Paper jibe forces IRFU to build bridges

THE IRFU have moved to ease tensions over a negative Irish newspaper report about New Plymouth which hosted Ireland’s clash with the All Blacks on June 12th.

Comments in a Dublin-based paper that the host venue was worse than ‘a one-horse town given that the horse has long since bolted’ sparked a massive backlash from residents and the town’s mayor Peter Tennent.

With the Irish squad set to return to the Taranaki region for next year’s World Cup, IRFU president John Callaghan has distanced the union from the comments and heaped praised on New Plymouth and its residents.

He said: “Let me put it this way, from the moment we arrived we had a wonderful welcome and each day we were in New Plymouth our experience was simply terrific.

“And I can tell you that on behalf of the players, management, the whole team.

“The older players made the point to the younger guys that there’s always a warm welcome but this was one of the warmest.”

The Irish team is expected to be based in New Plymouth for the best part of a week for its Rugby World Cup match against the USA next year.

Behind the IRFU intervention is thought to be Sport Taranaki chief executive Howie Tamati, who encouraged the Irish rugby association to contact the local newspaper – The Taranaki Daily News.

“They are very conscious of the fact they are coming back here to play in the World Cup next year and certainly want to correct the impression some people may have that they didn’t enjoy their time here when in fact the opposite was the case,” Mr Tamati said.

“They are also keen to learn the protocols surrounding the powhiri (a formal Maori ceremony for welcoming visitors) and have asked me to help them with that next time, which I’m very honoured to do.”

New Plymouth mayor Tennent said of the row: “The visitors I’ve met loved the welcome and love the hospitality. Everyone I spoke to was very positive, and I still think the UN was right when they appointed this the most liveable city in the world.”