Tongan World Cup fan, 81, keen for repeat

Ana Edwards will wear Tonga's colours but cheer for NZ. Photo / Paul Estcourt

An 81-year-old Tongan great-grandmother is hoping to get a second chance tonight to get up close and personal with the Tongan rugby team - more than four decades after appearing in a Herald photo that showed her serving dinner to the then Tongan captain, Viliami Alipate.

Ana Edwards said she was "as thrilled as a schoolgirl" when she got a call last week from the brother of her son-in-law, Murray Potter, offering to take her to watch Tonga play the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup opener.

"Never in my wildest dream [did I think] I'd even get to go to a stadium to watch a Rugby World Cup game in my lifetime, and to be able to watch Tonga play New Zealand is just truly a dream come true," she said excitedly.

"It's the perfect game for me, because I love both teams, and I'll be cheering at every touch and every try, no matter who gets them."

Mrs Edwards said it was in 1969 that she last got within "touching distance" of the Tongan team, who were visiting New Zealand as part of the then Tongan Prime Minister Prince Fatafehi Tu'ipelehake's delegation.

Before being invited to tonight's test, she had been planning just to be at the Viaduct Harbour to watch the opening celebrations and then go home to watch the game on television.

"I think I will be the envy of everyone in the community when they find out I'll be going to watch our boys.

"In Tonga, rugby is like a second religion and everyone is just mad about the game and the players. I think they are even more crazy than supporters for the All Blacks."

This week, about 7000 supporters turned up at Auckland Airport to welcome the Tongan team, 'Ikale Tahi.

Mrs Edwards said she had been exercising quite a bit more in the past week "to get match fit" just in case the car is parked quite some distance from Eden Park and she has to walk.

"My legs aren't as strong as they used to be, but I think they're ready to take me to the game."

But unlike 1969, when she felt "more Tongan than Kiwi", her loyalties are split after spending 48 years of her life here.

Although she will be dressed in Tongan colours tonight, Mrs Edwards will be bringing both the Tongan and All Black supporters flags with her.

"From the sipi tau to the haka, I am just going to enjoy every minute and every second of the game."

However, when pressed on which team she hopes will win the cup, she said: "I love my boys, but New Zealand's my home now. I'm backing the All Blacks to go all the way."