Latest news with #ColinMansbridge
Scoop
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Scoop
Cowbell-Gate And Toxic Crusaders Push Super Rugby Pacific In The Right Direction
Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final Crusaders v Chiefs Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 21 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ Analysis: Are we finally getting there as a rugby fanbase? This week's big rugby story wasn't about injuries, selections or even the impending All Black squad announcement. No, it was about the banning of an either beloved or despised noisemaker - depending on where you're from - for Saturday night's Super Rugby Pacific grand final. The news that the Crusaders have forbidden cowbells for the game came out of nowhere on Wednesday. Well, almost nowhere, as that's the best way to describe LinkedIn. The last time the headquarters of humble bragging made rugby news was during the fallout of Ian Foster infamously ducking a press conference, but this time it was the platform Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge used to pass his heavy-handed edict on the use of cowbells at Apollo Projects Stadium. Was it a total work from the start? Given the Chiefs response was to encourage travelling fans to use a recently launched cowbell app, it certainly seems so, but it doesn't matter if Mansbridge and Chiefs counterpart Simon Graafhuis cooked this all up over a beer, because it's this sort of outside-the-box thinking rugby needs. The Blues have made a concerted effort to use their social media platforms to show a bit of attitude, while Rieko Ioane is happy enough to simply do it himself. The current environment is one that's catching up with the way things are done overseas, but also shows that things can head into that sweet spot of suspended disbelief and still generate legitimate interest. To put things in perspective, an RNZ Facebook post about the cowbell ban on Wednesday pulled in more than 10 times the number of comments than any other story that day. Why? Because it was an easy outlet to vent frustration. You didn't need to know anything about the Crusaders and Chiefs final, or even rugby, but the door was opened to have a view on a much more black-and-white issue. Because really, this was the Crusaders finally embracing the very powerful 'you might hate us, but we hate you even more' attitude, one they've unfortunately earned full right to make use of, thanks to their now extensive trophy collection. Teams don't owe each other anything on the field, so why would they off it? Admittedly, due to the wider issue of hooliganism, football's restriction makes away trips all the more intimidating nonetheless. In many countries, you have to sit in one specific part of the stadium, alcohol is prohibited, and fans aren't even allowed in certain parts of the city before and after the match. There's nothing wrong with making another team's fans feel uncomfortable. If anything, it'll force them to adapt and support their team even louder, which is what happens when you pen everyone in an away section. For far too long, rugby has used the British crutch of being a sport for the landed gentry to preclude itself from any forward-thinking marketing strategies. The irony is the cloyingly class-based restrictions being presented with a straight face, like the laughable 'respect the kicker' tradition in UK stadiums. The best part of Cowbell-gate is how it should hopefully start some serious feudalism going forward. Win or lose, the Chiefs now have the entire off season to think of a way of getting back at the Crusaders and their fans, perhaps making each one entering FMG Stadium Waikato pass an eye test or proving their family's genealogy doesn't overlap too much. If the Chiefs can pull off a win, there will be absolutely no surprises at all, if the first thing they do is pull a cowbell out and give the home fans something to listen to when they're trudging home.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Cowbell-Gate and Toxic Crusaders push Super Rugby Pacific in the right direction
Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final Crusaders v Chiefs Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 21 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ Analysis: Are we finally getting there as a rugby fanbase? This week's big rugby story wasn't about injuries, selections or even the impending All Black squad announcement. No, it was about the banning of an either beloved or despised noise maker (depending on where you're from) for Saturday night's grand final . The news that the Crusaders have forbidden cowbells for the game came out of nowhere on Wednesday. Well, almost nowhere as that's the best way to describe LinkedIn. The last time the headquarters of humblebragging made rugby news was during the fallout of Ian Foster infamously ducking a press conference, but this time it was the platform Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge used to pass his heavy-handed edict on the use of cowbells at Apollo Projects Stadium. Was it a total work from the start? Given the Chiefs' response was to encourage travelling fans to use a recently launched cowbell app, it certainly seems so. But if Mansbridge and his Chiefs counterpart Simon Graafhuis cooked this all up over a beer then it doesn't really matter, because it's this sort of outside the box thinking that rugby needs. Rugby writer Jamie Wall with Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge Photo: Supplied It's all on the back of a concerted effort by the Blues to use their social media platforms to show a bit of attitude, while Rieko Ioane is happy enough to simply do it himself. The current environment is one that's catching up with the way things are done overseas but also shows that things can head into that sweet spot of suspended disbelief and still generate legitimate interest. To put things in perspective: an RNZ Facebook post about the cowbell ban on Wednesday pulled in over 10 times the number of comments than any other story that day. Why? Because it was an easy outlet to vent frustration. You didn't need to know anything about the Crusaders and Chiefs final, or even rugby, but the door was opened to have a view on a much more black and white issue. Scott Barrett scores a try during the Crusaders v Chiefs, Super Rugby Pacific match, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch. Photo: Martin Hunter/ActionPress Because really, this was the Crusaders finally embracing the very powerful 'you might hate us, but we hate you even more' attitude, one they've unfortunately earned full right to make use of thanks to their now extensive trophy collection. Teams don't owe each other anything on the field, so why would they off it? Admittedly, due to the wider issue of hooliganism, football's restriction makes away trips all the more intimidating nonetheless. In a lot of countries you have to sit in one specific part of the stadium, alcohol is prohibited, and fans aren't even allowed in certain parts of the city before and after the match. English football fans jump the fence to get away from the violence. Photo: AFP There's nothing wrong with making another team's fans feel uncomfortable. If anything, it'll force them to adapt and support their team even louder, which is what happens when you pen everyone in an away section. Rugby has, for far too long, used the British crutch of it being a sport for the landed gentry to preclude itself from any forward-thinking marketing strategies. The irony in that is the cloyingly class-based restrictions being presented with a straight face, like the laughable 'respect the kicker' tradition in UK stadiums. The best part of Cowbell-Gate is how it should hopefully start some serious feudalism going forward. Win or lose, the Chiefs now have the entire off season to think of a way of getting back at the Crusaders and their fans, perhaps making each one entering FMG Stadium Waikato pass an eye test or proving their family's genealogy doesn't overlap too much. But if the Chiefs can pull of a win, there will be absolutely no surprises at all if the first thing they do is pull a cowbell out and give the home fans something to listen to when they're trudging home.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Former Crusader Bryn Hall disappointed cowbells silenced for Super Rugby final
Some young Waikato fans. Photo: Bruce Lim / The chief executive of the Crusaders says he expects "polite applause" from visiting fans, renewing his stance that cowbells will be prohibited from the Super Rugby grand final. The Crusaders will host the Chiefs in Saturday's decider at Christchurch's Apollo Projects Stadium, likely to be one of the last Super Rugby games played at the Addington venue. A capacity crowd of 17,000 is expected with ticket sales tracking towards a sell-out. Although the refusal has been made amid a backdrop of good-natured sparring by both franchises and their respective officials, Crusaders' chief executive Colin Mansbridge claimed the confined dimensions of the ground were a factor. "I don't think people appreciate how small the venue is," he told Checkpoint. "When it's full it's very intimate and very tight. "I think the [Chiefs supporters] should be able to sing and dance and have fun, but I don't think they have the right to turn it into their home ground." The ban was met with mixed views by people RNZ spoke to around central Christchurch on Wednesday. One woman said although the cowbells irked her, she did not know how the ban could be enforced. "I find them really annoying at any of the games that they play. I don't mind Waikato as a team, but yeah keep the bells away," she said. Another man, who was wearing a vintage Canterbury NPC jersey, felt the move was heavy-handed. "It's bulls**t really. Surely they could make a bit of noise." Meanwhile, a man claiming to be a Chiefs supporter said it would not have been an issue if his side had beaten the Blues in their qualifying final earlier this month, which would have given the team home advantage for the final. Former Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall said the cowbells were integral to Chiefs fandom and added to the atmosphere. "Well that's one-nil for the Crusaders (the ban)," he said. "I really enjoy it, it brings something different and it's part of their legacy when you do play the Chiefs. "It'll be disappointing not to have them there. But for the crowd not hearing them will be something positive for the Cantabs." Chiefs chief executive Simon Graafhuis has implored fans to download the digital cowbell to their phones as an alternative. "I think we'll just take it as a compliment that they're probably a little bit worried about our fans and the impact they can have," he said. Crusaders fans. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021 It remains to be seen whether Saturday's final will be the last Super Rugby game played at the Crusaders' post-quake headquarters. Christchurch's new 30,000 multi-use central city venue One New Zealand Stadium, also known as Te Kaha, is due to open in April. After the devastating Canterbury earthquakes damaged Lancaster Park beyond repair, Crusaders home games were moved to the upgraded Rugby League Park in Addington from 2012 onwards. The venue will host its fourth and last final on Saturday . Te Kaha Stadium Photo: Supplied / One NZ With next year's Super Rugby draw still to be finalised, Crusaders management have not ruled out home games at Apollo Projects Stadium during the early stages of next year's competition. One fan RNZ spoke to said he would not be sad to see the back of the ground. "It's cold, it's a hole. And I can see the new one down there, it's going to be awesome." Plans are in motion to bring back Super Round for the 2026 season with Te Kaha the frontrunner to host the event over Anzac weekend.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Chiefs fans banned from bringing cow bells to Super Rugby final
sport life and society 29 minutes ago Chiefs fans have been told that cow bells are not welcome at the Super Rugby Pacific final in Christchurch on Saturday. The Waikato supporters are known for enthusiastically ringing the metal bells that were traditionally tied around cows necks. But the Crusaders have warned fans metal bells will be confiscated at the gate at Apollo Project stadium, and they may be melted down. Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge spoke to Lisa Owen.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
'Leave them at home': Cowbells a no-no at Super Rugby Pacific final
Photo: Photosport The Crusaders don't want any Chiefs fans to bring cowbells to the Super Rugby Pacific final in Christchurch on Saturday. The final is set up as the perfect crescendo to a compelling 2025 season, with the Chiefs, the number one ranked team in the round robin and second ranked Crusaders to duke it out. The Crusaders have never lost a playoff match. Since Super Rugby began in 1996, they've gone unbeaten in 31 home finals and playoff games across three decades. For the last 14 years, the 17,000-capacity Apollo Projects stadium has hosted the Crusaders but the franchise is set to move to the much bigger One New Zealand Te Kaha Stadium, when it opens next year. In a LinkedIn post, Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge said Chiefs fans were welcome, but not their noisy cowbells. "There's also the fact that it's tight. It's not FMG (Farmers Mutual Group) Stadium or Eden Park, New Zealand. It's tight. It's compact and there's just enough room to wave a really thin flag. There ain't no room to swing a bloody big cowbell and take out the person sitting in the seat beside you. "This is going to be a game for the ages. It's going to be a game for fans to enjoy. All Chiefs Rugby Club fans are hugely welcome to come and enjoy the venue." "No cowbells. "I'll be asking Venues Ōtautahi to melt them down at the gate. So, seriously, leave them at home!" Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
