What The All Blacks Miss Most About Home

August 5, 2004

FRESH AIR, MASHED POTATO AND SOFT BEDS ...
WHAT THE ALL BLACKS MISS MOST ABOUT HOME

The All Blacks are among the most widely travelled rugby teams in the world. This year alone the team will clock up nearly 70,000 kilometres flying to Philips Tri-Nations test matches in Australia and South Africa followed by an end of year tour to Italy, France and the UK.

In the fourth and final All Blacks Air New Zealand Insights Survey the topic of travel is examined together with the team's top holiday choices.

Almost two third of All Blacks said they missed family and friends most when playing away from New Zealand.

Jono Gibbes said he missed "the fresh air of the Waikato" most while others said their own couch and beds were among the home comforts most sorely missed.

Chris Jack said a lack of good mashed potato was a serious shortcoming when travelling overseas.

When it comes to time off from rugby Air New Zealand's four Pacific Island Express destinations - Fiji, Rarotonga, Samoa and Tonga - are the most popular overseas holiday spots for the 2004 All Blacks.

At the end of a wet and rugged rugby season players overwhelmingly voted for sunshine, beaches and the chance to relax away from sport, with Fiji top of the list.

Closer to home, 60 percent of the team said New Zealand's beaches were their first choice for a domestic holiday with the Coromandel firmly in number one position with a third of the team.

The rugged delights of Queenstown, Wanaka and the southern lakes also found favour with one in five players. Other favoured spots included the Bay of Islands, particularly Kerikeri, and the Nelson Bays region.

ends

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