Dressed for their part as Cup hosts

Team Wairarapa has its uniform and is all set for the Rugby World Cup.

No, we didn't qualify to compete - something about not being a nation state - but a 24-strong team is participating as volunteers.

Managed through Destination Wairarapa and the Information Centre, the team will be responsible for welcoming the Georgian rugby team.

Members are responsible for tasks including transport, hosting related to accommodation, and getting the team to and from the training venue.

Catherine Rossiter-Stead said the team would also be preparing ahead of time for the guests' arrival, and there are likely to be "transient visitors, on the move between games".

Volunteers were impressed with their new teal uniforms.

Liz Cheetham said when she saw Michael Jones on TV asking for volunteers, she thought that would be a good idea.

Mrs Cheetham said her family had always been into rugby and as a child she had "set off to Athletic Park with my father and grandfather for the big games".

"I also thought it would be good to be involved in promoting the region [Wairarapa] and to be part of the team."

Ferne Cheetham, Mrs Cheetham's daughter, said she had seen the Rugby World Cup advertising on the internet and wanted to be part of things.

Asked for their favourite players the pair are quick to defer to their guests, "the Georgian rugby team", being particularly intrigued by Marmuke Gorgodze, who has been described as a "man mountain".

 

Timetable

Officially the Georgian team arrive in Masterton on Monday, September 19, and leave on September 24.

In the first two days they will be hosted at a marae, enjoy a mayoral lunch and taste an evening meal with a local family, while on Wednesday, September 25, they will see sheep shearers in action.

A highlight for Masterton will be the big Welcome Parade on the afternoon of Thursday, September 26, and the team will have open training sessions on Friday, from 3pm to 5pm, and Saturday, from 10am to noon.

Georgia is set to play Scotland in Invercargill on September 14, arch-rivals Romania in Palmerston North on September 28 and Argentina in Palmerston North on October 2