A group of Chiefs players attempt to fly under the radar before Saturday's clash with the Blues at a Bay of Plenty club rugby fixture caught everyone off guard, one person in particular.
Two car-loads of Chiefs rugby players were charged $3 each to watch Rangataua clash with Mount Maunganui, while two more players on foot were turned away for not having the right amount of change.
Bay of Plenty mascot, aka Terry Leaming charged Chiefs players to watch Rangataua play Mount Maunganui in a club rugby match on Good Friday.
The culprit? Larger than life mascot Hori BOP, aka Tauranga identity Terry Leaming, who was manning the gate at Te Ariki Park for the cross-town battle.
The Chiefs players were in town for the weekends match against the Blues at ASB Baypark Stadium but Terry is stoically sticking to his guns.
"I didn't know who they were and I don't really care - these guys should pay for the privilege of watching an outstanding game of club rugby and supporting the grassroots of the game.
"Mind you, I did feel a bit bad about charging the Bay of Plenty guys - if I'd recognised them, I probably would've made an exception."
Terry's actions were soon lighting up Twitter, even while he was still on the gate with one tweet reading 'Well done to @hori_bop for not recognising 2 car loads of @ChiefsRugby players and charging them $3 to get into Rangataua today. @samcane7.”
He responded to the tweet with '@bopmafia @ChiefsRugby @samcane7 my upmost apologys to you sam an any other bop boys cause im bop thru an thru unlik da waikato chiefs.”
He says one Blues supporter came up to him soon after and shook his hand saying he had just read about it on Twitter and 'reckoned it was the best laugh he's had in ages".
"I'm glad I could provide some humour for them this weekend - they weren't laughing too much."
The Chiefs beat the Blues 23-16 on Saturday night, with Terry watching from the stands.
Ironically, he got in free - a Bay of Plenty fan recognised the rotund figure and gave him a spare ticket while he was waiting in line to buy one.
4 comments
on ya bike hori
Posted on 01-04-2013 19:02 | By dbunk
This guy is a embarrassment to Bay rugby.
Hory Who??
Posted on 02-04-2013 10:53 | By Chalky66
I thought Hori was sacked as the official mascot! pity he finds it his duty to decide who goes to a local rugby match and turns people away because they don't have the correct change.
Chiefs or not - it is still wrong
Posted on 02-04-2013 12:40 | By Curious
Chiefs or not - charging those wanting to go along and support club rugby is wrong fullstop. This is one of the only clubs I am aware of that have a gate charge and when you have someone like this fella on the gate who obviously picks and chooses who the charge does apply to, just makes it even more wrong - classic case of rules for some and not for others.
Wat the story Hori
Posted on 02-04-2013 15:41 | By Chalky66
Hori is not the official mascot for BOP Rugby! I agree curious, since when do you have to pay to watch club games. If all the clubs have people like Hori at their gates then all clubs will soon find themselves in financial ruin.
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