RWC: Dedicated trio follow our local heroes

There's no mistaking who mad-keen fans (from left) Leigh Utton, Craig Hewetson and Todd Fuller support. Photo / Steven McNicholl

The plan was hatched within 10 minutes - six towns, 18 matches, every All Black game.

On a November morning in 2005, Todd Fuller, an advertising sales manager, heard that the Rugby World Cup was coming to New Zealand, and by the time he got out of the shower he was ready.

He got together with friends Leigh Utton and Craig Hewetson and they decided to do a grand tour of the tournament - joined by up to 13 others for some segments.

Mr Fuller will be writing a column for the Herald as his group moves around match destinations, gets behind the rugby and mixes with supporters from visiting teams.

"As soon as it was announced, the phone calls were going off," said Mr Utton, who also immediately asked his boss for a few weeks off in 2011 - six years away.

"He said, 'You might not even be working here', but I told him just in case."

Bank accounts were set up during the first week, and savings of $10 a week each covered most of the tour.

The cost added up to thousands of dollars, "but hey, I would regret it if I didn't do it", Mr Hewetson said.

They have prepared an official outfit of top hat and tails - and an All Black uniform.

"If you look right, the bouncers will let you in," Mr Fuller said, demonstrating how tilted his head could become in late-night drunken staggers. "There's method in the madness."

The trio originally planned to traverse the whole country, but the relocation of Christchurch matches has cut it down to the North Island.

They are mad All Black fans with possibly 400 tests between them.

"We're definitely very, very keen supporters," Mr Hewetson said.

But they could not claim to be the maddest in New Zealand.

"There's plenty of us. We'll be equal with a few others," Mr Utton said.

"I don't think anyone could lay that claim, but we would never miss any All Blacks game."

One of them boasts of breaking on to the field in 1995, performing a haka and getting out before security arrived.

Their love for the team started when they were 6 or 7 and hasn't flagged since.

Now they are 40 - except Mr Hewetson, who is 39 - and hoping their enthusiasm will rub off on their children.

Todd Fuller's column, What goes on tour, will run during the six-week World Cup tournament.