Fans skip school to meet Rugby World Cup heroes

A well-practised Daniel Carter poses with more fans, and Courtney Tonihi, 10, is overjoyed to meet Piri Weepu. Photo / Christine Cornege

Jake and Mikyla Winchcombe were not going to miss again a chance to meet the All Blacks.

The siblings convinced mother Jacqui to let them skip school yesterday to attend another All Blacks autograph signing in Hamilton, after they queued for hours at Rebel Sport on Sunday, only to be turned away when the session finished.

"It was very disappointing for the kids," Mrs Winchcombe said.

With friend Georgia Windsor, the children waited patiently at The Base shopping mall until halfback Piri Weepu, first five Colin Slade and fullback Israel Dagg showed up, and Sunday's upset turned to delight as the youngsters made it through the queue and met their idols.

The three players were greeted by a chanting crowd of more than 1000 people and a throng of media.

Children clambered atop parents' shoulders waving balloons and sporting plenty of black as the trio posed for photos and signed rugby balls, T-shirts and pieces of paper for their fans.

First in line Kayla Green queued for 4 hours in the hopes of meeting Richard Kahui, but said she'd be happy with whoever showed up.

The 17-year-old Hamilton student said she needed an autograph as evidence to explain to her tutor why she was late for class.

Pensioners Dave and Margaret McLennan from Christchurch were in Hamilton visiting their daughter and to watch the Wales v Samoa game on Sunday after Canterbury lost its World Cup fixtures because of the earthquake.

Mr McLennan said he already had a photo of him with captain Richie McCaw but the rugby-mad Cantabrians couldn't resist turning up anyway.

Welsh native Chris Francis, who lives in Hamilton, said his brother Nick had come out from Wales for the World Cup. "I've come over to take the cup back with us," Nick chipped in.

The pair said they would be backing the Welsh against Samoa in their weekend clash.

Three young boys got the thumbs- up from Weepu over their impromptu haka.

"It was pretty cool," Weepu said of the youngsters who turned on the show for their favourite rugby star.

"It was impressive."

Eleven-year-old Justice Hall led the haka with his older brother Sammo Hall, 12, and friend Pheonix Ngauma, 10, to the delight of the crowd.

"We were just trying to go hard and hopefully they would notice us," Justice said.

"We've been practising. We wanted to see Piri."

The father-of-two, who brought along his 13-month-old daughter Keira, offered some advice to wannabe All Blacks.

"If it's what you want to be you've just got to make sure you chase the dream."

It was the second signing for Hamilton fans ahead of the city's first Rugby World Cup match tonight when the All Blacks meet Japan at Waikato Stadium. The kickoff is at 8 o'clock.