Gallagher Chiefs to play the Hurricanes in Friendly on 21 June
The Gallagher Chiefs will play the Hurricanes on Hicks Park at the TSB Hub in Hawera, on Thursday 21 June.
This is the farthest south the Chiefs Rugby Club have taken a game. The Club felt it was a fitting location for two passionate teams to go head to head and acknowledge the immense contribution to rugby of Hawera local Craig Norgate.
South Taranaki District Mayor Ross says it was a real coup that Hawera was able to secure the match which would be played as a midseason ‘friendly’ game during the international window of the Investec Super Rugby season, while the All Blacks were playing France.
“It’s fantastic to see the Super Rugby clubs returning to the provincial grass roots and giving fans, both young and old, the opportunity to see these elite players play on their home turf,” says Mayor Dunlop. “And given the history of the Hurricanes and Chiefs Super Rugby clubs in the region, I’m sure there will be strong support for both teams.”
Gallagher Chiefs head coach Colin Cooper was looking forward to visiting the strong rugby community.
“We are really looking forward to visiting Hawera to play the Hurricanes and meet the passionate Taranaki fans. It’s a great opportunity to get some game time and preparation under our belt in the June break before we go to Fiji to face the Highlanders. We’re excited to come to Hawera and to bring a game to the Taranaki region and it’ll be special to commemorate past Chiefs board member Craig Norgate for this game. Craig was a deeply competitive, intelligent and passionate man and it is fitting to play a game in the same spirit in his home town.”
Taranaki Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Jeremy Parkinson was thrilled to see the Gallagher Chiefs visiting the region and displaying the pathway from province to Super Rugby.
"The Taranaki Rugby Football Union are looking forward to the Chiefs travelling to our region and taking a game against the Hurricanes out into our community. As a stakeholder in the club it is important that we stay connected and showcase the pathway through the province into Super Rugby. We have a significant number of Taranaki players in the Chiefs and it will be good to see them on display in Hawera later in the month playing in the region that developed and promoted them to this level."
The Gallagher Chiefs team are looking forward to meeting many fans throughout South Taranaki and New Plymouth over the two days.
The Gallagher Chiefs and Hurricanes share a fierce rivalry, and will be using this match as motivation to prepare for the business end of the season. The teams will then face off again in the final round of the Investec Super Rugby competition on Friday 13 July in Hamilton.
The game starts at 1pm on Thursday 21 June and entry is free.