All Blacks versus Les Bleus

Susan, Blacks supporter, and Stephane, French supporter

On Saturday 24 September, the Consulate in Noumea hosted around 100 guests to watch the New Zealand - France RWC Game on the big screen. The event was co-hosted by GBNC, the local distributor of Heineken – they shouted the beer and we provided the New Zealand bubbly. The Official Residence was decked out in black and blue, and many of the guests (a mixture of French and Kiwis) came wearing their team’s colours.

New Caledonia has just hosted the 14th Pacific Games so could be forgiven for suffering from sporting fatigue, but their enthusiasm for the Rugby World Cup is undimmed. Rugby is popular in New Caledonia and the other French Pacific territories.  Many locals support the All Blacks – but not when they happen to be playing the national team, Les Bleus.

The national television crew came along and did a feature on our very own Susan Cunningham (Administration Officer and All Blacks fan) as part of their report on the rugby festivities around town. New Caledonia’s main newspaper also ran a full page article featuring the Consulate’s event and an interview with Consul-General Simon Draper.

Gracious in defeat, the French supporters agreed it was a great evening and everybody hopes to be back at the Residence for a New Zealand – France final on 23 October.