Allstars team will be up for the challenge, selector McCaw says

QUEENSTOWN: All Black great Richie McCaw says a touch rugby team he is selecting for a game in Queenstown next month will be ‘‘up for the challenge’’.

McCaw is picking a sixaside team to play the winner of a local derby at the town’s Recreation Ground on October 28.

Teams selected by the Wakatipu and Arrowtown rugby clubs will face off for the right to play an ‘‘allstars’’ team expected to feature some famous faces.

McCaw said the Queenstown teams would be ‘‘giving it everything’’, and he expected a great contest.

The resort won the right to host the event in the Mastercard ‘‘Tap for your town’’ competition. It racked up the highest number of contactless payment transactions per capita from June to August.

Mastercard New Zealand and Pacific Islands country manager Peter Chisnall said McCaw’s team would be announced a week or two before the event.

He had no idea who would make the side, but expected it to contain some household names.

‘‘I’ve no doubt he’ll be tapping the shoulders of a few of his mates. I’m looking forward to seeing who he’s bringing to town.’’

Places in the Wakatipu sides were not limited to members of the two rugby clubs, he said.

‘‘If locals are interested in being part of one of those teams, get in contact with them.

‘‘It would be nice to get representation from across the district. As well as the element of competition, we want this to be a lot of fun.’’