Prince William meets Sir Clive and Lions

Prince William with Lions team members Gordon Bulloch, Gareth Thomas and Brian O'Driscoll at the team's Wellington hotel. Picture / Fotopress

Keen rugby fan Prince William began his New Zealand visit today meeting members of the Lions rugby team and coach Sir Clive Woodward in Wellington.

The 23-year-old, who is second in line to the British throne, is in New Zealand for 11 days on his first solo engagement acting on the Queen's behalf.

His trip was triggered by an invitation from Lions' management to join the end of the tour.

Prince William this afternoon met with the Lions' coach, the team's new skipper Welshman Gareth Thomas, Brian O'Driscoll of Ireland, Scotsman Gordon Bulloch and Will Greenwood from England.

The prince - dressed casually in beige trousers, a light blue shirt, a navy fleece and loafers - arrived at Wellington's Intercontinental Hotel about 1.30pm and was greeted by a throng of national and international media.

A crowd of about 100 people gathered outside the Lions' hotel waiting for the team to return from training.

Few details of Prince William's visit have been publicised and members of the public in the right place at the right time managed to catch a glimpse of him.

Those who remained after the Lions' arrival were disappointed when the prince failed to turn around and give the crowd a wave.

Prince William arrived in Wellington about 8.15am on a commercial flight from Auckland and was greeted by Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Helen Clark said later the prince was excited to be visiting New Zealand for the tour and was looking forward to getting to the South Island.

"He hasn't been here since he was a small child. I said to him 'someone is bound to produce a photo of you with a buzzy bee'."

Helen Clark said she found Prince William to be a very pleasant, good natured young man.

Prince William will add his support to the Lions at the second test at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Saturday night. He will also attend Tuesday's game against Auckland and the third test there.

The prince will attend an All Blacks' public training session at Western Springs in Auckland on Tuesday and have lunch with the team on Tuesday.

Also on the schedule is a visit to a primary school in Arrowtown, the opening of the New Zealand Junior Men's Water Polo competition at the Waitakere Aquatic Centre in west Auckland, and two wreath-laying ceremonies to mark the contribution made by New Zealand soldiers during World War 2.

It is the prince's second visit to New Zealand: he last visited in 1983 as a nine-month-old with his mother, the late Princess Diana, and father Prince Charles.

- NZPA