KEY POINTS:
A visit from touring All Blacks is expected to lift the spirits of a New Zealander badly burned in a bizarre fancy dress incident in Ireland.
Paddy Pearson, 26, was dressed up as a fleecy sheep for a Halloween costume party at a bar in the town of Sligo when the keen rugby player's costume caught fire and he suffered third-degree burns across his body.
His friend was wearing a similar costume and was set alight in the first instance, possibly as a prank.
The fire may have spread to Mr Pearson's costume as he tried to help his friend, whose injuries were much less serious.
Mr Pearson remains in hospital three weeks after the incident, and may need skin grafts.
His brother, Stuart Pearson, told the Christchurch Star newspaper the burning was over in a few seconds, but was enough to cause extensive damage.
"They couldn't get his clothes off in time. Initially his burns were so severe we didn't even know if he would keep his arms."
His fiancee, Abi Pont, who visited Mr Pearson in hospital, told the Star he was struggling with his injuries.
"He won't be able to work. He's pretty much said that is the end of his rugby career. I think that's what guts him the most."
Mr Pearson, a player for the High School Old Boys rugby club in Christchurch, was in Ireland to play a season for the Sligo club.
HSOB club manager Luke Merryweather told the Herald contacts of the club had worked to get some of the All Blacks, who play a test match in Ireland this weekend, to visit Mr Pearson at his bedside.
"He's loved by all in the club. He's a typical staunch Kiwi - he refuses to take this lying down."
Police in Sligo were looking into the incident, but Ms Pont said it was unclear exactly what happened.
The incident has parallels to the death of Gareth MacFadyen, a 24-year-old share trader, who was burned to death after his Hawaiian grass skirt was set alight at a Christmas party in Auckland in 2000.
Matthew Schofield, 27, was jailed for two years for manslaughter.
