Game likely to be most popular of the season
This Saturday the Southland Stags take on Otago at Rugby Park with kick-off set down for 4.35pm. Over the years there has plenty of rivalry between the two teams and this game will be no exception, with not only southern pride on the line, but the Donald Stuart Memorial trophy. Currently held by Otago, the Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy continues to remain hot property. Stags co-captain James Wilson says the boys are looking forward to the challenge this week brings with playing Otago. ‘‘It’s a game we all obviously look forward to being a part of as soon as the draw for the season is released. ‘‘With it being at home, with our local support behind us, we want this to kick-start our season with a win on the board.’’ The Southland-Otago game, which will be Southland’s third at home fixture for the season, is a long-held tradition between the teams and Southland will be striving to claim the trophy as their own this year. Certain to be one of the most popular games of the season, the team are also looking forward to seeing the Southland community rally together to show Otago what they are made of and the pride they have for their region. Having separated unions in 1887, the Otago vs Southland rivalry is one of the strongest interprovincial rivalries in the country. Both teams have played more interprovincial games than any other provincial unions, topping over 250 games, with two of Southland’s best wins over Otago including the last game at Carisbrook and the very first game at Forsyth Bar Stadium. The 2010 Ranfurly Shield Challenge was also particularly sweet, as Southland retained the ‘Log o’wood’ with a hard fought 16-12 victory in the 232nd match between the two southern unions. With Southland hosting Otago every second year, this year, rugby fans are in for an additional treat with a whole day dedicated to an Otago- Southland Festival. The day will involve six matches that will be played at Pirates Old Boys and include U45kg, U65kg, U13, U14, U16 and U18 representative teams. This will be followed by the Southland Secondary School Girls and Southland B representative teams who will play their Otago equivalents as two curtain raisers at Rugby Park, prior to the big Otago v Southland Mitre 10 Cup match. Certain to be a fantastic day for rugby followers across the region, get in quick to secure your tickets now. Tickets can be purchased from ILT Stadium Southland, ICC Booking Office, Mitre 10 MEGA Invercargill or www.ticketdirect.co.nz.