Otago rugby is going back to the future.
When Otago plays Canterbury at Carisbrook on Saturday, the match will be played during the day, and spectators will be allowed on the playing field after the match.
Otago Rugby Football Union marketing manager Chris Green said the union has done some research with the public about what they wanted at Carisbrook.
People had said they wanted afternoon rugby and also be able to go on to Carisbrook after the match.
Walking on to the field after the game was a tradition at the ground, and many grounds in New Zealand, before the introduction of professional rugby in 1996.
It was phased out over concerns about the security of players, and damage to the ground, Green said.
Green said people wanted rugby during the day, mainly because of cold night temperatures, and this was the chance to get people to support that concept.
There would also be cheap tickets for children, and ticket packages for students.
The match, which kicks off at 2.35pm, would be preceded by the schoolboy march-past, while a curtain-raiser, the final of the under-18 secondary schools grade between Waitaki Boys High School and South Otago High School, would start about 12.30pm.
Green was hoping for a crowd between 6000 and 8000.
He said crowds last year were disappointing for Air New Zealand Cup matches.
This is the only day game for Carisbrook this year, and at this stage people would not be allowed on to the ground at any other game.
Otago beat Canterbury 24-19 the last time the sides met at Carisbrook, in 2005, when the game was also played during the day.
