THE RIGHT MAN TO SPRUIK US TO THE WORLD

FORMER Wallabies star Lote Tuqiri was loving Townsville on Monday as part of a tourism ad to be aired during Townsville’s rugby union double header this weekend. All up, about 45 million people across the world are expected to tune into the two games and Tuqiri will be the ambassador showcasing Townsville to the globe.

The 67-game Test player enjoyed the region on Monday with a film crew in tow. He choppered in to go fishing with Andrew Symonds on Havana Island, jetskied with Johnathan Thurston on Magnetic Island and paddle-boarded with Australian Opals and Townsville Fire star Lauren Nicholson. He finished off his blitz with cocktails at The Ville ResortCasino’s Splash Bar alongside music talent Trent Bell.

Tuqiri was blown away by what the region has to offer and so, hopefully, will be the audience that watches the two games this weekend.

Yet he was quick to remind Townsville how lucky it was to be holding these matches. “For me, the big game is the All Blacks and South Africa game, just given it’s the