This time last week, Mastercard and Richie McCaw joined forces to offer two young New Zealand legends an opportunity of a lifetime; the chance to accompany Richie to RWC 2019™ in Japan.

Mastercard, a global partner of RWC 2019™, launched the Local Legend New Zealand competition today which will see two Mastercard customers who tap their card win a trip for two to RWC 2019™. Winners will also nominate their favourite local rugby club to send a young Local Legend to the tournament.

The competition kicked off at Ponsonby RFC with six young local legends from across the country joining Richie for a pre-RWC 2019™ training session where he passed on some of the tricks of the trade which have made him one of New Zealand’s rugby greats.

Richie says the passion shown by the young players from all over the country brought back the excitement he felt as a young player.

“Rugby is more than a game in New Zealand. It brings people of all ages and backgrounds together. No matter whether you’re from Whangarei or Bluff there’s 80 minutes every week where you throw on your boots, join together and give it your all.”

“This will be my first Rugby World Cup™ as a spectator and I’m looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere with a couple of rugby mad local legends,” he says.

Mastercard New Zealand Country Manager, Ruth Riviere says the campaign is about celebrating the grass roots rugby clubs from towns and cities all over New Zealand which have, and continue to, foster New Zealand’s rugby greats.

“We know Kiwis are rugby mad and that’s why we are very excited about the local legend campaign, as it has the potential to inspire and encourage our young rugby talent,” says Ruth Riviere.

George Massingham, Coach of Havelock North Rugby Club says the opportunity for young players from rugby clubs of all sizes is creating more than a little bit of buzz in the local clubrooms.

“An opportunity for a future rugby star to be nominated to go to RWC 2019 with Richie is something they will never forget. Our club can’t run without the young local legends who turn up every week and bring their passion and dedication to New Zealand rugby and it’s fantastic to see that recognised.”

The Mastercard tap to launch a Local Legend competition runs until 12 August.

Bios of local Eden girls who met Richie:

• Evelyn Taukolo, 9 years old: Evelyn loves the game of rugby but prefers to hold back, taking in what is going on around her before engaging. She has quiet confidence, demonstrating a great sense of team values, as well as basing her game and personality on rules and internally judging the situation before acting.
• Ellysa Taukolo, 9 years old: A real assertive player that loves getting involved with her team and other sports, Ellysa likes to find her own path, on and off the field. She has a great sense of humour, loves to be cheeky and has great confidence in herself, she responds well to ‘doing’ and visual learning as opposed to instructions.