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All Blacks, Black Caps legends to clash in exhibition T20 bonanza

August 27, 2018
Kieran Read(c) of New Zealand after the Rugby Championship, South Africa v New Zealand All Blacks at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa. 7 October 2017. Copyright Image: Christiaan Kotze / www.photosport.nz

Two teams of rugby and cricketing stars will face each other in an exhibition T20 clash in Christchurch, pitting some of each code's biggest names against one another.

The event, conceived by former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming, and Duco Events boss David Higgins, will take place at Hagley Oval on January 25, seeing some New Zealand sporting legends clash on the field.

With team cricket to be led by Fleming, team rugby will be spearheaded by Rugby World Cup winning coach, Sir Graham Henry.

The star power doesn't end there though for team cricket with the likes of Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Grant Elliot and Luke Ronchi among those to appear.

Team rugby on the other hand will boast current All Blacks captain Kieran Read, and Crusaders coach, Scott Robertson.

Despite a perception of team rugby being out of their depths, Sir Graham said he's looking forward to the challenge.

"Some people will no doubt wonder what a bunch of rugby players are thinking in taking on the likes of Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum at their own game," Sir Graham said.

A NZ rugby XI will face off against a cricket XI in Christchurch early next year.

"But let me tell you, there is no shortage of cricketing talent in the ranks of Team Rugby. I can't give too much away, but I can say the team I'm assembling will be more than capable of holding its own on the cricket field. Make no mistake, we're out to win this thing."

Fleming also said that his side have all to play for, not wanting to lose at their own game.

"We're putting our reputations on the line here," Fleming said.

"We know just how good the likes of Kieran and his rugby mates are at cricket. They're exceptional athletes and many of them could have been international cricketers had they chosen another path. So we're on high alert, that's for sure."

The event will help raise funds for the respective players' associations for rugby and cricket respectively.

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