McKenzie gifts his boots to Welsh boy
It was a failed date night that ended with one Welsh woman gaining mother of the year status after her son was gifted the boots owned by All Black Damian McKenzie.
After the tourists delivered the Welsh a beating on Sunday in Cardiff, McKenzie greeted his own family before giving his playing boots to rugby obsessed youngster Corey Gillespie.
But it was only by chance that the seven-year-old was even at the match after his mother Toni Read pulled out of her date night with her husband Daniel and gave her ticket to their rugby-playing son.
‘‘We had tickets for New Zealand so thought we would have a night without the children.’’
After the match several All Blacks, including McKenzie, popped over to greet the fans in a part of the stadium which included the excited Welsh family. The fullback ended up handing the starstruck boy his boots.
‘‘He was totally shocked – he didn’t know what to say,’’ Read said.
‘‘They all took their time out to have their photos with him with their family around.
‘‘Other people were asking to take pictures of him and the boots, he’s a little celebrity.
‘‘He can’t wait to go to school tomorrow with the pictures.’’
Gillespie has been playing rugby for two years and dreams of using the boots to play for Wales some day, his mother said.
‘‘He’s been training from the age of three and played his first game at five.
‘‘If he’s not playing rugby he’s watching it. He told me he’ll wear the boots when he plays for Wales. He’s only a size one and he’s worked out he needs to grow by nine sizes to fit them.
’’I had mum of the year from my son, by giving up my tickets for him it turns out it’s a night he’ll never forget.’’
Meanwhile, Sonny Bill Williams played his usual selfless role to allow one child past security to get photographed with some of his All Black team-mates after the match.
The father of the boy who was let through by Williams tweeted to thank the star.
‘‘Dear @SonnyBWilliams you won’t remember in 5-10 years time how you met my son today. He’ll remember it forever though. How you told the security guard to let the kids have their picture with you in the hotel, how you took the time to meet them all. Legend. Thank you #topbloke’’