Public demand brings back afternoon NPC games

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

Three of Auckland's NPC home games this season will be played during the afternoon.

Auckland Rugby Union chief executive David White said yesterday that the move was in response to demands from a large number of fans.

As a result, he approached the New Zealand union in an effort to have more home games played in the daytime.

Auckland's day games will be against Taranaki on August 17, Bay of Plenty on September 8 and Otago on October 5.

All will kick off at 2.35 pm.

The home game against North Harbour on August 31 will kick off at 5.35 pm.

Auckland also meet Canterbury in a Friday night home match on September 20, starting at 7.35.

"Since I have been here in the last year it has become obvious that we need to provide more afternoon games," White said.

"I am really delighted that the NZRFU has assisted and we have been able to give the fans what they want.

"It means that children and the older fans will get home at a reasonable hour."

White said that the NPC did not have an impact on the club rugby competition because it had ended by then.

This enabled the union to make the changes, "whereas the Super 12 does have an impact and that meant we had to stay with the night games".

Auckland have four away games, against Northland on August 23 (7.35 pm), Southland on September 14 (5.35 pm), Waikato on September 28 (2.35 pm) and Wellington on October 11 (7.35 pm).

Other fixtures:

Bay of Plenty: Aug 17, v North Harbour (a) 7.35 pm; Aug 24, v Canterbury (h) 5.35 pm; Sep 1, v Otago (h) venue to be confirmed 2.35 pm; Sep 8, v Auckland (a) 2.35 pm; Sep 15, v Taranaki (a) 2.35 pm; Sep 21, v Southland (h) vtbc 2.35 pm; Sep 28, v Northland (a) 5.35 pm; Oct 6, v Wellington (h) vtbc 2.35 pm; Oct 12, v Waikato (h) vtbc 5.35 pm.

North Harbour: Aug 17, v Bay of Plenty (h) 7.35 pm; Aug 25, v Waikato (a) 2.35 pm; Aug 31, v Auckland (a) 5.35 pm; Sep 7, v Wellington (h) 5.35 pm; Sep 14, v Otago (h) 2.35 pm; Sep 21, v Northland (a) 7.35 pm; Sep 28, v Canterbury (a) 7.35 pm; Oct 5, v Southland (h) 7.35 pm; Oct 12, v Taranaki (a) 2.35 pm.

Northland: Aug 17, v Otago (a) 5.35 pm; Aug 23, v Auckland (h) 7.35 pm; Aug 30, v Wellington (a) 7.35 pm. Sep 6, v Taranaki (h) 7.35 pm; Sep 13, v Canterbury (a) 7.35 pm; Sep 21, v North Harbour (h) 7.35 pm; Sep 28, v Bay of Plenty (h) 5.35 pm; Oct 5, v Waikato (a) 5.35 pm; Oct 13, v Southland (a) 2.35 pm.

Waikato: Aug 18, v Southland (h) 2.35 pm; Aug 25, v North Harbour (h) 2.35 pm; Aug 31, v Taranaki (a) 2.35 pm; Sep 7, v Canterbury (h) 2.35 pm; Sep 14, v Wellington (a) 7.35 pm; Sep 21, v Otago (a) 5.35 pm; Sep 28, v Auckland (h) 2.35 pm; Oct 5, v Northland (h) 5.35 pm. Oct 12, v Bay of Plenty (a) vtbc 5.35 pm.