Crusaders fan hits the jackpot after winning $25,000

Name: Watch: Rugby dig leads to windfall
Uploaded: 2016-07-16T19:36:20+12:00
Duration: 90 s
Description: A night out at Christchurch’s AMI Stadium for Saturday’s Crusaders/Hurricanes Super Rugby clash made one lucky fan $25,000 richer after winning the myhometurf competition. Fans entered the competition by staking a claim to one of 15,000 pieces of AMI Stadium turf; with the cash buried under one of the patches.

NZ Herald

16 Jul, 2016 08:28 PM2 mins to read

A night out at Christchurch’s AMI Stadium for Saturday’s Crusaders/Hurricanes Super Rugby clash made one lucky fan $25,000 richer after winning the myhometurf competition. Fans entered the competition by staking a claim to one of 15,000 pieces of AMI Stadium turf; with the cash buried under one of the patches.

Crusaders fans may be hurting tonight but one Christchurch man will be counting his lucky stars after winning $25,000 cash at the game.

Crusaders sponsor BNZ hid a briefcase with the cash under the AMI Station turf prior to tonight's game against the Hurricanes. Fans had to pick one of the 15,000 pieces of turf online in the past few weeks to be in to win.

BNZ did the promotion as Crusaders have won on their home turf more than any other Super Rugby team.

Ironically, the team were smashed 35-10 by the Hurricanes tonight.

BNZ livestreamed the half-time event, which showed Crusaders player Marty McKenzie digging up the case.

Rhys Sinnott, of BNZ, said the cash was intended to be a reward for Crusaders supporters.

"The fans are so passionate and such a big part of the team's success, they definitely deserve a reward for themselves and their own home turf."

Wayne Pick, of Colenso BBDO which assisted BNZ with the promotion, said it was a fun way to leverage the bank's support for the Canterbury side.

"Not many fans ever get to step foot on the hallowed home turf, let alone take a shovel to it at half time.

"$25,000 is a lot of money and will make a really big difference to one lucky fan."