NZ Rugby takes the game to another small town

NEWS: New Zealand's well-known holiday destination Alexander will host their very first professional Super Rugby fixture on February 1, 2019.

The Central Otago town of Alexandra will stage the preseason match between Highlanders and the Waratahs.

Alexandra is a well-known holiday destination over the summer months and with the game being played so early in February a good crowd is anticipated.

The Central Otago District Council is fully supportive of the event. Mayor Tim Cadogan said "we are working hard to showcase Central Otago as a place that is capable of hosting large-scale international and national events.

"The tri-nations hockey held in Cromwell earlier this year achieved outstanding local support as do the annual international curling competitions through the Winter Games in Naseby.

"When top sports teams come to our part of the world we can always be confident that there will be a strong turnout of enthusiastic fans and I am sure the rugby will be no exception,"

"We owe a special thanks to the Highlanders’ management who have bought into the idea and to local business Breen Construction who have been generous enough to come forward as match day sponsors,"

The Highlanders have successfully staged preseason fixtures in Queenstown in recent seasons and are delighted to be able to share the hosting rights around the region.

"The Alexandra community, in particular, have been vital in making this game a reality. The venue itself, Molyneux Park, has undertaken a fair bit of refurbishment recently and is a natural amphitheatre, we believe the town and venue will showcase the event extremely well, particularly at that time of year" said Highlanders CEO Roger Clark.