Fan-friendly walk down 'Rugby Road'

Phil Keoghan will lead the walk to the Bledisloe Cup test in Christchurch tonight. Photo / Simon Baker

Germany has its Fan Miles, and now New Zealand has its Rugby Road.

When the All Blacks face Australia in Christchurch tonight, rugby fans will get their first taste of the innovation ahead at next year's Rugby World Cup.

Roads will be closed to form a 2km pedestrian route from central Christchurch to the match venue, AMI Stadium, with attractions along the way.

Auckland City is looking at having its own themed walking routes from downtown to Eden Park for next year's tournament, after a study found up to 5000 pedestrians would have to walk to and from the park, as rail, buses and taxis would be at capacity.

The walking routes follow in the tradition of large pedestrian-friendly areas such as the Fan Miles in Germany during the 2006 Football World Cup, where millions gathered to watch matches on large screens.

Phil Keoghan, the former Cantabrian who hosts the reality television programme, The Amazing Race, will lead people in a mass walk along Christchurch's Rugby Road to AMI Stadium.

"(I am) very excited about being there, and going back to the ground," he told the Weekend Herald."

"I have quite a bit of history with [AMI Stadium] - having worked in television, dragging cables up and down the field during rugby matches, and having worked at cricket matches as well."

The seven-time Emmy award winner is taking his family, including his Australian-born wife and her Australian relatives, with him to tonight's rugby test.

The match had created plenty of family rivalry," said the Los Angeles-based presenter.

"I'm a big fan of rugby. Unfortunately in the States there's not a lot of it. I have to keep up to date online. Occasionally I go down to one of the local English pubs or something like that if there is a big match on - at some crazy hour of the morning we'll sit and watch a match."

Christchurch mayor Bob Parker said the walk down Rugby Road was a great opportunity for locals and visitors to get together and celebrate the spirit of rugby.

"Meeting and walking together to the game is something that we will be encouraging for all the big international games coming up in the future."