Cowan, Hore coming to Winton

All Blacks Jimmy Cowan and Andrew Hore are coming to Winton on Friday. As part of the "All Blacks Coming to a Town Near You" visit, the two players will arrive at the Midlands Rugby Ground in Winton at 7.30am, ready to be welcomed by Southland Mayor Frana Cardno, young rugby player Fergus Keown and a haka by Central Southland College students.

Following the welcome, a media opportunity will be held, and then around 8am a "Young Farmers" competition, where the two All Blacks will each lead a team. They will face some typically Central Southland challenges in this contest organised by the local young farmers club, before then refereeing games of Rippa rugby at about 8.35am.

Around 9.35am the All Blacks will climb into a vintage vehicle and be driven down Park Street to Albert Street and then on to Great North Road. They will travel down Great North Road, turn at Bute Street and then go up Great North Road through to meet some older fans at a local rest home.

The two players must leave Winton at 10.30am to get to Invercargill Airport for their flight north to assemble with the rest of the All Blacks Squad in Auckland

Southland District Council Winton ward councillor Lyall Bailey said the organising committee was hoping for lots of support from Central Southland and the surrounding areas.

"We want to show the two All Blacks what a great place Winton is. Jimmy already knows how great Southland is, but we need to show that to Andrew as well," Cr Bailey said.

If the weather is bad, the covered courts will be used.