Tickets go on sale for Super rugby treat

FUN DAY: Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union chief executive officer Tony Hargood (left), Tui commercial manager Nick Rogers and events manager for the February 1 match, Rosie Broughton, at Memorial Park.

Tickets go on sale at 9am today for a rugby match expected to attract a capacity house to Masterton's Memorial Park early next year.

The pre-season fixture between two Super 15 franchises, the Hurricanes and the Blues, on February 1 is set to be a cracker. Both teams contain a number of high-profile players, including the Blues' latest recruit, rugby league star Benji Marshall, who could make his debut for the franchise in the match. Other big names acquired by the Blues for their 2014 campaign include All Blacks Ma'a Nonu, Tony Woodcock and Jerome Kaino, who will be looking to make his way back into the national side after a stint in Japan.

Wairarapa-Bush RFU chief executive Tony Hargood is excited about his union hosting what is being billed as an "entertaining, family day out".

"The Hurricanes and the Blues are two of Super Rugby's most passionate franchises and I suspect rugby fans will be in for a treat," Hargood said.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett is equally excited about taking the game to the provinces.

"We can't wait to take this pre-season game to Masterton. We know there's a strong rugby community up there, and it's the home of some of our most loyal fans, so to play this game in front of them will be exciting for everyone," he said. "I'm sure the support at Memorial Park will be huge, and that will give the team a big boost in our pre-season campaign.

"Playing the Blues will be a fantastic and entertaining match. They're fierce competitors and will certainly help prepare our team for another big season ahead."

Over the past four years the Hurricanes have played one of their pre-season fixtures at Mangatainoka, on a makeshift ground next to Tui Brewery, and relocating it to Memorial Park for 2014 is a temporary move.

Tui commercial manager Nick Rogers, who has championed the game, said the decision was made after consultation with Neil 'Skin' Symonds, the farmer who owns the land on which the Mangatainoka game has been played.

"Unfortunately Skin has health issues so we have made the decision to move this year's game to Masterton," Rogers said.

"This is a temporary move for 2014 and we look forward to returning the game to Mangatainoka in 2015 and then making it a biennial event. Skin's health and family take priority at this time."

While February's game will be a different experience to that of Mangatainoka, Tui, Wairarapa-Bush RFU and match-day sponsors are working hard to ensure the festivities are up to the usual high standard.

"We've always championed the idea of taking the big game to the heartland and there is no prouder rugby province than Wairarapa," Rogers said.

"There is fantastic history here and we expect the game will be embraced by everyone in the region, just as it has been embraced by rugby fans in and around Mangatainoka for the last four years."

Gates on match day will open at 12.30pm and the programme will begin at 1pm with three rugby sevens clashes including one with a surprise twist.

The Super Rugby game will kick-off at 3pm.

Tickets are available from Tui HQ and PGG Wrightson stores and Bottle-O stores in the lower North Island or via the website www.tui.co.nz. General admission will be $25 for adults and $15 for children aged up to 15 years.