Prepare for a sea of red-clad Tongan fans when the All Blacks play the island nation’s national rugby team at FMG Stadium Waikato next September.
The one-off game will be the All Blacks’ first outing in Hamilton since 2016, and act as a farewell for both teams ahead of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
Members of Hamilton’s Tongan community say there’ll be plenty of singing, dancing and energy brought to the stadium by their countrymen.
Hamilton-based Tongan Clive Bourne says regardless of the final score, the city and community come out as winners – particularly with past and present All Blacks having Tongan lineage or family.
“It is a great thing for rugby, to have everyone cheer for the spirit of rugby, and the spirit of Polynesia,” Mr Bourne says.
“It does not matter, as long as we play and enjoy. It is the spirit of living and enjoying life, that is the Tongan way.”
“There’ll be lots of kava drinking and the cooking of pigs in celebration, even after the game, no matter what the score.”
Mayor Andrew King anticipated a sell-out, given the large Tongan community in South Auckland, as well as locally – and particularly given the popularity of Hamilton’s two Rugby League World Cup 2017 games featuring Tonga.
“This is incredibly exciting for New Zealand and for Hamilton – both teams’ last game before the Rugby World Cup.
“I have a lot of faith in the Tongan community – they will come along, have fun, and bring a great spirit to the game and the venue. The Tongan fans will cheer for both teams.
The match was announced in late November by NZ Rugby and the result of a partnership involving events company 37 South, Chiefs Rugby Club and H3 – the Council’s events and venues division.
“The economic spill-out is big,” Mayor Andrew says. “I’m very grateful to 37 South and to the Chiefs who played a big part in putting this together with the Council and NZ Rugby – 37 South and the Chiefs have secured this event for Hamilton.
“The match itself is secondary to what this will do for our city
37 South Managing Director Dallas Fisher says the success of the partnership, with the Council, to bring the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series to Hamilton showed collaboration could bring great dividends for Hamilton.
“This event will bring new cash and new energy into the city,” Mr Fisher says.
“This is what 37 South is about – helping drive activity in the city.
Having the All Blacks play here just before the World Cup, and the interest that will generate, is great for the city and the Waikato region,” he said.
Chiefs Rugby Club CE Michael Collins says his organisation has a strategic plan to deliver more content and activity to the region it represents – and securing the All Blacks vs Tonga match is crucial to that.
“We saw an opportunity to make further use of a world-class stadium we call home, through a game which will likely feature several of our players,” Mr Collins says.
“We have worked successfully in partnership with 37 South Events, Waikato Rugby Union and H3 in the past and look forward to continuing that relationship through this match.”