Even our sports are being impacted by the rising costs and turbulent economy. 

South Canterbury Rugby Union have had to pull out of the Ranfurly Shield as they can’t afford to play. 

CEO Tim Hyde-Smith told Mike Hosking that it would cost them about $50,000 to get up to Hawke’s Bay to challenge the Magpies for the shield, of which they only managed to raise 30%. 

He said that they’d been very privileged to challenge the last two years, but sponsorship and grant money wasn’t forthcoming this year. 

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