Rotorua’s oldest rugby club has lost its clubrooms in a devastating fire that tore through the building, destroying photos, trophies and precious club memorabilia. The fire gutted the Whakarewarewa Rugby Community Sports Club off Te Ngae Rd early this morning.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the fire reached third alarm, meaning there was a risk of it spreading to surrounding buildings, but crews were able to contain the blaze at about 4 a.m. Five fire trucks, one ladder truck, two water tankers and multiple support vehicles were sent to the scene.
Emergency services say it is too early to tell how the fire started, but a fire investigator was at the scene this morning.
Whakarewarewa men’s premier rugby coach Ngarimu Simpkins said he was devastated to get the news at 4am. “The first thing that comes to mind is all the photographs on the walls of all the players that we used to look up to as young ones. “I’m talking about the likes of the Maniapotos and the Schusters. Those are probably all gone now.” He said, he had seen a photograph of the Tai Mitchell Shield, and it looked in a “bad way”. “I’m not sure if that can be restored, but it’s devastating."
“The biggest treasures were all the memories of the past teams and times we spent there together.“ Simpkins said it saddened him to think of all the hard work everyone had put into the club now being gone. “I’m sure we will recover, but right now I’m just really sad for everyone.“
Simpkins said the beauty of Whakarewarewa Club was its people, and he knew everyone would pull together to rebuild.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the fire reached third alarm, meaning there was a risk of it spreading to surrounding buildings, but crews were able to contain the blaze at about 4 a.m. Five fire trucks, one ladder truck, two water tankers and multiple support vehicles were sent to the scene.
Emergency services say it is too early to tell how the fire started, but a fire investigator was at the scene this morning.
Whakarewarewa men’s premier rugby coach Ngarimu Simpkins said he was devastated to get the news at 4am. “The first thing that comes to mind is all the photographs on the walls of all the players that we used to look up to as young ones. “I’m talking about the likes of the Maniapotos and the Schusters. Those are probably all gone now.” He said, he had seen a photograph of the Tai Mitchell Shield, and it looked in a “bad way”. “I’m not sure if that can be restored, but it’s devastating."
“The biggest treasures were all the memories of the past teams and times we spent there together.“ Simpkins said it saddened him to think of all the hard work everyone had put into the club now being gone. “I’m sure we will recover, but right now I’m just really sad for everyone.“
Simpkins said the beauty of Whakarewarewa Club was its people, and he knew everyone would pull together to rebuild.
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