She's a born-and-bred Kiwi kid but the Lions would be hard pressed to find a bigger fan than Caitlin Skudder.
The 10-year-old Mokoia Intermediate School student was the first Lions fan to arrive at Rotorua Airport to meet the team yesterday.
In fact, she was the first fan from either
side, taking her place behind the barriers installed to keep the players from getting mobbed 2 1/2 hours before the team touched down at 2pm.
Looking the part in an England team jersey, red and white rugby socks, and a fluffy lion badge she found at a shop the night before, Caitlin was particularly excited about seeing Jonny Wilkinson.
"He's a great kicker," she said, blushing as she added he was also pretty cute.
But she was not quite so sure about Irish front-rower Shane Byrne's looks.
"I'm going to tell that man with the mullet to cut it off," she said.
Caitlin was at the airport with her mother, Julia.
"I'm the driver," Julia said, stitching a patchwork quilt she had brought along to fill in time.
She said the family did not know where Caitlin's passion for the Lions came from, especially as she had an older brother and seven uncles who were all All Blacks supporters.
Caitlin's grandmother had called Caitlin a "turncoat" for not supporting the New Zealand national side.
But Caitlin was unfazed, saying she knew why she liked the Lions.
"I reckon they're better."
Caitlin does not have tickets to any of the Lions tour games.
If she did, she would follow her heroes around the country with the rest of their fans.
"I want to join the Barmy Army," she said.
Her mother was not convinced by the plan but suggested she could be persuaded.
"I don't think they'd look after her or I'd give her to them," she said.
