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From All Black to builder
Singing their way to Houston
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Carter hospitality prevails Duncan Martin
ALL Blacks superstar Dan Carter might be out of the World Cup but his sister Sarah Carter has been doing more than her bit to promote Southbridge, the town where she and her famous brother grew up. While in Christchurch, Ms Carter said she saw a group of Irish supporters on their way to Dunedin. They had an Irish flag on their campervan. “They were behind me at the lights, and then the light went red and I thought ‘right, I’m going to get them and lead them out this way.” Irish supporter Ollie Fitzgerald, of Tipperary, tells a similar story. “We met Dan Carter’s sister on the road. She stopped at the traffic lights, knocked on our campervan and told us to call in and see the (Carter) house,” he said. Mr Fitzgerald said the trip to what he called “the mecca of rugby” was one to be cherished. “It’s unreal, brilliant. We rang our friends from back home and they wouldn’t believe us, that we were at his house, drinking tea and taking dropkicks at goal,” he said.
Touring the country with three of his brothers, Mr Fitzgerald’s trip to Southbridge, coincided with a visit from 90 students of Springston School. Neville Carter, Dan’s father, spent the morning running them through backline drills. This was not the first time Irish supporters had flocked to Southbridge during the World Cup. Mr Carter said the night Ireland took on the Wallabies son Dan, and fellow All Blacks Ali Williams and Jimmy Cowan made a surprise visit. “That night, an Irishman said to me, ‘I’m in bloody heaven, standing here with three of the best players in the world’,” he said. The Southbridge Rugby Club has been encouraging rugby lovers to come and see where super Dan began his career. A small charge was requested. Club manager Chris McMillan said he hoped to see more visitors during the World Cup, from Canterbury and beyond. “We’re not here to make a lot of money. We’re here to break-even and give everyone a good experience.”
Ireland comes to town: Dan Carter’s parents Bev and Neville, centre left and right, stand alongside Irish brothers, from left, Tom, Kevin, Ollie and Seamus Fitzgerald during their visit to Southbridge.
Ka Mate, Ka Mate! Neville Carter, father of injured All Black superstar Dan, leads Springston School students through a haka, during their visit to Southbridge. Mr Carter and his family have been welcoming rugby visitors to their home and club. Photos: Duncan Martin
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