PHOTO: Rugby Park, Invercargill. THE SOUTHLAND TRBUNE
All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot, typically a man of few words, has recently become vocal about the future of his cherished childhood arena, Invercargill’s Rugby Park.
Plans were in place for extensive maintenance and renovations totaling $5.1 million over the next decade. However, the Invercargill City Council has abruptly halted next year’s allocation, resulting in savings of approximately $2 million.
This decision has effectively left Southland rugby without a home ground, a predicament that deeply concerns de Groot. A proud alumnus of Southland Boys’ High School, his earliest rugby memories are intertwined with the local stadium.