ABS delight in Whakata¯ne
Team brings happiness for young fans in wake of eruption
The freshly-named All Blacks squad was welcomed to Whakata¯ne with tamariki chanting a haka, birds warbling, a soft sea breeze and the faint smell of fish and chips on the nearby wharf.
The po¯whiri at Te Ma¯nuka Tu¯tahi marae marked the start of the rugby team’s three-day visit to the eastern Bay of Plenty town.
To acknowledge the significance of last year’s Whakaari eruption, New Zealand Rugby also invited victims and their wha¯nau to the occasion.
Te Kura o Te Pa¯roa’s awardwinning performers made the most of the sports stars’ visit, getting signatures and photos with team members.
Reporoa-raised captain Sam Cane said players got “so much out of” getting out of the city.
“Iknowpersonally thatsome of the smallest areas in New Zealand have the heartiest rugby fans.”
He recalled “good battles” with the team from nearby po¯tiki College when playing for Reporoa College in his teens — some of their “toughest games“.
All Blacks teammate TJ Perenara (Nga¯ti Rangitihi), whose marae is just 15 minutes away in Matata¯, said training in Whakata¯ne was “very special” for him and his wha¯nau.
“The connections — I am feeling more — with my home now learning te reo Ma¯ori,” he said.
He said he was “falling more in love with the language”.
Ian Foster, who just beginning his stint as head coach, said he wanted to “get the guys grounded in a community that has gone through a heck of a lot of hardship”.
“We can’t solve any problems . . . but we can show some support,” he said when asked about meeting the Whakaari victims.
Whakata¯ne mayor Judy Turner was “thrilled” the team was in town.
She said generations of wha¯nau played rugby throughout the rohe.
“We have about 14 junior clubs in the eastern Bay with nearly 500
is registered players . . . For many, it might be the only opportunity they get to see the All Blacks, ever.”
Turner wanted to celebrate the community’s resilience in recent months.
“We cannot think of a better way to do this,” she said.
Whakata¯ne rugby stalwart and former Ma¯ori All Blacks coach Matt Te Pou said: “Anybody in any area would be rapt to have the All Blacks on their back doorstep.”
He said it was particularly significant for young athletes in the area.
“They dream that they can play at an elite level in a code and when they see their heroes out there . . . They get caught up in it.”
Bay of Plenty Rugby community relations manager Neil Alton said the visit was “hugely exciting”.
It was the first time, he could remember, that a full All Blacks team had visited Whakata¯ne.
“The All Blacks are so popular, it’s hard for them to spread themselves out across the whole country.”
Alton saido¯ the public training session that community members could watch “would create a lot of cool memories” for families.
“Having a free event like that in the neighbourhood, it takes out the cost burden and the hurdle of buying tickets to test matches.”
Whakata¯ne Stirling Sports owner Asa Scholtens said rugby was “really popular” in the community.
“We sell a lot of rugby boots and gear.
“It’s a really good them to have them [the All Blacks] here and we want them to come back,” she said.
Fans were invited to a public training session at 9.45am this morning at Rugby Park in Whakata¯ne, before the squad leaves tomorrow.
The All Blacks will also hold a camp in Hamilton the following week before assembling on October 5 in Wellington to prepare for the first Bledisloe Cup test on October 11.
They play the second test against the Wallabies at Eden Park on October 18.