Samantha Wiria from Hamilton's French cafe Le Rendez-vous Creperie wanted to see her countrymen in her adopted city. Photo: RNZ / Libby Kirkby-McLeod
The French rugby team have caused a stir with their decision to go to Auckland after this weekend's test match, staying there before the series finale against the All Blacks in Hamilton on 19 July.
Chatting at his store near Garden Place in Hamilton, Hanrad Bespoke Rugs owner Barry Radford said it was disappointing the French team was choosing Auckland over Hamilton.
"They've got a sell-out stadium. It would be good if they kind of supported that," he said.
However, a rug shopper wondered what Hamilton had to offer.
"Is there anything exciting for them to do here? I guess in Auckland they've got lots to do... without being disrespectful to Hamilton," she said.
Les Bleus said they are staying in Auckland simply because there they have access to high performance facilities and larger hotels.
Yet Hamilton and Waikato Tourism general manager, Nicola Greenwell, said Waikato was the home of lots of high-performance sport.
"We've got the velodrome just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from the airport from Hamilton city, the rowing at Karapiro, there's a lot of high-performance sportspeople who are based here."
For rugby, she considered the facilities at the Chiefs centre to be first class.
"Maybe we didn't want to share that?" she wondered.
Harmony Jade from Beast Style Fitness in Hamilton says the city is full of athletes. Photo: Natalie Akoorie
Harmony Jade from Beast Style Fitness also thought Hamilton was a great place for athletes.
"We are very athletic people. I know that there are so many athletes here in Hamilton," she said.
She wondered if the French team even knew much about Hamilton.
"I don't think they even know who we are... they shouldn't judge before they get to know who we are."
Greenwell said there was plenty of visitor beds in Hamilton for the team but conceded if the whole touring party wanted to stay in one hotel that would limit their options.
But she said Hamilton was working on that.
"We do have new hotels coming - the Pullman will be opening at the end of next year and that will absolutely be ample room for those French rugby players."
Hamilton Business Association chief executive Vanessa Williams said the new Pullman hotel development was exciting for the city and would add to what Hamilton could already offer.
"It's going to be very exciting to host bigger and better things," she said.
Williams said it was always disappointing to hear about travellers who only go to one place and explore one thing.
"I think it's a great opportunity to actually come down and enjoy something different."
Hamilton Business Association general manager Vanessa Williams says a new hotel in the city next year will boost bed capacity. Photo: Libby Kirkby-McLeod / RNZ
She said there was lots to enjoy in and around Hamilton as a visitor to New Zealand.
"But you need to be down here to enjoy them."
Hamilton also had a touch of French culture which the French team could have enjoyed.
Bordeaux-born Samantha Wiria from Le Rendez-vous Creperie said she had been really looking forward to welcoming the French team to town and having them come in and sample some of their crepes.
"We were hopeful that we would see them walking around in the CBD," she said.
Despite her disappointment she said she'll still be at the game cheering for the French side.
"As much as we are always behind the All Blacks in any game they have, when they play the French we put on the blue, white, red, and support the team."
And it's out on the field where locals think the issue will truly be settled.
"The team are the losers at the end of the day, and maybe that might be what sets the tone for the game," Greenwell said.
Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said the sweet victory for the city would be when the All Blacks beat the French in Hamilton in the test series finale.
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