Te Kūiti gifted bench by King Country All Black

All Black and Taumarunui boy Josh Lord visited Te Kūiti with his family on Sunday as part of “The Bench” event, a national initiative connecting All Blacks to communities in World Cup year.

A crowd of more than 200 people welcomed Lord, 22, to the area surrounding the Sir Colin Meads statue on Rora St which is now also home to an All Blacks’ gift – a specially crafted bench.

Benches have been donated to communities across New Zealand’s 26 provincial unions as a unique way of connecting with fans ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in France in September.

After being welcomed with a haka performed by rugby players from Te Kūiti High School, the crowd was for-mally welcomed on behalf of King Country Rugby Union by the union’s president and most-capped player Paul Mitchell.

The bench was unveiled by King Country rugby legends Stan Meads (All Black 1961-1966) and Noel McQuilkin (former King Country coach 1989-1992, 1999-2000) in recognition of their service to rugby in the King Country.

Lord cut the ribbon to officially open the new bench, then spoke to the crowd about the meaning behind the bench and reminisced about his time playing rugby as a young Taumarunui player.

“The bench was a way for us to give back to the community; it was a big way of saying thank you. It’s a great concept and something that’s going to be pretty special for the next few generations hopefully,” Lord said.

“I played all my junior rugby at Taumarunui, and I was fortunate to play Goldfields (U45kg) and Roller Mills (U55kg); I played that for three years and it was pretty cool. It was the last time I got to represent King Country and hopefully it’s something I’m able to do in the future.”

Following the gifting ceremony, the 2.02-metre lock spent more than an hour signing autographs and having photos with children, families and local rugby teams from Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga, Piopio, Maniaiti-Benneydale and as far away as Taupō.

Local Piopio and King Country under-14 halfback Lachlan Burnell attended the event and said seeing people like Lord making the All Blacks showed local talent could make it to the highest level.

“It makes me excited because it means I can play for [the All Blacks] if I want to; it doesn’t mean because I’m from a small place I have limited opportunity,” Burnell said.

The gifted bench will be permanently set on the paved area near the Sir Colin Meads statue by the Waitomo District Council. It will be available for public use this week.

“It was a great event and wonderful to see so many children engaged,” Waitomo Mayor John Robertson said.

“They came out to see All Black Josh Lord and to also engage with former All Black Stan Meads, on a really appropriate sort of occasion.  

“I’d say there were a couple of hundred people there, including perhaps over 100 children and young people. It’s wonderful to see young people engaged in sport any time, and on Sunday they were just so enthusiastic.

“I’d like to salute King Country Rugby as the local organisers.

“We, the public, are crucial to the All Blacks as we are supporting them.  

“And at Te Kuīti, with this bench positioned in Rora St, beside the Colin Meads statue and close to the Meads Museum as well, it just seems the perfect location.”