Eden Park devotee loses in finals ballot

78 year old Thomas Keane. Photo / Paul Estcourt

A rugby fan who has been to nearly every major test at Eden Park over 65 years is gobsmacked he did not qualify for tickets to the World Cup final.

Thomas Keane found out last week that he was among those not getting ballot tickets to the semifinals and final match at this year's tournament.

The 78-year-old, of Ngatea, has been to nearly every major test held at Eden Park since 1946, when he watched the 2nd NZEF Kiwis play Auckland.

On just a handful of occasions has he not been at a test - including the final Springboks test in 1981, where "despite being a passionate rugby supporter, I deemed [it] not worth the disruption it caused."

Mr Keane, who has held an Eden Park ground membership for as long as he can remember, already has tickets to all of the tournament games to be held there - save for the semifinals and final match.

Disappointed wasn't the word that came to mind when he first found out, he said. "I was surprised. Gobsmacked, really. I thought, out of three chances, there's got to be a chance here.

"I'm old enough not to be shattered or anything like that," he laughed.

"I'm a realist and I sympathise with the difficulty they've got of having the ballots. But I think there should've been a priority ballot beforehand of some sorts, of the real rugby [fans] of the country - that's where I'm coming from."

Mr Keane's eldest son, Larry, surprised his father with a ticket to the final match after hearing he had not been lucky with the ballot draw.

"I thought it was quite funny, actually. Some would say that it's not fair, really.

"I offered them to him after finding that out. He's a fanatic, and so that had to be done."

Thomas Keane is known amongst his family and friends as an avid rugby fan, who always buys extra tickets for family members and friends.

He has spent just over $5000 on this year's tournament tickets.

"I always share them around ... over the games, everybody will get a turn to see at least some part of the World Cup.

"I'm low profile. I just go in and watch the game - I'm no celebrity. I'm just a keen rugby supporter."

He says besides the "merry-go-round" regular tours that happen these days, he has never missed a big one.

Speaking about some of the best footy he's seen at Eden Park over the past six decades, he points to a Peter Jones try in the 1950s which "was a beauty".

"There was a Serge Blanco try, too. He's with the French, oh, when was that? About 1985, I suppose. I've seen a few fights too - but I go to watch the rugby. I like the back play.

"I thought last year's game against South Africa is probably the best I've ever seen the All Blacks play. They were just so unbelievably good."

Asked who his all-time favourite team is, he is almost hesitant to say, but soon admits - it's the French.

But his favourite captain is All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick.

"I'd describe him as a villain because he's an ace cheat - but we didn't mind because he was on our side, wasn't he?"