Rugby: Chiefs want record crowd to spur them on

The Chiefs hope a record crowd will pack into Taupo's Owen Delany Park on Saturday night to cheer them to a home victory over the high-flying Sharks.

Chiefs marketing manager Pat Mellsop said a crowd of about 17,000 was expected at the Easter Saturday night clash in Taupo.

That would easily eclipse the previous ground record of 12,000 achieved when the 1994 touring South African side took on King Country.

The Chiefs have only played one match in Taupo during the five years of Super 12 when they faced the Otago Highlanders in 1997. A crowd of 10,000 attended that match.

Grandstand and uncovered seating totalling about 1600 seats, have already sold out but Mellsop said there were plenty of the limited 15,000 ground admission tickets remaining.

As of this morning just over 5000 tickets had been sold for the clash.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)