All Blacks to visit 11 towns in New Zealand before Rugby World Cup 2011 - Rugby News
The All Blacks players are delighted to be on tour of 11 small towns of New Zealand before the start of the Rugby World Cup 2011. Richie McCaw, skipper for the All Blacks, told the media on August 1 that his side is scheduled to take trips to 11 locations
in New Zealand to spark the public’s enthusiasm for the global showpiece. Rugby World Cup 2011 is kicking off after less than six weeks in New Zealand on September 9. New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup for the second time in its 24 year history.
New Zealand first hosted the RWC in 1987 in collaboration with Australia, which was also the first ever global event in rugby history. The All Blacks remained successful in lifting the trophy before their home crowd and they are committed to repeat history
after a long drought.
Talking to reporters, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, said that players will be divided in various groups to conduct the awareness campaign. The tour will start on September 2, just one week before the opening of the largest event of rugby of this year.
The All Blacks will visit small towns including, Kaeo, Te Puke, Gisborne, Stratford, Waipukurau, Carterton, Motueka, Hokitika, Rangiora, Cromwell and Winton in their official tour.
McCaw supported the scheduled visits and said that, “It's going to be cool for the team to get to smaller towns where they may not have been before. Coming from a small town myself (Kurow, near Oamaru, population 339), I know what it's like living there
while all the action seems to take place in the cities, so we're really looking forward to heading to heartland New Zealand.”
McCaw further said that the visit will provide a very good chance to the people of small towns to see their heroes in their hometowns. He added that, “With our home Tests played in the major cities, we know that people in the small towns don't often get
the chance to see the All Blacks so we thought we would take the team to them.”
The All Blacks will conclude the campaign on September 4 after meeting the public gathering in Auckland.
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