Solidarity with the cyclone-hit citizens of Hawke’s Bay has seen the All Blacks seek to name their Rugby World Cup squad in Napier.
The 33-man squad for the tournament, which begins in France next month, will be announced at Pettigrew Green Arena on Monday at 5pm.
Traditionally squad announcements of this magnitude have taken place at New Zealand Rugby’s Wellington or Auckland offices, but this has not been your average year in Hawke’s Bay.
February’s cyclone left lasting physical, emotional scars and financial scars on the region and All Blacks coach Ian Foster says the team were very conscious of that.