Rejoicing pair return from Rugby World Cup game to find hut ablaze

France's Julien Bonnaire in action against England. Photo / Richard Robinson

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Jubilation at France's win in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals turned to despair for a young French couple, who returned to their Wairarapa accommodation to find it ablaze on Saturday night.

Joel Cadier, 27, and Rozenn Salaun, 26, had been watching the French win over England at the Horse and Hound in Masterton and returned home to discover the hut they had been staying in, tucked in the foothills of the Tararua Range, was on fire.

The couple raised the alarm but the hut was beyond saving, despite the efforts of Masterton and Carterton firefighters.

The building was destroyed and the couple lost clothing, computers, cameras and many photos taken during their stay in this country and in New Caledonia.

Fortunately, the experienced travellers, who are in Wairarapa as part of the Willing Workers on Organic Farms scheme, had their passports and wallets with them.

"We came home happy with the victory only to see the hut on fire and all we could do was raise the alarm," Mr Cadier said.

Bolly and Gerlinde Bolliger, who are hosting the couple, were asleep and emerged from their home to find the sky red with flames.

For Bolly, the loss of the hut that he built 21 years ago was a blow, especially as he had toiled away digging into the embankment to allow for it to be built.

But he was thankful no one was inside the cabin when the fire broke out.

Fire crews managed to stop the flames from spreading into stands of young spruce trees and Japanese cedar growing at the back of the hut.

The Fire Service said the blaze could be attributed to the wood range that heated the hut.

The couple had the fire going during the day and were satisfied it was quite safe when they left the hut about 6pm.

But the setback hadn't changed their attitude to Wairarapa and they planned to stay on for another month - time enough to find out whether their beloved French rugby team could march on to victory in the World Cup.