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Pennant plea to create mood during rugby event

Dominique Klippel is collecting flags for the Waitaki Golden Oldies Rugby Festival. Photo by Ben...
Dominique Klippel is collecting flags for the Waitaki Golden Oldies Rugby Festival. Photo by Ben Guild.

Dominique Klippel wants to see Oamaru aflutter with foreign flags in early October while hundreds of senior men crash into each other during the Waitaki Golden Oldies Rugby Festival.

As festival co-ordinator, she is appealing for people to loan or give flags of participating Rugby World Cup nations, which will be flown throughout the town during the three-day event.

The aim was to create a festive mood in the town during the "other" rugby tournament, she said. In particular, the flags of England, Argentina, Ireland and Italy were being sought.

"We are short of flags for participating nations for the teams that are playing in Dunedin," she said.

"It will be great for fans from those countries to see their nation's flags."

Offers of pennants had already poured in "from all around the world", Ms Klippel said.

Twenty teams are confirmed for the tournament, on the first weekend of October, but it is hoped that number will rise to 25.

The weekend will feature a gala dinner hosted by Commonwealth Games gold-medal winner Dick Tayler and featuring guest speakers former All Blacks Grant Batty and Ian Kirkpatrick, and a music festival including the Feelers, the Beat Girls and the Black Velvet Irish Band.

A campervan village will be set up alongside the field of play at Centennial Park.

Those keen to give or lend a flag can contact the North Otago Rugby Union office.

 

 

 

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