Leigh Hart is following in Richie McCaw's footsteps and doing the right thing. Photo / Greg Bowker
Leigh Hart is following in Richie McCaw's footsteps and doing the right thing. Photo / Greg Bowker
Those of you who have seen me walking my dog, or getting carried out of a taxi in the early hours of the morning, will know that I live just metres from Eden Park.
In the past I have written about my plans to rent my house out to high-paying foreign nationals so I can grow rich during this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Lately, there has been a slight change of plan. Rather than kicking out my wife and young family and renting their secure and comfortable family home for quick cash during the Cup, I have decided to do what's right.
Inspired a little, perhaps, by Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, who have shunned the big bucks in favour of doing what's right for themselves and their loved ones, I am no longer renting my home out for big dollars. Instead, I will still be kicking the family out - but running a World Cup TV show from the house instead. A real extravaganza.
The close proximity to the action will allow me to provide never-before-seen coverage of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
and will air throughout the Cup. It will have a slight international focus, hence the name, which I believe is very poor Spanish translation for Rugby World.
From the comfort of my lounge, my team and I will conduct fire-side interviews with all the top names, and plenty of people you have never even heard of.
The show will strive for in-depth, uninterrupted discussion, stopping only when, the referee blows his whistle for kick-off, or if my wife and the kids pop in to pick up clothing, toys, or other necessary items to take back to the hostel in which they are staying for the bulk of the Cup.
I can assure viewers these interruptions will be far less likely from the quarter-finals onwards, as they will be going to Westport to stay with family.
Our close proximity to the action means our sausage-sizzling reporters need only open the front gate to get "the word on the street" or, what we call in the industry, "vox pops" from the people.
Some of these fans may be asked into the garage briefly, to enjoy the sponsored fan-zone complete with big screen TV, makeshift bar and the company of celebrities, friends of friends and attractive promo girls.
Just behind the garage is the spa pool where we do more relaxed sponsored interviews with top guests.
The show will go the extra distance to let you know exactly what's happening in the Cup at all times. Once we move the trampoline back towards the tree-house we have the tactics zone, where former All Blacks demonstrate and explain things like the tackle laws and correct tackling position.
But it won't all be centred at Rugby Mundo headquarters. As I have done in the past, my team and I will attend the press conferences, training and rugby events around the country, keeping you up to date with the World Cup.
Some of you may recall I was banned from attending press conferences at a previous World Cup after a set of venetian blinds collapsed on me mid-conference. I can assure readers and viewers that won't be happening again but we will be asking the big questions.
Each show will have a party atmosphere. Forget the big plastic Waka or Party Central, Rugby Mundo will become rugby central and party central all rolled into one. As my grandfather always used to say: "If you are going to do something, it doesn't really matter if you do it right or wrong, but just make sure you have a good time doing it."
