Saving The South

Northern New Zealand rugby mascot goes on a fundraising trip to help save the south:

Larger than life rugby mascot Hori BOP is embarking on a 1300km hikoi to help save Otago rugby.

The Tauranga resident - real name Terry Leaming - is hitch-hiking to Dunedin today after hearing news of Otago rugby's $2 million debt crisis with a last-ditch bid to save the union from extinction.

"New Zealand rugby without Otago? That's like Hori BOP without a pie in his mouth!", the 170kg Leaming said.

"Otago is a vital part of New Zealand rugby and the whole country has got to get behind them to make sure they stay a part of it. We just can't allow them to fold - the NZRU and the rugby community have got to step up and save our southerners."

...While he's in Dunedin, Leaming plans on swimming across the harbour as an additional fund-raiser, bless the new stadium and jokes he's also gauging interest in developing a new blue cod pie.

Though he remains a committed Bay of Plenty supporter - with many officials suggesting he should be committed - Leaming has a lot of sympathy for Otago's plight.

"Bay of Plenty loaned Otago the use of our blue and gold colours all those years ago so there's a deep connection there and besides, we've got far more Bay players in the Highlanders than those useless bloody Chiefs," Leaming said.

"But this trip isn't about a provincial pissing contest. It's about sharing the love with our southern cuzzies. We love to beat the crap out of them on the pitch but off the pitch, we've got to stick together."

...Otago rugby has nearly 200 creditors and debts of $2.35 million and is looking at a significant revenue shortfall this year. ORFU chairman Wayne Graham said the board had taken the only responsible action it had available to it by proposing to go in to liquidation.