SPREAD THE FEVER

We have been delighted with the fantastic win over Canterbury by the Southland Stags which has seen the Log of Wood rest in Southland over the Summer. In fact, it is fitting at this time , that this great piece of Rugby history, the Ranfurly Shield should rest in one of the rural provinces.

The provincial reaction to the return on of the great trophy should send a signal to the people who are organising the rugby World Cup. Its time to start building up the support to the Big Event. Its time to start bringing the country, the whole country, in together. We have as they say 4 million ambassadors.

But without a doubt this going to be a big mission and many of those in the events and PR industries are starting to voice concern that the Government and indeed the Rugby World Cup 2011 are leaving the job to build the fever a little late.

Its not like Rugby is the thing that binds us as a nation anymore. We saw that when we attended the Wellington vs North Harbour Game last weekend. The small crowd looked lonely.

We remember 10 years ago when it seemed the whole of Wellington would turn out for the most uneven of rugby battles. The city pumped, there was hardly a seat in any pubs as they took care of the overflow of the punters who could only settle for seeing the game on a big screen. They were the glory days.

As we walked to the game last Saturday the pubs were virtually empty. There was no buzz.

So those who are organising the Big Event are starting with the biggest of handicaps - Apathy.

And to build the fervour, to get everyone excited, and to understand that an event the size of the Rugby World Cup will have untold the spin offs , the like of which we saw with the Lions tour, then someone needs to start infecting the provinces with rugby fever...

And we don't want the flashy stories of who the rugby stars are shagging, We want to hear about the stories of the players who wouldn't be All Blacks if its wasn't for the unfailing support of their mum who cleaned nights to pay for her boys new rugby boots and his out of town trips.

We want to hear of the fundraising groups who tirelessly make cheese rolls and lamingtons so that the boys can play under flood lights at night.

We want to hear that someone is willing to donate a kidney to one of our greatest sporting heros so he can live. We want to hear that they make good dads.

And we want to see them playing hard like its not a job but something they were born to do - that to play the great game was their destiny.

We don't want to hear about superstars just heroes. Heroes like the Southland Stags. That's what the story of the Rugby World Cup should be all about. Ordinary people with big hearts doing great things. Stories that will infect us with pride.

Tell us those stories and we will catch the fever.