Comment permalink

Hosting  a semifinalwill not be a cash bonanza for Otago but will be a good chance to promote the union in the South.

Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley said the union was happy with the game being played on Friday night on a long weekend.

``From what we have been told, people have been saying to us they would rather it was on the Friday as they can stay for the game and then go away on Saturday,'' he said.

``But for me and the team here it is about being able to host a game here in Dunedin and keep the profile of rugby and the game here high. It will give the fans here a chance to experience playing in a semifinal.''

The other semifinal - between Wellington and North Harbour - will be on Saturday afternoon.

The last time the union hosted a playoff game - in 2013, a semifinal against Hawkes Bay - a crowd of 7400 turned up. That was the day after a Bledisloe Cup game at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Kinley said he was aiming for something similar although it was always hard to tell how many people would turn up.

Public sales open this morning.

There was not a large financial windfall for the union in hosting playoff games.

``Don't get me wrong. It is great that we are hosting a game and that is where we want to be. But once you take off the costs for the other teams, and other expenses, such as the hire of the venue, it is not a massive amount.''

He said crowds had been close to budget for the year. Crowds had been around 3000 to 4000 for the five home games at the stadium.

Kinley said the side had performed well all season and had been great ambassadors for the province and the union.

Meanwhile, Kinley said the union was thinking of who would replace assistant coach Ben Herring. Herring was off to Japan at the end of the season after just one year as the assistant to coach Cory Brown.Kinley said the union had not parked the issue and was working through proposals.

It was a shame to lose Herring but people leaving - either players or coaches - would always happen.