To mark the third and final test match of France’s Tour of Aotearoa, Te Arawhata hosted a screening of the game in front of the Museum.
With the match being played on the opposite side of the world to this beautiful small French town, kick off was at the early hour of 9 am. Accordingly, last year’s beer and burgers were substituted for coffee and crepes. This was the second match shown at Te Arawhata since its opening in October 2023, the first being a chilly night last November. Like last time, there was a great turnout of local rugby fans, making for a fun and quietly combative atmosphere as the two great rugby rivals clashed in Hamilton.
The event was made even better thanks to the generous donation of two rugby jerseys signed by the All Blacks and Les Bleus teams by Altrad, a principal sponsor of both sides. The jerseys were part of an Instagram giveaway designed to continue spreading the word of the Museum and engage with more rugby diehards across the world. With over 200 entries, the All Blacks jersey went to local Quercitaine Léa, and the French jersey to Toby from Rotorua.
Te Arawhata is an active member of the Le Quesnoy community. The Museum holds events all throughout the year to keep the memory of the liberation of Le Quesnoy alive, but also to share New Zealand culture with our local friends. Stay tuned for the next opportunity to create connections!