Fantastic Mr Fox meets 'rugby-mad' pupils

Former All Black Grant Fox passes on rugby tips to Wesley Primary pupils at Eden Park yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

A group of Auckland primary pupils had a kick around with an All Blacks legend at Eden Park yesterday.

Six pupils from decile one Wesley Primary in Mt Roskill met All Blacks selector Grant Fox, getting tips from the former player at the event marking one year out from the first 2015 Rugby World Cup which kicks off at Twickenham on September 18.

Fox said after a successful Rugby World Cup hosted by New Zealand in 2011, he thought England would do a great job of hosting the tournament in 2015.

The pupils, aged between 9 and 10, were all "rugby mad" members of the school's under 40kg team, said principal Rae Parkin, and all aspired to become All Blacks. The boys' favourite players were Malakai Fekitoa and Richie McCaw, and Ms Parkin said that though the 9- and 10-year-olds were small, they were very fast.

At the promotional event, Fox also released two official Gilbert Rugby World Cup 2015 balls - one that featured the New Zealand flag.

Three members of Auckland Grammar School's First XV joined the former first-five to go over drills with the Wesley pupils and share tips and pointers to improve their skills.

Fox, a former Auckland Grammar pupil, said he was pleased to be working with players from his old school.