Crusaders honour fan killed in earthquake

Tania Cochrane and her daughter Kylie-Marie Cochrane with a photograph of their husband and father who was killed in the Christchurch earthquake. The photograph was signed by the Canterbury Crusaders rugby team. Photo / Alan Gibson

Tonight the Crusaders rugby team will be cheered on by a small but vocal group of supporters when they play an away game against the Chiefs in Mt Maunganui.

And it's unlikely any beer cans will rain down on the red and black fans - in fact, their tickets and trip have been paid for by the Tauranga City Council.

Fifty families who lost relatives in the Christchurch earthquake have been shouted a 10-day holiday in Tauranga by the council.

Tania Cochrane and her daughter Kylie-Marie will be in attendance, and earlier had a photograph of their husband and father Stephen signed by the Crusaders squad.

Mr Cochrane, a 43-year-old cabinet maker from Bromley, died at his workplace Classique Furniture in Waltham after a concrete block wall collapsed on him seconds after he shepherded colleagues to safety.

While the council paid for the families' airfares and match tickets, their accommodation was provided by billeting with Bay residents.