Major Community Programme Confirmed For ‘the Capital Clash’

Vodafone Warriors Media Release

Major Community Programme Confirmed For ‘the Capital Clash’

Auckland, New Zealand, May 02, 2013 – The Vodafone Warriors have today confirmed a packed Wellington region-wide schedule of community events and public appearances in the build-up to ‘The Capital Clash’ against Canterbury-Bankstown at Westpac Stadium on Saturday, May 11 (match day sponsor: Vodafone).

Game day will feature a triple header starting with the Auckland Vulcans taking on Wyong in the New South Wales Cup (3.10pm kick-off) followed by the Vodafone Junior Warriors facing the Bulldogs in the NYC (5.15pm kick-off) and the Vodafone Warriors meeting the Bulldogs in the NRL contest (7.35pm kick-off).

Working with the Wellington Rugby League, the Vodafone Warriors will have a presence from this weekend when they kick off a six-day programme incorporating community events, coaching clinics, club visits, quiz nights, a hospital visit, sponsor appearances and corporate events.

There’ll be events as far north as Otaki and Paraparaumu as well as across many areas in Wellington and Lower Hutt. The full programme is listed below.

“Taking this game to Wellington is very special for us,” said Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah.

“While this is our 19th season in the competition it’s the first time in history that we’ve taken a home game outside Auckland.

“We want our members and other sports fans in the Wellington area and the surrounding region to be totally involved in the event.

“We’ve produced a special Wellington strip for our NRL side to wear to mark the occasion and we’ll be out and about meeting people in the community throughout the week. We’re really excited about it and about helping the WRL to raise greater awareness for rugby league in the Capital.”

Club legends Dean Bell (Warrior #1) and Stacey Jones (Warrior #24) will be part of the advance guard. Foundation Vodafone Warriors captain Bell, now the club’s general manager football operations, and junior recruitment and pathways coach Jones will be part of a convoy driving to Wellington on Saturday. The fleet of vehicles will include the distinctive ‘Road Warrior’, a modified Suzuki Swift, which will be seen throughout the Wellington region travelling from event to event.

Bell and Jones will meet members and fans at two events on Sunday, first an in-store visit to Brendan Foot Suzuki in Lower Hutt before arriving at Lovelocks Sports Bar in the city where they’ll join members and fans to watch television coverage of the Vodafone Warriors’ match against Gold Coast being played at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland (kicking off at 2.00pm). The public are invited to join them for a programme of events including a question and answer session with Bell and Jones as well as competitions and giveaways.

Bell and Jones will head up four more Vodafone Warriors events on Monday, one of which will be at Otaki College when they’ll join WRL staff to run a ‘Leadership through League’ programme for students.

On Tuesday, Bell and Jones will be joined by four players from the club’s 2013 NRL squad for events across the next four days in Lower Hutt, central Wellington, Porirua and Paraparaumu.

On Thursday afternoon, Vodafone Warriors head coach Matthew Elliott will arrive in Wellington along with assistant coaches Andrew McFadden and Ricky Henry, head strength and conditioning coach Carl Jennings and strength, strength and conditioning coach – and club legend – Ruben Wiki and sports science manager Brad Morris. They’ll join Bell and Jones at a clinic for Wellington coaches on Thursday night.

Vodafone Warriors captain Simon Mannering and the squad to play the Bulldogs fly into Wellington on Friday, May 10, due to arrive about 10.00am before heading to Westpac Stadium for their final pre-game training run due to start at 11.00am. All Vodafone Warriors members living in the Wellington area or travelling to the city for the game are invited to watch the session along with specially-invited guests and the media. The players will hold a signing session after their run.

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