A community brought together in the name of rugby

North Canterbury clubs banded together in the weekend to help put on a fabulous day of rugby at the Rangiora Showgrounds, proving the wonders of our rugby community.  

The logistics of hosting a rugby game away from the stadium is no walk in the park with planning beginning a year ago, after discussions started just one week after the 2023 game in Rangiora against Taranaki.

 A variety of people worked together to make this a successful day, managed by our Events Executive Meg Schmack, who you can read more about in this edition of the Red and Black. Volunteers from various North Canterbury rugby clubs also took part in the day as fundraising initiatives.

Glenmark – Cheviot, Ohoka and Ashley Rugby Club’s all did their part to keep the crowds fed and refreshed hosting food and beverage stands, with Ashley Rugby Club also taking on the enormous effort to feed over 400 players and officials from the North Canterbury and Ellesmere sub unions for their after match feasts.

Woodend Rugby Club took on the task of manning the gates, car park and rubbish collection with their efforts going towards new lights at their grounds. Lucy French, from the Woodend Rugby Club Committee, supervised approximately fifteen of their players from the Womens and Div 2 teams on Sunday, with shifts scheduled so the volunteers could take turns, “but some of them were enjoying the vibe so much they decided to stay on!” she said, “it was a cool day, the sun was shining, the girls from our women’s team had a ball, it was a fantastic day!”

Many comments were made by those attending about the excellent conditions of the fields, which we have the ground staff to thank for. Meticulous work was put in over the weeks leading up to the big day, including ensuring the field of play was safe, lawns continuously mowed, steady work on the line marking and apparently someone even ordered that wonderful sunshine.

CRFU are grateful for all the hard mahi from volunteers and organisations that went into creating another glorious day of rugby out in North Canterbury, and would like to thank everyone who had a part to play.