MP wants rethink over RWC beer plans

Jim Anderton fears that opponents of the All Blacks could be forced to avoid a hailstorm of beer cans. Photo / Getty Images

Progressive MP Jim Anderton wants the decision to sell canned beer at all 13 stadiums at next year's Rugby World Cup to be reconsidered.

He fears New Zealand's international reputation could suffer a monumental hangover if boozy fans use canned beer as missiles and cause disruption in front of a worldwide audience.

Mr Anderton says saving a million dollars by not putting a pouring system into the stadium is not worth the risk. He says the Government should act to fix the situation immediately.

"I've just got this nightmare of the All Blacks in a final with a team the crowd don't like - and it starts hurling cans. You know that';s going to wing its way around five or six hundred million people all over the world."

The second match of rugby league's 1988 State of Origin series is still remembered for the hailstorm of canned beer which rained onto the Lang Park - now Suncorp Stadium - turf in Brisbane after local hero Wally Lewis was sinbinned against for an infraction against New South Wales.

Players, officials and sideline media covered their heads and ducked for safety as cans were hurled at the referee and NSW team by rowdy Queensland supporters.

Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully earlier told Radio New Zealand that arranging tap beer facilities would have been costly for nine of the 13 stadia which didn't already have such facilities.

Mr Anderton says the Government is putting the needs of Heineken, a principal sponsor of the tournament, ahead of New Zealand's image.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZ HERALD ONLINE