Rugby back at Pukekura Park for one game
Taranaki rugby stalwarts have welcomed news Pukekura Park will host Taranaki’s opening game in the National Provincial Championships.
The Yarrows Taranaki Bulls will kick off their season against an asyet-unnamed opponent at the New Plymouth ground, and internationally recognised cricket pitch, on August 7 at 2.05pm.
Legendary former player Andy Slater, who notched up 182 games for Taranaki, predicted the crowd would enjoy the view from the park’s terraces.
‘‘Pukekura Park is like the New Plymouth Boys’ High gully ground in that respect, and you couldn’t get a better place than the gully ground to watch a game of rugby.’’
He hopes to watch his son Bradley, who was in the team last year, run out with the Bulls side, which finished fourth in the Championship Division last year and held the Ranfurly Shield for a week.
Former NZ cricketer and Taranaki representative rugby player and commentator Ian Snook also welcomed the move.
‘‘It’ll be pretty impressive if we get it filled up.’’
He played ‘‘many, many’’ games at the park during his years in the Central Districts cricket team.
‘‘I remember in 1974 we played Australia there. There were 3000 or more people there, it was an amazing atmosphere.’’
Shane McDonald, who played 118 games for Taranaki before moving into coaching and managing the team, said spectators would enjoy being up high and close to the action.
‘‘There will be plenty of noise. I’m picking it will bring a great atmosphere to the city, people will be able to walk to the ground and back into town afterwards.’’
In a statement, Taranaki Rugby commercial manager Jimmy Fastier said he expected the match at the park, which has a capacity of
4500, to be a sellout.
‘‘It’s not every day that you get an opportunity to watch rugby at Pukekura Park, it will be the ultimate bird’s eye view.’’
The game is a step back in history, as Pukekura Park was used for rugby until Rugby Park (now Yarrow Stadium) was completed in the
1930s. A record 12,000 people turned out on July 16, 1921 to watch the Springboks draw 0-0 with Taranaki’s own rugby First XV.
In 2003, during the filming of The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise, the ground was transformed into the Imperial Army Parade area and palace.
With Yarrow Stadium undergoing a $50 million refurbishment, Taranaki home games will return to Inglewood’s TET stadium for the remainder of this season.