Lions to play Manawatu

Manawatu play the Lions on 28th June 2005 at Arena Manawatu for the first time since 1983.

Manawatu Chief Executive Officer Allan Brown said today that Lions tours were rare, but very special, occasions.

?This is an old fashioned tour and people shouldn?t underestimate the interest and excitement it will create in New Zealand and Britain,? Allan Brown said.

?The influx of fans, based on the recent Australian experience with the Lions, should result in a tourism boom for Manawatu and New Zealand generally.

?The match will be a great challenge and opportunity for Manawatu and the Manawatu Rugby Union is sure locals will embrace the occasion. It?s our chance to show the world what a great place Manawatu is.?

He said Lions tickets would be more expensive than usual rugby matches in the province and there would be fewer of them available. That was because the New Zealand Rugby Union had to pay the British and Irish Lions Committee a very substantial fee and guarantee to sell their fans 8000 tickets to get them to tour New Zealand.

Tickets sales information for the match against Manawatu would be released closer to the time of the tour.

Manawatu is the only side from the lower divisions of the Air New Zealand NPC to have been awarded a fixture during the Tour.

Arena Manawatu would have completed it?s upgrade in time for the Lions Tour.

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