Barmy Army to get a taste of kiwi loyalty

The Lions Barmy Army supporters were left in no doubt where a motorhome company's loyalties lay today when the tourists picked up their motorhomes.

The red carpet is to be rolled out at the Maui Motorhomes Auckland airport branch today but staff plan to turn it over soon after the Barmy Army arrive to reveal the message 'Go the Blacks'.

Maui staff have also painted their faces black and white and are wearing All Blacks beanies.

The bed linen on the motorhomes has been changed for black and white sheets and pillow cases and the motorhomes to be used by many of the Barmy Army for the next six weeks of the Lions tour of New Zealand have been stocked with All Blacks food, including Weetbix and Marmite.

Tourism Holdings, which is providing 1200 motorhomes and rental cars and more than 80 buses, said the tour was one of the largest tourism events to hit New Zealand.

- NZPA