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Joint MasterCard, NZ 2011 Initiative Brings Dunedin Children Closer to Their Adopted Rugby World Cup 2011 Teams

Auckland, 3 October 2011 - Children from East Taieri and Ravensbourne schools in Dunedin had the luck of the Irish and the passion of the Italians with them at Otago Stadium last night when they attended the RWC 2011 Pool C match between the two nations, an opportunity made possible by MasterCard and NZ 2011.

As part of the Adopt a Second Team project, 10 children from each of the remote primary schools in Otago were given Category A tickets and the opportunity to cheer on their Adopted Second Teams from the stands of Otago Stadium.

East Taieri School is part of the Dunedin 'international connections' schools programme and have adopted Italy for the focus of their project. As part of their programme they have also been in contact with a primary school in Italy.

Ravensbourne School have adopted Ireland for the duration of the tournament, and have decorated their main classroom with an Irish theme. Ravensbourne School was able to cheer on Ireland to victory last night, but the unforgettable experience for both schools did not stop there.

Australian Rugby great and MasterCard Rugby Ambassador David Campese met the children outside the stadium before the match to say hello to the young fans. "As a MasterCard Ambassador, it's been fantastic to engage with young kids who are genuinely enthusiastic about the game and just excited to be a part of the action," Campese said.

The experience was courtesy of MasterCard's Worldwide Partnership with RWC 2011, and NZ 2011. MasterCard's Vice President of Regional Marketing Stuart Cameron said they intended to give schoolchildren who might not otherwise have access to RWC 2011 an unforgettable Rugby memory.

"East Taieri School and Ravensbourne School have really jumped right on board with the Adopt a Second Team project, and we were delighted to be able to host them at the Ireland v Italy match," said Mr Cameron. "This is just one of many opportunities we've been able to give children right around New Zealand, and it's been extremely rewarding for everyone involved."

Director of the NZ 2011 Office, Leon Grice, said the Adopt a Second Team initiative builds on the already welcoming atmosphere for visiting teams. "New Zealand communities have really been getting in behind the visiting nations and displaying fantastic Kiwi hospitality," Mr Grice said. "The Adopt a Second Team project is a wonderful extension of that support, and these schoolchildren will go away with a lasting memory and unique connection with RWC 2011."

About MasterCard

MasterCard (NYSE: MA) is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard's products and solutions make everyday commerce activities - such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances - easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Learn more at www.mastercard.com, follow us on Twitter @mastercardnews or join the conversation on The Heart of Commerce Blog.

MasterCard & Rugby World Cup 2011

MasterCard Worldwide is an Official Worldwide Partner and the official payment system of Rugby World Cup 2011. The company leverages the platform to further deliver shareholder value by creating exclusive business-building opportunities for its customer financial institutions, while building MasterCard brand affinity by offering priceless experiences to MasterCard cardholders. As part of its agreement, MasterCard secures a comprehensive rights and benefits package that allows the company to deliver value to customer financial institutions, merchants and cardholders, including the ability to access "Priceless" experiences linked to Rugby World Cup 2011.

Rugby World Cup is the crown jewel of the sport and a prominent global property-with television coverage of Rugby World Cup 2007 spanning more than 200 territories, reaching a cumulative audience of 4.3 billion viewers. Rugby World Cup 2011 is being held in New Zealand for the first time since the inaugural event in 1987. Teams representing 20 nations will compete in 48 matches across eleven host cities during September and October. The Final is scheduled for Auckland's historic Eden Park on October 23, 2011.

Beyond its expertise in world-class sponsorship marketing, MasterCard also has a rich heritage of supporting the sport of Rugby in the host country. MasterCard has been a sponsor of the New Zealand All Blacks team for more than seven years. MasterCard is also match sponsor to the Barbarian Internationals for 2009-2010.