Snedden: Touring fans to thank for RWC

IN these parts, the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005 is not remembered in the fondest of terms. A ‘blackwash’ by the home side, recriminations in the touring party and ‘that’ spear tackle are the abiding recollections of a miserable Test series on the fields of Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

Martin Snedden remembers something much more positive though, and not just through the rose-tinted lens of a Kiwi. The man charged with making this year’s biggest sporting event a success believes the touring Lions fans six years ago played a huge part in New Zealand landing the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

With a little over 18 weeks until the All Blacks kick off the opening game against Tonga on September 9, the Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive has not forgotten the 20,000-plus supporters from these parts that helped deliver this global rugby extravaganza to his shores.