Rugby ‘royalty’ to visit South Westland

It could be raining All Blacks in South Westland next week, with four members of the Canterbury Crusaders rugby team set to touch down in Ross, Harihari, Whataroa and Fox Glacier, and possibly Haast.
The Crusaders are to meet the Otago Highlanders at Rugby Park, Greymouth, next Friday, with all 38 of the Canterbury squad arriving on the Tranz Alpine train on Wednesday.
The squad will be split into groups to visit schools throughout Hokitika, Greymouth and the Grey Valley from 1pm to 5pm on Thursday, and to ensure their young fans in South Westland do not miss out, a helicopter has been hired to carry four Crusaders south of Hokitika.
West Coast Rugby Union chief executive Mike Connors said the identity of the quartet heading south was not yet confirmed but he intimated the chopper could be carrying some of rugby’s ‘royalty’.
The Crusaders have a heavy promotional schedule, including an hour-long swim session at the Greymouth aquatic centre from 3.30pm on Wednesday.
“They have booked two lanes at the pool but will be happy to share the complex with local kids, so the more the merrier,” Connors said.
“Adults wanting to rub shoulders with the Crusaders will be welcomed at a happy hour in Greymouth’s Railway Hotel from 6.30pm.”
On Thursday, the public can watch the team train at the Grey Main School for two hours from 9am, while the school visits begin at 1pm.
Just before 1.30pm on Friday the full squads from both teams will lay wreaths at the Pike River Memorial Rose Garden, in Greymouth, and then rest up for the match, which starts at 5.45pm.