Peter de Villiers (Gallo Images)

Wellington - Springbok coach Peter de Villiers made his first appearance on South African Rugby Union's Champion Tour in Wellington on Tuesday and almost made it into the record books for one of the longest impromptu autograph signing sessions in history.

De Villiers was one of a number of high-profile rugby personalities who braved the suffocating heat in the beautiful Boland town.

Francois Davids, president of the Boland Rugby Union, also dropped by, as did Eugene Eloff, nowadays director of rugby at the Boland Cavaliers, and a number of his players, including Springbok flanker Hilton Lobberts.

More than 1 000 fans flocked to the Pick 'n Pay Centre in Main Road to see the 22m long vehicle filled with a dozen of rugby's most coveted silverware as well as capture the autographs of De Villiers and Cavaliers players.

Both the Springbok and Boland coaches - De Villiers and Eloff - had the same message for the fans - their achievements on the field would be worth nothing without the supporters.

"It's great to be able to give back to the fans in this way. After all, we would not be where we are without them," said De Villiers.

Eloff, who like De Villiers also tasted success at age-group level with South African teams, said he and his Boland team are ready for 2010.

"We will give it a good go," he said. "We're not too happy to be playing in the Currie Cup First Division and will be out to get promoted back to the Premier Division at the end of the season."