Some young Waikato fans. Photo: Bruce Lim / www.photosport.nz
The chief executive of the Crusaders says he expects "polite applause" from visiting fans, renewing his stance that cowbells will be prohibited from the Super Rugby grand final.
The Crusaders will host the Chiefs in Saturday's decider at Christchurch's Apollo Projects Stadium, likely to be one of the last Super Rugby games played at the Addington venue.
A capacity crowd of 17,000 is expected with ticket sales tracking towards a sell-out.
Although the refusal has been made amid a backdrop of good-natured sparring by both franchises and their respective officials, Crusaders' chief executive Colin Mansbridge claimed the confined dimensions of the ground were a factor.
"I don't think people appreciate how small the venue is," he told Checkpoint.
"When it's full it's very intimate and very tight.
"I think the [Chiefs supporters] should be able to sing and dance and have fun, but I don't think they have the right to turn it into their home ground."
The ban was met with mixed views by people RNZ spoke to around central Christchurch on Wednesday.
One woman said although the cowbells irked her, she did not know how the ban could be enforced.
"I find them really annoying at any of the games that they play. I don't mind Waikato as a team, but yeah keep the bells away," she said.
Another man, who was wearing a vintage Canterbury NPC jersey, felt the move was heavy-handed.
"It's bulls**t really. Surely they could make a bit of noise."
Meanwhile, a man claiming to be a Chiefs supporter said it would not have been an issue if his side had beaten the Blues in their qualifying final earlier this month, which would have given the team home advantage for the final.
Former Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall said the cowbells were integral to Chiefs fandom and added to the atmosphere.
"Well that's one-nil for the Crusaders (the ban)," he said.
"I really enjoy it, it brings something different and it's part of their legacy when you do play the Chiefs.
"It'll be disappointing not to have them there. But for the crowd not hearing them will be something positive for the Cantabs."
Chiefs chief executive Simon Graafhuis has implored fans to download the digital cowbell to their phones as an alternative.
"I think we'll just take it as a compliment that they're probably a little bit worried about our fans and the impact they can have," he said.
Crusaders fans. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
Crusader fan won't miss Addington
It remains to be seen whether Saturday's final will be the last Super Rugby game played at the Crusaders' post-quake headquarters.
Christchurch's new 30,000 multi-use central city venue One New Zealand Stadium, also known as Te Kaha, is due to open in April.
After the devastating Canterbury earthquakes damaged Lancaster Park beyond repair, Crusaders home games were moved to the upgraded Rugby League Park in Addington from 2012 onwards.
The venue will host its fourth and last final on Saturday.
Te Kaha Stadium Photo: Supplied / One NZ
With next year's Super Rugby draw still to be finalised, Crusaders management have not ruled out home games at Apollo Projects Stadium during the early stages of next year's competition.
One fan RNZ spoke to said he would not be sad to see the back of the ground.
"It's cold, it's a hole. And I can see the new one down there, it's going to be awesome."
Plans are in motion to bring back Super Round for the 2026 season with Te Kaha the frontrunner to host the event over Anzac weekend.
