A capacity crowd braved hot temperatures and a suspense-filled, riveting clash between the Highlanders and Crusaders at Rugby Park in Invercargill last Thursday.
The Highlanders scorched their competition with a blazing 29-24 win over the Crusaders.
The Highlanders and Crusaders Waitangi Day rugby match was a special collaboration between the regions, Highlanders marketing manager Amanda Gould said.
"Southland’s really turned the weather on for us and we couldn’t be more stoked with the crowd," she said.
While in Southland, the Highlanders went to a charity lunch and visited nine schools.
Highlander fans travelled from as far as the United Kingdom and as close as Waihōpai for the special February 6 match.
The Highlanders were billeted with local families last week and stayed with about 20 different families in the region, from Dipton to Invercargill.
All were delighted by the southern hospitality, Gould said.
For some, it was their first time in Invercargill.
North Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Sene Naoupu was at the match and echoed Gould’s sentiments about the opportunity the game had given the players and the region.
"Thousands have come out today, so credit to everyone involved in organising the event," Naoupu said.
"It’s been a wonderful spectacle out there between the Crusaders and Highlanders."
