Little Lexi closer to World Cup dream

KIWIS from as far afield as Switzerland and Ibiza have generously come to the party to help a young All Blacks fan see her heroes.

Lexi Dailey, 4, was set to support the All Blacks at their first Rugby World Cup game against Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London, alongside mum Gillian.

But on Wednesday they found out their tickets to the sold-out game were part of a scam.

Yesterday, Dailey was busy replying to several offers from people wanting to gift her tickets after hearing about the pair’s plight.

As well as offers from Switzerland and Ibiza, there were others from Australia and London.

Kiwi expat Stephen, who works on yachts in Ibiza, had seen Lexi’s story and wrote to offer to buy them tickets to the New Zealand v Argentina game.

‘‘I just wanted to help out the family. I have nieces and nephews the same age so I can understand what it’s like to see them upset,’’ he said.

In Australia, a man offered to give up his New Zealand v Georgia tickets and a New Zealander in Switzerland offered to give up his ticket to the Argentina game, cancelling his flight to London, so Lexi could go with his children.

Another offer came from the New Zealand Defence Force rugby team. They suggested Lexi might like to take part in one of the team’s matches in Paris or Britain, as part of the International Defence Rugby Cup.

The team thought Lexi might like to take the match ball on to the pitch at the beginning of one of the games, Defence Force spokeswoman Jane Keig said.

Dailey said Lexi would have loved to have gone to Paris, but unfortunately the timing wasn’t quite right.

The generosity from everyone been incredible, she said.

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