World Cup fever hits two years early

ALASTAIR PAULIN/The Nelson Mail

ITALIAN SUPPORT: Roger Hynd displays his Italia shirt at Mapua's long lunch.

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Seagulls hovered above the estuary and cries of "ciao, bella" filled the air as more than 400 people gathered at the Mapua Wharf for a "long lunch" to celebrate the countdown to the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

About 150 adults were joined yesterday by all 260 pupils from Mapua School to enjoy a picnic lunch along with music from Richard Fry and Mapua School's band.

Four Tasman Makos were kept busy signing autographs for the children, while Storm Steer, a member of the Nelson Bays under-12 Country rugby team was the day's ball boy, getting everyone to sign a rugby ball that would be presented to one of the visiting teams in 2011. Nelson will be hosting two games during the Rugby World Cup, both involving the Italian rugby team.

The lunch was launched with a welcome in Italian from Hannah Shirer, recently returned from a year-long exchange to Italy.

She thanked the people who organised "nostra pranzo lungo" and wished everyone "bueno appetito".

Motueka's Roger Hynd showed off his Italia shirt, an Easter gift from friends in Italy, and Mapua's Bob Lancaster brought along his two French Wwoofers (willing workers on organic farms), Delphine Comparat and Sebastien Fontanel, who made pizza, salad and apple tart to share.

Organiser Janet Taylor, from the Mapua and Districts Business Association, said she was pleased with the turnout.

Many more people took part in a similar celebration at the Richmond Mall, where the walls were decked with travel posters and Richmond singer Richard Bennett sang Neapolitan songs. A Ferrari sports car and a couple of Ducati motorbikes added glamour to the scene and there were free wine and salmon samples.

Pupils from Waimea Intermediate pupils ate pizza and those in Helen McCallum's food technology class gave a spaghetti-making demonstration.

Mrs McCallum said spaghetti-making was part of their "around the world" curriculum and next week they would be making pasta sauces.

Mall manager David Hill said between 2500 and 3000 people took part in the celebrations, and many of the mall's Food Court tenants got into the spirit by producing Italian themed offerings.

"It was good, it was a great atmosphere very well received.

"There were lots of positive comments from people."

- © Fairfax NZ News