Andrew Grant: Hurricanes superfan on travelling to Wellington for the Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final

The Hurricanes appearing a Super Rugby final for the first time in 10 years will feel like a longtime coming for the side's fanbase.

It's feeling extra special for super fan Andrew Grant, and his 10-year-old son Connor, who've travelled more than 17,000 kilometres to watch the Hurricanes in as many games as possible this season.

They live in Auckland - but are die-hard Hurricanes fans - and have been to all the side's home games through their successful 2026 season, along with many others including the match against the Drua in Fiji.

Andrew joined Adam to talk about their miles to see the team this year, and offer a score prediction for tonight.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
News talks to me. Well, the Hurricanes appearing in a
Super Rugby final will feel like a long time coming
for many fans, But how about for a super fan
who's actually based in Auckland but travel thousands of miles
to follow the Hurricanes all year, including coming down from
where they live in Auckland to cheer on the Hurricanes
at all their home games this year and many more
internationally as well. That's the case for Andrew Grant, who's

(00:23):
been a passionate Hurricanes fan since the early two thousands,
and he's now converted his ten year old son Connor
into a Caines fan too. We love that they're both
about to board their plane up in Auckland to head
down to Wellington for tonight's game. Andrew, morning to hear
you've wrecked up the air miles traveling for the team
this year. I believe you've done the calculations. Tell everyone
listening just how far you've traveled to support the Hurricanes

(00:44):
in twenty twenty six. Mate.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, so this year we've done over seventeen thousand k's
twenty two flights, about thirty ubers and about thirty car rights.
It does help that we did fly to Fiji and
go to watch them play in Latoga where we talk
my wife into going on holidays, so that helped get

(01:08):
us across the line to go there. So yeah, we've
been to Napier down to the Super Runo and christ
Teiche as well.

Speaker 3 (01:16):
So yeah, and to every home game down in Wellington.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Incredible effort, Andrew. That's amazing and it's not often there's
Hurricanes fans. We can say this that these Grand Finals
come around very often, is it? No?

Speaker 3 (01:29):
I was.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
I've been to the two down in Wellington previously. I
was at the two twenty fifteen loss and then was
there at the twenty sixteen Whens, so that was great
to be there. So ten years later, here I am
and I guess Connor was born ten years ago and

(01:52):
I left him at home to go to that Grand
Final and this time I've got them by my side,
so it's pretty special.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Oh great, And I know the Hurricanes have included you
guys and a few of their team bits and pieces
this year some of their home games you've come down for.
That must have been amazing for Connor as well. You know,
a ten year old meeting the heroes is also is
always special. But even for you as well, Andrew. It
must have been an amazing way to be integrated into
the Canes this year.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
It's amazing that Hurricane team, the whole team and management
and the whole administration really has been fantastic for us,
and that yes, they have embraced us throughout this year.
And we were lucky enough to get in the changing
room after the Queensland Reds game and sing that winning
song with them and get thanked by Brad Shields for

(02:38):
being super crazy super fans that fly everywhere. And yeah,
that was an amazing experience and something that would never
leave me.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
And yeah, my son just thinks this is all normal
for him now.

Speaker 1 (02:52):
Yeah, that's going to be hard to matchs and years ahead.
It is a real commitment, though. What drives you to
put in the time, effort and money to try seventeen
thousand k's in a season and support a Hurricanes team
like this?

Speaker 2 (03:05):
Really, I love the Canes and I've loved them for
you know, since two thousand when Jonah, my og Hurricanes
player that I followed, came down and so, but this
is really for my son. We took him down to
his first game in twenty twenty four. Versus the Chiefs
in fact, and he just has an obsession with the

(03:27):
Canes and rugby since then, and this is more for
him and spending great time with my son. It's we
have a great time. And you know, it takes a
lot of planning, getting the special deals and flights and accommodation,
making sure that we're basically saving up the whole year

(03:48):
for this, and yeah, it does take a lot of
planning and a lot of sacrifice on doing other things
as well.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
As someone who's watched this team closely for so many years,
when in this year's campaign particularly, did you think this
actually could be the year we finally do it again?

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Really, I love the Canes and I've loved them for
you know, since two thousand when Jonah, my og Hurricanes
player that I followed, came down and so but this
is really for my son. We took him down to
his first game in twenty twenty four versus the Chiefs
in fact, and he just has an obsession with the

(04:27):
Canes and rugby since then, and this is more for
him and spending great time with my son. It's we
have a great time, and you know, it takes a
lot of planning, getting the special deals and flights and accommodation,
making sure that we're basically saving up the whole year

(04:48):
for this, and yeah, it does take a lot of
planning and a lot of sacrifice on doing other things
as well.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
Now you're Auckland based, so I assume you went down
to Hamilton for that time. The Hurricanes met the Chiefs
most recently in April, the extra time win for the Chiefs.

Speaker 3 (05:04):
Of course, yes, we were.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, we were just sitting behind the bench there and
that was a bit of a heartbreak one. You know,
it didn't help themselves in that game, but yeah, but
we had the wood on the Chiefs for most of
that game.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
When you say the word heartbreak Andrew supporting the team
since the year two thousand, I guess it's fair to
say there would have been a fair bit of heartbreak
suffered by you in that time. With how some Hurricanes
campaigns and games have played out, does it make moments
like these special though having gone through those tough.

Speaker 3 (05:35):
Years, Oh, we've had many a tough years.

Speaker 2 (05:38):
This does make it really special because teams like this
don't come around this often, and so hopefully this is
the start of a bit of a role for them,
But yeah, this team has been building for a number
of years, so this this feels special. This feels different
for me. Yeah, maybe it's because I've we've had the

(06:01):
year that we've had in the connection with the team,
but it definitely feels different just watching them and seeing
the way they play.

Speaker 1 (06:08):
What do the Hurricanes need to do tonight to be successful?

Speaker 3 (06:10):
Andrew, Well, it's going to be a cracker of the game.
The Chiefs side is a good side.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
As well, but I just think if they limit their
mistakes and play the way they've been playing, I think
we've got enough firepower to get over them. And you know,
over the years, everyone talks about how poor a Hurricane
Ford pack has been, but not this year. This year's
Ford pack has been brutal and has been accurate and

(06:37):
it's been amazing to watch.

Speaker 3 (06:38):
So we've got a great foundation up front.

Speaker 2 (06:42):
The backs have been on fire as well, running into
space and crowding space.

Speaker 3 (06:47):
So it's exciting. You know.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
I could see this game being tight early on, but
then the Hurricanes running away with it again.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
What type of fans are you? And Connor? Are you clappers?
Loud cheerers, yell? How do you contribute under stands during games.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
I guess, yeah, I'm a little bit of a yeller.
Connor's a bit more conservative, but I think my influence
is rubbing off on him and he's starting to yell
a bit now too.

Speaker 3 (07:14):
So But yeah, no, yeah, we're passionate.

Speaker 1 (07:18):
And confident you and the Hurricanes fans around you will
drown out any cow bells near you tonight.

Speaker 2 (07:23):
Yeah. That's one thing that Connor doesn't like. He always says, oh,
those I don't like those Hurricanes, those cowbells, Dad, especially
when we go to Chiefs games when the Hurricanes are
playing up there.

Speaker 3 (07:35):
So but I'm sure they'll be there.

Speaker 2 (07:37):
But yeah, I'm sure the Hurricanes can chant can drown
them out.

Speaker 1 (07:42):
All right, Andrew, let's get a score prediction before you
go for tonight.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
I'm going to go thirty five twenty to the Canes.
I think it will be tighter than the games that
we've had in the last couple of weeks, but going
to be comfortable.

Speaker 1 (07:58):
Good on, Andrew. I hope that's a special night, regardless
of the result. We all want the result to be
a certain way, of course, but regardless of the result,
I hope it's a special night for you. And Connor
are well done on your amazing dedicated support for the
team this year and everything you've gone through to be
at as many games as you could, so you deserve
to enjoy the night. I hope it goes well.

Speaker 3 (08:18):
And thank you so much and the Canes.

Speaker 1 (08:21):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.