Park ‘perfect’ for rugby’s return
Two Taranaki rugby stalwarts are welcoming the possibility of having the province’s top-level rugby side play at New Plymouth’s famous cricket ground.
With the city’s Yarrow Stadium out of action for another year for earthquake strengthening, it had been assumed the Taranaki Bulls would once again play their home games at Inglewood’s TET Stadium.
After all, the venue got a $250,000 spruce up last year and hosted a Ranfurly Shield match that set the small town alight.
But a Taranaki sport news site has since reported that Pukekura Park is being considered for at least one Bulls’ home game.
And Taranaki Rugby Union boss Laurence Corlett has not denied the possibility.
‘‘We’re waiting for the draw to come out from the New Zealand Rugby union, so as soon as the draw is confirmed, we’ll announce where the home games will be played ,’’ he said.
New Plymouth rugby stalwart Ian Snook said Pukekura Park would be ‘‘perfect’’.
‘‘It would be ideal for the crowd. It’d be good for the players. It would be a nice little change. I think it would be very exciting. You sit right on top of the game. It would be fantastic.’’
But the ground would not work for club rugby, Snook said.
‘‘The difficulty is fitting in with the cricket and getting their wickets prepared and stuff like that. And club rugby at the moment is run by the clubs at their own grounds, so they can pick up the gate for the spectators.
‘‘If you had it at Pukekura Park who’s going to pick the gate up and who’s going to run it? And then you’re too far from the clubrooms for people to go back and have a beer.’’
Taranaki Rugby Supporters Club president Grant Hassall agreed the ground would not work for club rugby.
But if the Bulls played there it would bring a bit of ‘‘nostalgia and novelty’’ to the game.
‘‘There’s lots of sentimental feeling for Pukekura Park, not withstanding the outstanding job Inglewood has done.
‘‘But some people won’t go to Inglewood, I don’t know why. Pukekura Park may well appeal to them.’’
The ground had witnessed several famous occasions in the history of Taranaki sport, he said.
A record 12,000 people turned out to the Pukekura sports ground on July 16, 1921, to watch the Springboks draw 0-0 with Taranaki’s own rugby first XV.
It was a rugby venue until Rugby Park opened in the 1930s.
In recent times the ground has been mostly associated with cricket, but over the years it has played host to athletics, football, marching and even the Queen.
The ground has an approximate capacity of 3500 and the terraces got a $550,000 spruce-up in 2019.
Last year the Bulls finished fourth in the championship division with four wins and six losses, and held the Ranfurly Shield for a week.
Yarrow Stadium is expected to be ready for the 2022 rugby season.