That’s classic: Justin Marshall is keen to join the Classic All Blacks in Queenstown
Former New Zealand rugby star Justin Marshall can’t wait to pull his boots back on for a Classic All Blacks game in Queenstown during the World Cup.
He confirms the Classic All Blacks will play a team of past French internationals in the resort to coincide with next year’s tournament.
The September 18 fixture will be at the Queenstown Recreation Ground because the Events Centre is hosting three World Cup training camps that month.
Marshall suspects Queens-town’s partly been chosen to host the Classics’ first NZ game because it “very surprisingly” missed out on a pool game.
Council stumps up for RWC local events coordinator
Queenstown Lakes District Council will chip in more than $10,000 for a regional coordinator for local Rugby World Cup events.
Queenstown mayor Clive Geddes, part of an Otago-Southland committee which bid to host teams and games in the region, says the appointment of committee member Stuart Heal as a paid regional coordinator for the event is imminent.
“We want to keep the regional coordination going so we don’t end up with events clashing in Queenstown, Dunedin and Invercargill,” Geddes says.
“And we want to ensure communities that aren’t directly touched, like Oamaru and Te Anau, are involved.”
A regional group made up of representatives from councils, rugby unions, economic development units and marketing organisations will determine Heal’s brief between now and World Cup kick-off in September next year.
Heal is a company director and former long-serving chief executive of large New Zealand farming cooperative CRT. His term is expected to last 18 months and Geddes estimates about $120,000 will be needed to fund Heal and associated costs.
QLDC will contribute about 10 per cent, with the rest to come from other councils across Otago and Southland.
“That’s a provisional sum. The actual programme will be determined by that regional group and it may well not be anywhere near like the $120,000 that’s been provided for,” Geddes says.
– RYAN KEEN
“It’ll be great to bring a game here that not only promotes the World Cup but also promotes rugby,” he says. “It’s also an opportunity for people to see some stars of NZ rugby of the past, possibly the present.”
The Classics comprise former All Blacks, many still playing overseas, who are no longer contracted to NZ rugby.
Marshall – now a Sky Sport rugby commentator – has played four games for the Classics and has also been captain.
Line-ups haven’t been confirmed but Marshall notes All Black stars who’ve recently played for them include Jonah Lomu, Andrew Mehrtens, Anton Oliver and Carl Hayman.
Marshall also says the French Barbarians, as they’re called, could include past stars like Eric Champ and Franck Mesnel.
Destination Queenstown marketing boss Graham Budd expects the match to be “a huge drawcard for travelling rugby fans from all nations as well as great for locals”.
The event’s being organised by the Sevens With Altitude committee who run the annual national sevens rugby tournament at the Recreation Ground.
Marshall – who’s on a family holiday here this week – has fond memories of visiting the resort while living in Eastern Southland before his 81-Test career took off.
“We used to come on day trips or night trips as well – it’s a favourite of mine.”
Asked if he’d buy property here, Marshall, 36 – who finished his career a month ago playing for English premiership team, Saracens – quips: “I can’t afford it, I’m only on a Sky [Sport] salary.”
“I’ve always thought it would be quite romantic to own a little holiday home in Queenstown,” he says.
“My short-term goal is to get another boat – you can’t have a bach without a boat in this place.”
Your say
There are no comments on this article.
Have your say
You will need to register or login before you can post a comment.
