Legends Raise More than $100,000 for Earthquake Appeal
Big names of the past from both sides of the Tasman will band
together for a Legends of League Charity Match at Mount Smart
Stadium next Thursday (March 10) to raise funds for the
Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
To be a part of the action, you can bid in our on-line auction
for a place on one of the teams, all proceeds to the official
appeal.
Bid here and to get along to the game buy
your tickets here.
New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Jim Doyle today
confirmed the national body was working together with a group of
former Kiwi legends and other organisations to stage a response
from the code to help the Christchurch community.
"Everyone in the country is trying to find some way of helping
the people in Christchurch and the Canterbury region," he said.
"Staging the Legends of League Charity Match is our way of
bringing people in Auckland together to provide some financial
support for a community that's been devastated and is in desperate
need.
"We invite everyone to pack Mount Smart Stadium next Thursday
and let's all do the best we can to help Christchurch."
Doyle said it was originally hoped to play the game on
Wednesday, March 9 but a change of date was made late yesterday on
police advice. They pointed out there would be a clash of events
with racing's glamour Auckland Cup meet already scheduled that day.
With many of Auckland's police force deployed to help in
Christchurch, resources were stretched to cope with the Legends of
League match on the same day.
Former internationals Gary Freeman, Monty Betham, Nigel Vagana
and Tawera Nikau have coordinated a campaign on both sides of the
Tasman to organise teams for the match while Mount Smart Stadium,
the NZRL and Vodafone are lending their support. Also behind the
cause is the NZRL's League 4 Life Foundation.
Doyle said the total proceeds from the match - including a
bucket collection throughout the evening - would be donated to the
earthquake appeal.
Among the former New Zealand internationals set to appear is
Nikau himself, who is prepared to take the field despite having an
artificial limb.
Many of the biggest names in New Zealand rugby league history
are set to join Nikau including 1980s heroes Kurt Sorensen and
Olsen Filipaina plus Stacey Jones, the Kiwis' 2008 World
Cup-winning captain Nathan Cayless, Hugh McGahan and more.
More players are being enlisted with line-ups to be confirmed in
the coming days. Australians Mario Fenech and David Peachey have
also volunteered to play.
Doyle said top New Zealand musicians would provide entertainment
before the game with Che Fu, Vince Harder, Jason Kerrison and
ReQuest Dance Crew lined up. The entertainment is timed to start at
5.30pm after the gates open at 5.00pm with the Legends of League
Charity Match kicking off at 7.00pm.
Tickets are priced at a flat rate of $20 for adults with all
children 12 and under free. Tickets will be available from www.ticketek.co.nz from today
or Wednesday.
The list of players set to be involved so far is (all former
Kiwis unless stated): Willie Talau, David Kidwell, Luke Covell,
Alex Chan, Olsen Filipaina, Kurt Sorensen, Andrew Lomu, Jason
Williams, Sam Panapa, Sam Panapa, Sean Hoppe, Quentin Pongia, David
Peachey (Australia), Mario Fenech (Australia), Awen Guttenbiel,
Stacey Jones, Monty Betham, Richie Barnett, Wairangi Koopu, Logan
Swann, Joe Vagana, Ruben Wiki, Tawera Nikau, Paul Rauhihi,
Jerry Seuseu, Tea Ropati, Dean Lonergan, Clayton Friend, Duane
Mann, Francis Leota, Hugh McGahan.