Hurricanes test coin rugby skills against young rivals
If this is as close as the Hurricanes’ rugby competition gets this week, they will be a happy bunch.
Several of the franchise’s players took some time out to visit Wellington’s Brooklyn Primary School for some coin rugby on Monday, helping the students prepare for Friday night’s ‘‘world record’’ attempt at the city’s fan zone. Among those to pit their skills against the young fans was prop Chris Eves, who was in his element despite admitting to some pre-game nerves.
‘‘I used to play it when I was younger. I was pretty good then but I was a bit shaky today.’’
The front-rower quickly got into his stride, and wasn’t about to let the youngsters have it all their own way.
‘‘I actually beat them, to be honest. I gave them a hiding by like 1000 points,’’ he joked. ‘‘I was supposed to let them win.’’
Things get decidedly more serious for the Hurricanes on Tuesday, when the side takes on the British and Irish Lions at a sold-out Westpac Stadium.
But the players relished the chance to meet some young fans ahead of the big game.
‘‘It’s pretty cool getting to come and visit the kids, because they’re so energetic and they’re just excited to see everyone. I really enjoy it.’’
Coin rugby, a popular school pastime, involves nudging a coin across a table with the tips of your fingers, with the aim being to get the coin to rest over the opposite edge in three or less turns.
From there, a player needs to flip the coin up and catch it to score a try. Conversions are made by spinning the coin, securing it with both thumbs, and flicking it over ‘‘goalposts’’ made by the opposite player’s hands.
The Guinness World Record attempt for the most people playing at one time will be part of a games area at the fan zone on Friday. In reality, the record is a shoo-in, as it has never been attempted before.
‘‘We’re pretty confident,’’ Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency general manager of partnerships and events Warrick Dent said. ‘‘It’s a bit of fun. ‘‘We encourage anyone to come down and have a go.’’
Brooklyn Primary School’s version of the game includes rolling a dice after each score, with the number rolled multiplied by the points scored.
As a result, some big numbers can get racked up, as student and Lions fan Florence Le Masurier found out when taking on frontrower Mike Kainga.
‘‘So far, the score is 450 to him and I’ve got 120,’’ she said.
Other players to turn out at the school on Monday were Ben May, Toa Halafihi, Ricky Riccitelli, Matt Proctor, Reed Prinsep, Sam Lousi, Cory Jane and Otere Black.