Sean Fitzpatrick, official New Zealand ambassador for the Rugby World Cup

By Agnes Yu

Auctions can be thrilling as the final price for items sold rises higher and higher with each raised hand.

Last Wednesday a Rugby Charity Dinner was hosted by the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, known as The Kiwi Chamber, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, AustCham. The auction at the event had a suspenseful outcome of millions and millions of won being flung about the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt hotel as competing bidders raced frantically to claim assorted rugby paraphernalia and other special lots.

Of the many items the “Fevernova Crystal Ball,” a rare 14-karat gold-plated official 2002 FIFA World Cup match ball with the Korean and Japanese flags and official FIFA logo, was donated by adidas and proved to be the top draw. It fetched 39 million won, 50 percent of which went to Save the Children and 50 percent to adidas’s Japan-linked charity work.

Justin Sampson, an ESPN Star Sports rugby commentator of 11 years and the master of ceremonies for the evening, was an engaging auctioneer. He piqued the crowd and raised, according to the event organizers, a whopping 105.5 won million.

The New Zealand government-sanctioned Christchurch Earthquake Appeal will receive 66 million won.

Also attending the special event was Sean Fitzpatrick, an official New Zealand ambassador for the Rugby World Cup and former captain of New Zealand. He said the successful event showed that New Zealand is a “can-do nation.”

Fitzpatrick was accompanied by Eddie Jones, former head coach of the Australian national team and current general manager and head coach of Suntory Sungoliath in Japan.

In other auctions, two Rugby World Cup tickets donated by DHL pulled in 1.2 million won and a signed rugby ball from Sean Fitzpatrick and a jersey from Eddie Jones went for 10 million won, while a special sculpture for the event by Jin Lee brought in 5.5 million won.

An adidas-provided signed All Blacks jersey also fetched 5.7 million won, while a Canterbury Crusaders jersey with a special message from current All Blacks captain Richie McCaw went for 4.5 million won.

The charity event was an overwhelming success and even featured the professional New Zealand kapa haka group Pounamu, entertaining guests with an inspired traditional Maori performance.