All Blacks to consider adopting a red fern
By NZPA, 23 Mar 2011
- Tagged:
- 2011 Rugby World Cup, All Blacks, New Zealand, new zealand all blacks, New Zealand rugby, Rugby World Cup
All Blacks manager Darren Shand says the team will consider swapping their iconic silver fern for a red fern at rugby World Cup matches in a symbolic gesture to quake-hit Christchurch.
Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff have both thrown their support behind the idea, which comes after last week’s announcement that Christchurch would no longer host two quarterfinals and five pool matches.
Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully said the final decision lay with the New Zealand Rugby Union.
“I think that there’s a process that the union will want to engage in and I don’t want to cramp their style at this stage,” he said.
Shand said they had received several “great” ideas from members of the public of ways they could honour Christchurch and all would be considered.
“The team, together with the NZRU, will look to pay tribute to those who lost their lives as well as the wider Christchurch community in the most appropriate way,” he said.
Mr Key said the red fern would be “a nice touch”.
“It’s not unusual for the All Blacks to slightly change their uniform to reflect a major event, and the country can see from the memorial service on Friday it’s totally unified behind the people of Christchurch,” he said.
“We want to show their support. We know that they’re missing out on the World Cup which is something that they value dearly, and, frankly, I think the All Blacks thought it’d be a nice touch.”
Mr Goff said it was “a great idea”.
“I think it would be a really lovely gesture for the All Blacks to wear a red fern during the World Cup matches or some of those matches or in a special match that is played to raise funds for Christchurch,” he said.
Mr McCully said he was aware of the proposal and a number of others, including a commemorative match against Japan, which had also suffered a devastating quake.
“I encourage the fact that people are thinking about ways in which we can commemorate what’s happened, and also the fact that Japan is in the frame in some of those suggestions,” he said.
However, Mr McCully said he would not support any one proposal in particular.
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March 23rd 2011 @ 10:23am
Gary Russell-Sharam said | March 23rd 2011 @ 10:23am | Report comment
It would be a fitting gesture to Christchurch and the people who lost their lives in the earthquake. The jersey would be unique and in the future people will look at it and remember the event and it would remind them of how precious life is.
March 23rd 2011 @ 2:23pm
Jamesb said | March 23rd 2011 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
No one messes with the silver fern, its scared.
Sounds good in theory, but just another distraction the AB’s don’t need. Focus is the key to winning the RWC.
March 23rd 2011 @ 3:34pm
Clark Boswell said | March 23rd 2011 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
No!!!! Idiotic idea. The All Blacks play wearing a SILVER fern. This is what comes of having a donkey for a prime minister…
March 23rd 2011 @ 7:42pm
WANNA BE AN AB said | March 23rd 2011 @ 7:42pm | Report comment
Sadly I agree with all of you, we Kiwis may be a wee bit precious when it comes to the AlllBlacks and I also feeel the Silver fern on the black jersey is sacred. but I also think paying homage to Christchurch during the Rugby World Cup would be a fine gesture.
How about looking at a compromise and for one game wearing the white jersey with a black armband and a red fern, that way we cover NZ, Christchurch and the West Coast miners in one hit, as their predominate colours are red and white and we”re in no way messing with THAT JERSEY!!!!.
Oh well just a thought………
March 23rd 2011 @ 7:44pm
Tui said | March 23rd 2011 @ 7:44pm | Report comment
The Silver Fern and the Black Jersey go hand in hand. They are iconic so I doubt they will change it. I am all in favour of some other tribute though.
March 23rd 2011 @ 9:32pm
Sylvester Hyde said | March 23rd 2011 @ 9:32pm | Report comment
I’m a Cantab, but this would be a terrible idea. Like we need another superstitious hoodoo to blame if this Cup ends badly (grey jersey debacle 2007 anyone?)