KEY POINTS:
It's February, so it must be the rugby season. In Wellington, the IRB Sevens tournament kicks off today, with the usual crowd of fervent fans dressed in strange outfits occupying strategic spots around the capital's Cake Tin.
Yesterday there was a parade through city streets. It started near, rather than at, Parliament after Sports Minister Trevor Mallard declared the forecourt a no-go zone for participants because the Fiji team is at the tournament.
The Government refuses to have anything to do with Fiji at an official level because of the military takeover in December.
However, the ban did little to dampen the excitement of supporters who cheered the Fijians and the other teams.
The 15-man game also kicks off today. Eden Park plays host tonight to the opening game in the 2007 Super 14 tournament, between the Blues and the Crusaders. Despite some absences due to the All Blacks' special conditioning programme, there will be enough up-and-comers to make things interesting.
Kick-off tonight is at 7.35pm, and organisers are expecting a crowd of 25,000 so plan to be at the park early.