RWC: Volunteers line up out the door for official garb

Neil Fisher was first in line to get his uniform from Cup boss Martin Snedden. Photo / Steven McNicholl

A 69-year-old man five weeks out of knee surgery was the first in line to collect a Rugby World Cup volunteer uniform yesterday.

"I couldn't really afford to go to the matches, I suppose. I really want to see New Zealand play and I want to be there but it's very expensive when you're a pensioner," said Neil Fisher, from Papatoetoe. "The excitement of being there and seeing the All Blacks or Auckland score is unreal. It's something that you never forget."

Two thousand uniforms were laid out at the Hilton Hotel on Princes Wharf, where hundreds of volunteers formed a line stretching out the front door. It was the first of three days for Rugby World Cup volunteers to pick up their gear - full kits from winter jackets down to trousers and water bottles.

They had signed up to do anything from driving teams and VIPs to counting people passing through stadium gates.

"That would be terrible," Mr Fisher said. "But some have got nice roles, like hosting people in the boxes upstairs."

Mr Fisher would be guiding visitors around Eden Park during matches.

"When I was a young fella I used to live across the road from Eden Park in Kingsland and sold potato chips at matches," he said. "I've been going to Eden Park for 60 years."

His wife, Joy, pointed out how Mr Fisher had been the elephant mascot at Eden Park some time ago.

"If you find a photo in the archives, that's his leg," Mrs Fisher said.

Mr Fisher said he had been at Eden Park every Saturday supporting the home team as an official supporter.

"I really am keen to see New Zealand do well. We've just got to win the thing this time."

He was confident Auckland would shine during the tournament.

"New Zealand has got a lot to show. We've just had a nice lunch next to the Maritime Museum. It was a beautiful restaurant. Auckland is only going to progress from here."

Mr Fisher was the first to receive a uniform from tournament boss Martin Snedden.

The volunteers were critical to the success of the tournament, Mr Snedden said.

"The volunteers feel like they grow a foot when they put on a uniform, and to know they're going to give as much commitment as anyone who's worked on this - or more."

Volunteer programme manager Brendon Ward said: "We honestly couldn't run the tournament without the huge enthusiasm that's out there.

"Go to any major event anywhere in the world and it's always the volunteers that people go home and talk about."