There was a buzz in the air as 2000 spectators watched Canterbury take on the Tasman Mako’s for the Hanmer Springs Alpine Winter Festival.
It was a clash of the north and the south of sorts when the Tasman Mako’s played Canterbury in the Hanmer Springs Trophy preseason match on Friday 23 July.
Before the match kicked off, the Canterbury squad held a Q&A session for Hurunui’s budding young rugby stars. There were all sorts of questions about the game and plenty of time for photos. Many left with signed rugby balls and memorabilia, plus a whole lot of excitement for the pre-season game that followed.
The passionate Hurunui crowd, with a guest appearance from Richie McCaw, were treated to an exhilarating game of rugby that went right down to the wire.
“We love getting out into the wider Canterbury community and Hanmer Springs is no different, especially when we’re lucky to play in front of a passionate Hurunui crowd,” says Canterbury player, Isaiah Punivai.
The North Canterbury mid-winter day was crisp, and the beautiful backdrop of mountains provided the players with a setting unlike anything they’d played in before.
“We can’t wait for our next game in Hurunui. We love the vibe of the community,” says Canterbury squad member Sam Stewart.
