Nelson is now home to a brand-new, handcrafted supporter’s bench, courtesy of the All Blacks.
All Blacks and Tasman Mako teammates Finlay Christie, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Shannon Frizell unveiled the bench at Botanic Sports Field on Sunday.
Nelson was chosen as one of 26 communities across the country to receive the gift from the All Blacks to acknowledge the public support ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France in September.
After a karakia and waiata, led by iwi representative Barney Thomas, New Zealand Rugby project director Lauren Vosper kicked off the first of the speeches about the bench’s significance.
She says, while eight All Black reserves fill the bench at matches to provide a backbone to the starting line-up, the backbone extended far beyond.
“This year we really wanted to extend the bench and really get the whole of New Zealand to be part of this team… we want to say thank you for having the team’s back and we want to say that we’ve got your back too,” she says.
“We hope that this bench in your community can be a really powerful and special place and somewhere you can come and commiserate, celebrate, and really treasure it.”
The bench, which is carved from native wood, has the inscription – Me Eke Mai – our bench is your bench – thanks for all your support.
All Black and Tasman Mako winger Leicester Fainga’anuku told the crowd it was an “awesome occasion” for him, Finlay and Shannon to be connected at their home turf.
“We’ve always got our own bench when we’re out on the field, but with these benches spread throughout New Zealand it reminds us when we’re over [in France for the Rugby World Cup], that we’ve got the whole of New Zealand on our bench too,” he says.
Mayor Nick Smith says the bench was a “real asset” for the community at the historic ground where the first rugby match in Aotearoa unfolded in 1870.
“It is that reminder of whether it be the players sitting on the bench, whether it would be those that are supporting our All Blacks or Mako at games or whether it is us at home watching our tellies nervously as our All Blacks take on the world, the bench is a place that brings us together,” he says.
“It’s so wonderful to have this native timber at this historic sight.”
Nelson Rugby Football Club president Kerry Strange, New Zealand Rugby president as well as local Nelson resident, Max Spence, all delivered speeches to the crowd about the bench’s significance.
