DARLINGTON is gearing up to welcome the New Zealand All Blacks with a host of rugby-themed town centre events to complement their stay.

The defending world champions are basing themselves in the town as they prepare for their Pool C match against Tonga, in Newcastle, on Friday, October 9.

They have begun their campaign in good form, with wins against Argentina and Namibia, and expect to record another victory against Georgia, in Cardiff, on Friday evening.

Anticipation is building in Darlington ahead of the All Blacks' arrival, with the squad expected to check into five-star Rockliffe Hall Hotel, on the outskirts of the town, after their journey up from Wales.

A series of warm-up events will take place in Darlington this weekend, starting with a rugby-themed street theatre in the town centre from 11am to 3pm on Saturday (October 3).

Entertainer Tom Rolfe will present his Defying Gravity show with a rugby theme, and there will be two sets of rugby-themed street performers, Scrum Fun, and Icarus Sports Stars on Stilts.

Meanwhile, throughout October there will be Rug Rats Rugby Skills sessions every Tuesday in the library for children aged two to four-years-old and there will be a special session at Joseph Pease Place on Sunday (October 4),

The events have been backed up with banners around the town and a flag flying from the town hall roof, welcoming the reigning Rugby World Cup champions.

Councillor Nick Wallis, Darlington Borough Council cabinet member for leisure, said: “It’s a real privilege to welcome the All Blacks to Darlington – we’ll give them a welcome to remember to spur them on in preparation for this fantastic sporting event.”

The squad will be training at the Darlington Arena, home of Darlington Mowden Park, for six days, from Saturday to Thursday.

An open coaching session will be held at the stadium on Thursday morning, featuring 16 members of the squad, who will lead coaching sessions with local youngsters along with coaches from the Rugby Football Union and Mowden Park.

It will be attended by thousands of spectators, after tickets for the free event were snapped up within 24 hours.