All Pitches Great and Small – Your Super Rugby Preseason Venues
The Super Rugby preseason is a perfect opportunity for teams to get out there and play in some places they wouldn’t during the regular season – like France, or Wagga Wagga, or a paddock on someone’s farm. Calum Henderson looks at the best venues from this year’s preseason schedule.
Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse (Toulouse vs Sharks)
The Super Rugby preseason made it as far as France this year, where the Sharks will play at the recently renovated home ground of European powerhouse Toulouse. Ernest-Wallon has a capacity of 19,500, meaning the club’s bigger games are often played at the larger Stadium Municipal. The South African side have also played – and defeated – European champions Toulon on their quick jaunt to France.
Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground (Racing 92 vs Highlanders)
If Hong Kong’s 12,000 capacity Siu San Wan Sports Ground was built in New Zealand it would have been nicknamed something like ‘The Toilet Seat’ before a game had even been played there. Luckily it’s not, and so defending Super Rugby champions the Highlanders and leading French club Racing 92 were able to play out their entertaining exhibition match with dignity. The SSWSG is primarily used to host soccer matches – the most famous visiting side it has hosted was probably Chelsea, who played South China AA there in 1997.
Farmer Fred Booth’s Back Paddock, Waimumu (Highlanders vs Crusaders)
From an international glamour match in Hong Kong to a local derby on a paddock on someone’s farm in the middle of Southland within the space of a week – the Highlanders have by far the most eclectic Super Rugby preseason schedule. They play the Crusaders on Thursday night for the Farmlands Cup as part of the Southern Field Days expo, held on the property of a farmer called Fred Booth in Waimumu, about halfway between Gore and Mataura. Other events at Southern Field Days include a tractor pull and a digger competition.
National Sports Stadium, Harare (Cheetahs vs Bulls)
Zimbabwe’s very important-sounding National Sports Stadium played host to a Super Rugby preseason match between two South African sides on the 6th, with the Cheetahs scoring an upset 28-10 victory. The 60,000-seat National Sports Stadium is primarily used as the home ground of CAPS (Central African Pharmaceutical Society) United FC, and has previously hosted concerts by Bruce Springsteen and Sting.
McDonald’s Park, Wagga Wagga (Brumbies vs Waratahs)
McDonald’s Park is “Wagga’s premier rectangular shaped sporting facility” and the home of rugby league in the inland New South Wales city, where the average temperature for February is above 30 degrees. An oasis of green in the parched summer landscape, the park looked a picture as the Waratahs edge the Brumbies 21-17 in a preseason thriller.
Eketahuna Rugby Grounds, Eketahuna (Hurricanes vs Blues)
The Hurricanes return to Eketahuna (population 441) for the second year running to face the Blues in a popular preseason fixture sponsored by a regional brewery. With temporary seating the ground can host up to 4000 spectators, including corporate hospitality options. Eketahuna’s senior men’s team finished mid-table in the 2015 Wairarapa Bush first division club competition with a record of 5 wins and 8 losses.
Comments on RugbyPass
Just such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
4 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
4 Go to comments