The quake-hit, rugby-starved people of Christchurch were offered some relief yesterday after a group of All Blacks toured the city to honour those affected by the earthquakes.
All Blacks Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Adam Thomson presented specially designed jerseys to representatives of the city's emergency services.
They also handed
out tickets to next Friday's test in Dunedin against Fiji to earthquake-affected Christchurch residents and kids' rugby teams from Burnside and New Brighton.
All profits from the test match will be given to the Government's Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
Smith said the All Blacks were keen to show their support after Christchurch residents missed out on hosting Super 15 and Rugby World Cup matches.
"They've missed out on games, and it is a pity, because their fans are probably the keenest of anyone in New Zealand.
"What we did wasn't a lot ... but it still felt like we were achieving something, and the people here - especially the kids - get a good buzz out of it, so it's a small thing we could do."
Meanwhile, Earthquake Commission acting chief executive Bryan Dunne has called on Christchurch residents to bank their EQC cheques as soon as possible.
At July 1 more than 630 EQC cheques amounting to $1.9 million had not been presented to banks.
"Some people are querying their assessment and they believe that by cashing the cheque they have accepted the decision made by EQC. This is not the case," he said.
EQC has received more than 377,000 claims since the first earthquake last September, including more than 31,000 from the aftershock on June 13.
