25 Nov 2010

NZRU president hit hard my mining tragedy

11:17 am on 25 November 2010

The president of the New Zealand Rugby Union John Sturgeon, a former coal miner who had been involved in the industry for 38 years, was in tears at the All Blacks hotel in Cardiff as the team confirmed they will wear white armbands against Wales on Sunday morning to mark the Pike River mining tragedy.

The Wales Rugby Union has agreed to a New Zealand Rugby Union request for a minute's silence before kick off.

News of yesterday's second explosion at the Pike River mine hit the team hard, and Sturgeon, who knows many of the families struck by the tragedy, was fighting back the tears as he spoke on behalf on the All Blacks.

The teams for Sunday morning's clash between the All Blacks and Wales in Cardiff will be announced at half past six this evening.