An advance party comprising Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Dane Nielsen and Ben Henry arrived in Dunedin this morning for a series of community and promotional appearances ahead of the Vodafone Warriors’ final NRL trial against Brisbane at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday (3.00pm kick-off). Photo: Photosport
At the same time the 22-man squad named for the trial heads to Queenstown for a mini camp for an open training session this afternoon, spending the night there and travelling to Dunedin on tomorrow afternoon.
The team will train at the Queenstown Events Centre at 3.30pm this afternoon.
The programme for Vatuvei, Leuluai, Nielsen and Henry today features a social media tour, a Vodafone appearance linked with the University of Otago’s Orientation Week, a Lion Red promotion and a training session as well.
On the social media tour, the players are visiting the Cadbury factory, Baldwin Street and University of Otago where they will send out tweets and post Facebook messages promoting Sunday’s trial.
The Vodafone promotion will centre on the players recording short video’s for Vodafone’s Snapchat to send out to students.
Tomorrow morning they’ll visit Carisbrook School from 10.30am-11.30am where they’ll be promoting the NRL Tackle Bullying programme. The Vodafone Warriors ran their own Warriors Against Bullying programme across many Auckland schools a few years ago.
Vatuvei, Leuluai, Nielsen and Henry will also have a training session before appearing at the Golden Centre Mall for a signing session later in the day.
Vodafone Warriors captain Simon Mannering, his Brisbane opposite Corey Parker and Vodafone Warriors ambassador Sir Peter Leitch are due to appear at the same event for a photo opportunity with the Trans-Tasman Cup which the teams will compete for on Sunday.
Saturday’s schedule begins with the Vodafone Warriors’ playing squad having a training session at Forsyth Barr Stadium while Vatuvei, Leuluai, Nielsen and Henry will attend a community carnival at University Oval. The playing squad join the carnival after training to mix and mingle with fans for half an hour.
The carnival starts at 10.00am with kids being split off into various skill stations. Vatuvei, Leuluai, Nielsen and Henry will join the stations to assist with the activities.
Later they’ll get involved in some games of Kiwi League Tag before the Vodafone Warriors’ playing squad arrives from training to mix with the kids, sign autographs and pose for photos.
The promotions players will also train and then appear at a dtr in-store promotion as well as the Super Rugby encounter between the Highlanders and the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium in the evening.
BUY TICKETS FOR VODAFONE WARRIORS v BRISBANE
DUNEDIN AND QUEENSTOWN PROGRAMME
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20
10.30am-11.30pm:
Social media tour:
Cadbury factory tour
Baldwin Street
Clock Tower, University of Otago
3.30pm-5.00pm:
Training session (playing squad)
Queenstown Events Centre
33 Joe O’Connel Drive
Frankton
4.30pm-5.30pm:
Vodafone O Week promotion:
Vodafone stall
OUSA Tent City
Museum Reserve
Dunedin
8.30pm-9.30pm:
Lion promotion:
St Kilda Tavern
2 Prince Albert Road
Dunedin
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
10.30am-11.30am:
School visit:
Carisbrook School
Surrey Street
Caversham
Dunedin 9012
3.30pm-4.00pm:
Team arrival:
Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
Corner Princes and High Streets
Dunedin
6.00pm-7.00pm:
Signing session:
Golden Centre Mall
George Street
Dunedin
Captains’ photo opportunity:
Simon Mannering and Corey Parker with Trans-Tasman Trophy
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
10.00am-11.00am:
Training session:
Forsyth Barr Stadium
130 Anzac Avenue
Dunedin
10.00am-11.30am:
Community carnival:
University Oval
Logan Park
4.30pm-5.30pm:
In-store signing session:
dtr
155 King Edward Street
Dunedin
7.30pm-9.30pm:
Super Rugby
Highlanders v Blues
Forsyth Barr Stadium
(Vatuvei, Leuluai, Nielsen and Henry to attend)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23
3.00pm:
Trans Tasman Cup
Vodafone Warriors v Brisbane
Forsyth Barr Stadium
8.50pm:
Flight departure
