Venue: Banquet Hall, Parliament, Wellington

Time: 5.15pm, 3 June 2008

Prime Minister; fellow MP and opposition spokesman for Sport and Recreation Murray McCully; Honorary Consul for Ireland Rodney Walsh.

 I especially welcome our Irish guests, IRU President Der Healy and Mrs Healy; Coach Michael Bradley; Treasurer Tom Grace; Team Manager Joe Miles; Captain Brian O’Driscoll and the rest of the Irish rugby team and management. 

And of course a very warm welcome to our All Black coach Graeme Henry; Captain Richie McCaw and the All Black squad and management.

Like everyone else, I am looking forward to Saturday’s match with great anticipation.  We remember Ireland’s last visit to New Zealand just two years ago when the All Blacks were pushed all the way before grinding out narrow victories in Hamilton and Auckland.

And while Ireland is seeking its first victory over the All Blacks, all New Zealand rugby fans are well aware that an Irish team has beaten New Zealand.

It is fitting that this game heralds the 30^th anniversary of Munster’s famous 12-nil victory over Grahame Mourie’s Grand Slam All Blacks back in 1978.

As most of us remember, the All Blacks swept all before them in the internationals on that tour, but the Mighty Men of Munster scored a famous victory. 

That anniversary will be celebrated when the All Blacks meet Munster during the November northern hemisphere tour, just days after New Zealand and Ireland meet for a second time this year when they clash in Dublin.

And while we remember Munster’s great feat against the All Blacks, we have here with us tonight a man who almost gave Ireland victory in an epic match in Dublin in 1973.  Tom Grace, now the treasurer of the Irish Rugby Union, was back then a winger for Ireland and with his team trailing 10-6 in injury time, Tom chipped and chased and beat the despairing All Black cover to score a fabulous try.  Alas for Ireland, the conversion drifted wide and they had to be content with a draw.

Congratulations also to Munster and Irish rugby for the recent success against Toulouse to become club champions of Europe.

New Zealand and Irish rugby share various traits and values.  One of those is the importance of the game at the grassroots level.

I am delighted to see here today in addition to internationals and senior officials, the real backbone of the game – players, administrators and volunteers from the clubs. 

Without the volunteers, the mums and dads and the club stalwarts helping out teams whether they are in Greymouth or Garryowen, the game wouldn’t survive.

It is a challenge for rugby administrators everywhere in this age of professionalism not to lose touch with the foundation of the game.

The New Zealand government has various initiatives to get kids to take part in sport and recreation and support programmes for national sports organisations to help with volunteer retention.

As the Minister for Rugby World Cup, I look forward to Ireland being back in New Zealand in 2011 when we will host the Rugby World Cup.   While you might think a world cup is a long way from the grass roots of the game, it is not just about stadiums and viewing audiences. 

The rugby world cup is a festival where rugby is the trigger point.  Clubs, towns and regions will be part of that festival and the aim is to share the benefits widely. 

This government is working closely with Rugby New Zealand 2011 Limited to ensure that the tournament will be one which I’m sure everyone will enjoy, including the Irish rugby team and hopefully thousands of its supporters.

I wish both teams all the best.  To Brian and his team, can I say on behalf of all New Zealanders, we always appreciate the mixture of grit and skill Irish rugby teams display.   And to Richie and the guys, we know you will continue to uphold the proud All Black tradition, and all the best for Saturday.