Media Release
Tuesday 19 February 2013
The ‘Dan Carter’ of Horse Polo To Play In Youngest Ever NZ Open Team
International polo star Ignatius du Plessis has flown in from South Africa to join the youngest ever NZ Polo Open team,
playing for Veuve Clicquot.
Ignatius (Nachi) du Plessis, aged 24 has achieved the high handicap rating of
8-goals, 10 is the maximum and there are fewer than a dozen 10-goalers in the world. In the Veuve Clicquot team he joins
fellow Kiwi team members Glenn Sherriff (4-goal handicap) aged 24, James Worker (2-goal handicap) aged 25 and Kit Brooks
(4-goal handicap) aged 28 years of age.
Du Plessis won the coveted Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup at the British Open Polo Championship 2011. Auckland Polo Club
President Tony van den Brink says that with a player as good as Du Plessis in their team, Veuve Clicquot stand a very
good chance of winning. “Nachi is a very smooth player, very talented and very quick. He will be playing on New Zealand
polo ponies, which are among the best in the world”, says van den Brink.
This year’s NZ Polo Open tournament will be a day of athletic prowess on the field and spectator social indulgence.
Veuve Clicquot will host VIP guests in a raised marquee with the best views of the polo, as their team competes with 6
others to win the coveted NZ Polo Open Trophy. Teams competing include Veuve Clicquot, BMW, Howard Scott & Partners, Rodd & Gunn, Mobilis and Bayleys.
Veuve Clicquot senior brands manager Rai Banbury says, "We are proud to be involved in the New Zealand Polo Open, which is a truly world class event. Veuve Clicquot has a
global affiliation with polo and Clicquot polo tournaments are celebrated in cities including Los Angeles, New York,
Cape Town and Sydney. We have high hopes for our NZ team and are looking forward to making a toast to them as they play
and with a bit of luck win, on the day".
The NZ Polo Open will take place on Sunday 24 February 10am-6pm, 102 Clevedon-Kawakawa Road, Clevedon.
ENDS