Rugby: All Blacks have Pirates looking ship shape

Matt Todd, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Sam Cane swap rugby balls for paintbrushes as they help spruce up the stage in the Dunedin Pirates clubrooms to mark Volunteer Week. Photo / Linda Robertson

All Blacks Sam Cane, Matt Todd and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi were put to work sprucing up a "tired" part of Dunedin's Pirates Rugby Club rooms yesterday.

"The All Blacks have always been premier finishers and we wanted them to finish the job," the club's junior president, Tony Kramers, said.

The All Blacks pitched in putting a fresh lick of paint on the club's newly rebuilt pirate ship stage as part of Volunteer Week this week.

"Volunteers are the heart of all rugby clubs in New Zealand and Pirates are no different," Kramers said.

The club members, especially the juniors, were thrilled to meet the All Blacks and to get a chance to work alongside them.

"To have the All Blacks come down and lend a hand and spend some time with our club members is a great way to recognise the effort they put in during the season," Kramers said. "And it's great getting the opportunity to give our club a spruce-up."

The All Blacks are preparing for their third and final test against France this weekend at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.