Hosts prepare for red invasion
Hosts are bracing themselves for a week of rugby and revelry as British and Irish Lions fans begin arriving in Lower Hutt ahead of the second test at Westpac Stadium.
About 25,000 Lions supporters are expected to arrive in the Wellington region and rugby clubs and accommodation providers in Lower Hutt have been busy preparing for the influx.
Petone Rugby Football Club will become a hub for many of the tourists after opening its doors to fans this week.
Club chairman Wayne Smith said he was looking forward to the coming week with memories of the last tour still fresh.
He said the cheerful punters in 2005 had been a pleasure and he was certain Lions fans would bring the same enthusiasm and excitement this week.
‘‘We’re just gearing up for a week of rugby. We want to give these people a genuine Kiwi rugby experience,’’ Smith said.
The club had arranged for a series of special events for the tour. On Thursday night fans would be able to meet the test series’ referees - Jaco Peyper, Roman Poite and Jerome Garces - at the clubrooms, and a welcome, cultural display and hangi was arranged for Friday. .
The Hurricanes game and Test matches would be shown live in the clubrooms. Smith said those fans who did not have tickets for the Test would be well catered for on Saturday night.
‘‘You’d be surprised at the number who don’t have tickets to the match. They’ll be coming [here] for a good time.’’
Club members would be rostered on during the week between 9am and midnight to look after the tourists. Kitchen and shower facilities would also be available.
Hutt Old Boys Marist was also encouraging fans to visit between Wednesday and Friday, and would be screening the Test on Saturday.
Among the thousands of Lions fans are an under 11s Sevens team from Ulster who will be playing four matches in Wellington including HOBM on Thursday and Petone on Sunday.
Hutt Top 10 Holiday Park owner Allen Levien said fans began arriving on Monday and he expected the 300 berths at the park to be full by the end of the week.
‘‘From about Thursday or Friday onwards we are fully booked and have been so for the past three months.
‘‘We’ve been busy marking out all our sites and trying to create extra ones.’’