Lions touch down in Welly
They’ve ventured from Whangarei to Dunedin lighting up stadiums across the country – and now it’s the capital’s turn.
The once-every-12-years rugby extravaganza officially landed in the capital yesterday. At Wellington Airport, 20 Marist St Pats junior club members – complete with lion hats and scarlet jerseys – were on hand to give the British and Irish Lions a royal welcome.
The youngsters, whose club jerseys were modelled on the visiting side’s jumpers, chanted ‘‘Lions, Lions’’ as the players and management made their way down the stairs to the team’s buses.
The Lions have three matches left on this tour, with two of them at Westpac Stadium this week: sold-out matches against the Hurricanes tomorrow and their second test against the All Blacks on Saturday.
Young fan Finlay Necklen couldn’t hide his excitement at being asked to greet the side when they arrived.
‘‘I’m an All Blacks supporter more than a Lions supporter but we’re welcoming them in for the club.’’
Hundreds of the team’s fans also arrived in the city yesterday, all in high spirits despite the side’s 30-15 loss in the first test at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Huw and Yvonne Griffiths, from Carmarthen in west Wales, said the tour was ‘‘a trip of a lifetime’’.
The retired couple used money from the sale of their bakery to help fund the trip, and arrived in New Zealand a few days ago ahead of the first test.
It was their first time in New Zealand and they described the country as beautiful.
‘‘Everyone’s very helpful, like,’’ Huw Griffiths said. ‘‘Especially if you’re lost, people will always talk to you and help you.’’
The couple had wanted to come to New Zealand for a Lions tour since hearing rave reviews from many others who had been.
They attend all of Wales’ Six Nations matches back home, and will go to all the remaining matches in New Zealand.
A capacity crowd of 39,000 is expected for both of the Wellington matches.