All Black legend Wayne Buck Shelford said it would be impossible to plan a successful All Blacks Roadshow like the one at Kensington Park.
"I've been involved with every stage of the roadshow and the crowd here is fantastic," he said.
Shelford, who accompanied All Black captain Richie McCaw and his team-mate
Anthony Boric to Whangarei on Saturday, was clearly blown away by the popularity of the event.
"It's the biggest crowd we have had at any of the stages so far this year - we were lucky our visit coincides with the end of the junior footy season, which is great for the little kids."
Not only did kids from the rugby games at the park turn up but kids from the other codes showed up too.
"We can't plan it to be like that - we just go along with the schedule but it's great everyone could be involved," Shelford said.
Whangarei's Andy Hunter, a roadshow organiser, estimated 5000 fans passed through Kensington Park during the three hours Shelford McCaw and Boric were at the park on Saturday.
It was the most successful roadshow since it was established in 2008, he said.
At the roadshow, fans had the chance to measure their kicking and lineout throwing skills against McCaw, Boric and Shelford in the beautiful spring weather, as well as get their autographs off their idols.
"The guys stayed an extra half hour to sign around 1000 autographs, which is a first for us, but they didn't seem to mind that cut into their free time," Hunter said.
All Black captain from 1987-1990, Shelford is the rugby ambassador of the roadshow, designed to bring the All Blacks up close to fans who have been a source of strength to them over the years, Hunter says.
Shelford has been involved with the roadshow since it kicked off this year at Christchurch on June 27 and as it made its way around the country.
Kensington Park was the first of five stops in phase two of the roadshow which will conclude at Queens Wharf in Wellington before the All Blacks' test against the Wallabies.
