Vodafone Warriors Sam Tomkins, Ben Henry and Ngani Laumape were out supporting the annual Poppy Day at SKYCITY on Friday just a week out from the club's first-ever Anzac Day match at Mount Smart Stadium.
The Vodafone Warriors take on Gold Coast next Saturday (1.45pm kick-off) in the first of five NRL matches being played on a day New Zealanders and Australians will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli.
On Friday Tomkins, Henty and Laumape were joined by Blues players collecting money on Poppy Day underneath the Sky Tower. A number of New Zealand Defence Forces serving personnel and army vehicles were also on site.
SKYCITY is hosting a World War One centennial commemoration display, inviting visitors to pay their respects by adding a special poppy sticker to the windows of the Sky Tower, 186 metres above ground
In the third year of its poppy partnership with the Auckland RSA, SKYCITY also has a poppy display down Federal Street.
From yesterday through to April 27, Sky Tower visitors will receive a poppy sticker to place on the windows of the main observation deck, which will grow into a field of poppies 186m above the ground. Tomkins, Henry and Laumape added their poppies on a visit up the tower yesterday.
Over Anzac weekend, all RSA members and current serving NZDF will receive free entry to the Sky Tower and SKYCITY will provide free Anzca biscuits for all Sky Tower visitors from April 25-27.
Auckland RSA president Graham Gibson says the SKYCITY Poppy Partnership provides invaluable help, not only in supporting veterans, but assisting the organisation to engage with younger generations of New Zealanders.
"We have been working hard on appealing to young Kiwis so they understand the importance of Anzac Day and understand the history behind it," he said.
A special Anzac Day ceremony will precede next Saturday's NRL match between the Vodafone Warriors and the Titans featuring the Last Post, the Ode of Remembrance, a moment's silence and the New Zealand and Australian national anthems.
Gates open at Mount Smart Stadium at 9.30 followed by the Vodafone Junior Warriors facing the Titans in their NYC clash at 9.40am and the New South Wales Cup contest between the Vodafone Warriors and Newtown at 11.40am.
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