricanes players will discuss with them the techniques required in each position.

Plans have also been made for as many as 12 of the Hurricanes squad to visit retirement homes and daycares in Masterton and Carterton and from 4.30pm to 5.30pm at Memorial Park the team will hold an open training session, at which spot prizes can be won. Autographs will be signed at the end of that session.

Friday evening will see the Hurricanes participate in the Stu Smith fundraiser at the Copthorne Hotel and Resort. Smith is a former Wairarapa-Bush representative who is battling motor neurone disease. Tickets for this function sold out last week.

Saturday will also be a big day for the Hurricanes, who will travel to Mangatainoka to take on defending Super 15 champions Chiefs in a pre-season fixture expected to draw a capacity crowd of about 8000 people.