Memories Rekindled As Rugby World Cup 2007 Emirates Airline Trophy Tour Begins In Auckland

Twenty years on from holding aloft the Webb Ellis Cup as skipper of the winning Rugby World Cup tournament, former New Zealand captain David Kirk displayed the trophy again to media, high school first XV captains and rugby and other celebrity guests at a series of functions in Auckland.

The occasion was the Rugby World Cup 2007 Emirates Airline Trophy Tour, with Auckland the first stop after leaving England. Fittingly, today’s events were held at Eden Park, venue of the inaugural final in June 1987.

Rugby World Cup 2007 tournament sponsor Emirates will also take the cup on to the other two winning nations, Australia and South Africa, as well as Dubai, before it returns to England, the current holder.

“It has been quite a day of memories,” said Dr Kirk, now the Australian-based chief executive of media group Fairfax. “It is a marvellous idea to take the trophy around the winning countries, celebrating again their successes as a build-up to this year’s event in France and Britain.

“It is amazing to think that this week it will be 20 years since that victory by New Zealand at Eden Park in the first final,” said the former scrum half and Rhodes scholar. “Talking to the media about that occasion, telling today’s high school captains about the game of rugby and the tournament, and swapping stories with old team-mates and various other rugby figures at the reception has made it a great day.”

Emirates’ New Zealand manager, Chris Lethbridge, said: “The trophy tour has rekindled some fantastic memories and having David Kirk host all the events today has given the occasion extra value. It has been a great way to set the scene for Rugby World Cup 2007, which is such a big focal point for the many New Zealand rugby fans. As the official airline, we are delighted to be part of this excitement.”

David Kirk today hosted a media conference, then addressed 20 first XV high school rugby captains, each one of whom represented one of the 20 nations playing in this year Rugby World Cup, and followed up by hosting a reception in the evening. Tomorrow, the trophy will be on public display at Auckland International Airport before being taken on by Emirates to Sydney.

Eden Park will again be the venue for the final for a Rugby World Cup tournament when the 2011 event is held there.

Ends