Editorial: Rugby stars' hospital visit delight kids

Three Hurricanes players visited Hawkes Bay Hospital this week. From left: Victor Vito, Julian Savea, Reggie Goodes with Tau Lama, 6, of Hastings. Photo / Warren Buckland

For the children in their beds or chairs at Hawke's Bay Hospital the arrival of three big smiling men, with familiar faces and names, will be something they will remember for a very long time.

The Hurricanes powerhouse trinity of Julian Savea, Victor Vito and Reggie Goodes went along to the children's ward to say "gidday" to the kids.

And it was clear plenty of those kids recognised them ... even slightly idolised them.

It's not every day one of your heroes steps into the room. Indeed, it is a rare thing because the star players of today are locked into fairly strict time frames. There once was a time when those heroes, those familiar faces and names, walked a little more freely amongst us. Because in those pre-professionalism days the stars of the field worked as teachers, drivers, farmers, stock agents, travelling salesmen, labourers, barmen - you name it.

Donning the jersey of one's province or country was done after they'd wrapped up work for the week and managed to get the time off required to hit the playing fields.

These days the demands on the lads at rugby's front line are a lot more taxing because the amount of games on the calender, and the amount of travel which has to be undertaken along with sponsorship requirements, sort of hides them from public sight a lot. So it is genuinely exciting to spot a face which has had enormous television exposure but not one you see at a cafe too often.

When the All Blacks played here last year I watched them arrive at the airport and despite having met many a famous face during my more than 30 years of reporting still gaped at the sight of those stars wandering off to the waiting bus.

"I had a quick chat with Izzy Dagg," I told people for weeks afterwards.

"And boy, Richie McCaw's a big bloke ... I got to see him up close you see."

And a few years ago I saw Ma'a Nonu at Wellington Airport and just gaped. There he was - who in their right mind would even contemplate trying to haul that to the ground when he was in the rugby-raging mood and just 15m from the try-line. But I wasn't the only one noting his presence - everyone was watching him. Dear oh dear.

So it is an absolute delight that these lads go out of their way to meet kids, sign things and clearly genuinely enjoy providing a spark, or in some cases inspiration. When they make little ones struggling for good health smile then that is so special.