WELLINGTON, Sept 3 — The All Blacks delighted local fans around New Zealand today, paying visits to lucky competition winners days before they depart for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and Wales.

All Blacks fans responded to the “All Blacks to the Nation” competition, with individuals, groups, schools and communities sending in entries in a bid to win a visit from All Blacks team-members.

The squad members travelled all over the country - including visits to Wellington, Papakura (Auckland), New Plymouth, Greytown, Whakatane (Tauranga), Gisborne, Westport (Hokitika), Stoke (Nelson), Dunedin and Mataura (Invercargill).

Hooker Keven Mealamu and centre Malakai Fekitoa were entertained by the children at the Papakura Normal School in Auckland, thoroughly enjoying their visit.

“Yeah, it’s just so nice to see all the kids are excited and get to see what they’re doing, it’s pretty special to come,” Fekitoa told local media.

Meanwhile, utility back Ben Smith and loose forward Kieran Read enjoyed a performance of the haka by school children at the Radius Fulton care centre in Dunedin, watched on by elderly residents.

“Yeah, it’s been great coming here and seeing how much support they have for the All Blacks. Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” Smith said.

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool, you know, doing these types of things. It’s quite a different, I guess, demographic of our fans here, you know, like, got a great lot of people who have experienced life and are still really passionate about what we do and some young kids as well who really love looking up to the All Blacks so, really cool place to come and just have a nice day,” added Read.

New Zealand commence their 2015 World Cup campaign against Argentina in London on September 21 followed by group matches against Namibia (September 25), Georgia (October 3) and Tonga (October 10). — Reuters