Paula Southgate: Hamilton Mayor on the French Rugby team not staying in the city before the test

Hamilton's not losing sleep over the French rugby team's decision to snub the city. 

The Les Bleus are basing themselves in Auckland for as long as possible before the third test against the All Blacks in Waikato next week. 

A spokesperson says the team prefer the facilities in Auckland. 

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate told Andrew Dickens the city does sporting events very well, using its co-hosting of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup as an example. 

She says the event was very pleased with the facilities at FMG Stadium and believed Hamilton's hosting was some of the best. 

The Mayor says thousands of visitors are heading to the city for the game. 

Southgate says they're going to pack out local business and accommodation and thinks it's the French team's loss. 

The second test is on Saturday night in Wellington. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The French rugby team has snubbed staying in Hamilton ahead
of the showdown of their tour with the All Blacks
the Third Test. The squad will stay in Auckland until
just two days before the final match due to the
world class facilities and the accommodation available in the city
of Sales. Nevertheless, Lebleau will take on the national squad

(00:20):
at a sold out game at FMG Stadium on Saturday
the nineteenth. And I'm sure she's going to be there.
The mayor of Hamilton is Paula Southgate and she joins me. Now,
how then, Porler, good.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Morning, and I absolutely am going to be there.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Now. Your response to the French rugby team, can you
swear in French?

Speaker 2 (00:37):
I know I can't, can't well, and I wouldn't.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Good on you. You have more classes than they. What
would you like to say to them?

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Oh? Look, I'm not too bothered about it, to be
quite honest. We've got a fully sold out stadium, so
we've got people coming into town to have a good time.
They're going to spill out into our businesses and support
our hospitality in retail. I know we've got fantastic accommodation. Offer,
and I know we've got a fantastic stadium, So I
think it's a little bit more of their loss for hours.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
If this becomes a bit of a trend though, if
the word gets out to international teams around the world,
does it hurt the city's ability to host big games
going forward? After all, this is the first test you've
had for three years now.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
I don't believe it does. Look, we had FIFA in
last year. We hosted FIFA at Women's World Cup. They
said to me directly that our hosting was some of
the best they had in the whole time they were away.
They were very, very pleased with the facilities at our stadium,
with the changing facilities, with the training facilities around town,

(01:41):
and had no issues staying in Hamilton either. Look, you know,
I know we're a great city with lots to offer.
I think it's a French's loss and our game.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
What have they lost? I mean, what are they missing
out on by not staying in Hamilton? Obviously a trip
to the gardens.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Oh, obviously, a trip to gardens number one Trip Advisor
travel attraction in New Zealand. So that's that's something that
they should have come down to see. For sure. But look,
you know, Hamilton's an easygoing city. We've got all that
you need here. We've got great hotels, we've got great stadium.
As I say, we haven't got the traffic congestion. It's
easy to move around. It's nice and quiet, and you know,

(02:20):
I think they would have had a very relaxing time
and they were a good form for the game.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
They should have gone for a run around the lake.
Whenever I go to Hamilton, I go for a walk
around the lake. It's very, very pretty. Now you say that,
you said pretty.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
And the river Park Riverway as well.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
Of course there's a lovely parade down the river and
you go past the spitfire and it's all good. Hey,
are you still the fastest growing city in the country
or has christ ur It's taken over that mantle.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
No, as far as I know, we're still the fastest
between the fastest for the last two years, and the
demographers that I speak to, all these population experts, as
far as they can tell us that we probably will
be for another two to five years. It's all happening
here in Hamilton. And actually, you know, I think think
sometimes people forget that we're a city that's come of
age and we've got a lot of really great things

(03:05):
going on here and as I say, easy living, easy
to get around, friendly people. But at the end of
the day with the French, it doesn't matter because we're
going to beat them on the pitch.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
Hey boiler, great. I probably should have charged you for that,
and but there we go. Pow the south Gate, Mayor
of Hamilton. For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge.
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