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Auckland - All Blacks manager Darren Shand says the team will consider swapping their iconic silver fern for a red fern during Rugby World Cup matches in a symbolic gesture to quake-hit Christchurch.
According to the NZ Herald website, Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff have both thrown their support behind the idea, which comes after last week's announcement that Christchurch would no longer host two quarter-finals and five pool matches.
Shand said they had received several "great" ideas from members of the public of ways they could honour Christchurch and all would be considered.
"The team, together with the NZRU, will look to pay tribute to those who lost their lives as well as the wider Christchurch community in the most appropriate way," he said.
Key said the red fern would be "a nice touch".
"It's not unusual for the All Blacks to slightly change their uniform to reflect a major event, and the country can see from the memorial service on Friday it's totally unified behind the people of Christchurch," he said.
"We want to show their support. We know that they're missing out on the World Cup which is something that they value dearly, and, frankly, I think the All Blacks thought it'd be a nice touch."
According to the NZ Herald website, Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Phil Goff have both thrown their support behind the idea, which comes after last week's announcement that Christchurch would no longer host two quarter-finals and five pool matches.
Shand said they had received several "great" ideas from members of the public of ways they could honour Christchurch and all would be considered.
"The team, together with the NZRU, will look to pay tribute to those who lost their lives as well as the wider Christchurch community in the most appropriate way," he said.
Key said the red fern would be "a nice touch".
"It's not unusual for the All Blacks to slightly change their uniform to reflect a major event, and the country can see from the memorial service on Friday it's totally unified behind the people of Christchurch," he said.
"We want to show their support. We know that they're missing out on the World Cup which is something that they value dearly, and, frankly, I think the All Blacks thought it'd be a nice touch."
