Mooloo parade reignites Waikato’s footy spirit
A Waikato Legends team also faced off against South African counterparts to commemorate the first international game that took place for the union.
A special addition to this year’s centennial celebrations was a women’s match between Hamilton Rugby Sub-Union and the Hamilton Old Boys Huskies. It was the first time that a women’s game had been featured at the Mooloo parade.
Player, Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland was elated to be taking the field alongside her fellow teammates.
Coming off the success gained by the nation’s New Zealand Black Ferns team at the rugby world cup, representing the Hamilton women’s side was a positive moment for GabySutherland.
‘‘It’s an awesome feeling, we’re super grateful to be involved and to represent the Waikato Rugby Union banner,’’ Gaby-Sutherland said. ‘‘I’ve played for Waikato for the last 10 years for the women’s team . . . it’s the camaraderie with my teammates and just the vibe with the girls and the rugby environment which is really cool.’’
During the 1970s and 80s the parade attracted thousands into busy Hamilton streets. But it had not been up and running since the early 2000s, with interest in provincial sport slowing in popularity. Mooloo’s last sighting was marked in 2018 with a much smaller occasion.
David Fox, participation and development manager for Waikato Rugby Union, said the 2022 parade had been four years in the making. Once the green light was given, organisers said it was time to come back together and make it worth the wait. One hundred and one years ago at this very spot Waikato played their first international game against South Africa, and we’re going to repeat that again today,’’ Fox said. ‘‘With Waikato, it’s just got so much history . . . we’re just passionate about it. It’s just so cool to be here, it’s a celebration of our game, and basically we’re doing it for the people who have gone before us.’’