Rugby World Cup: The Webb Ellis Prayer

Matt Weavers has transformed the traditional Christian prayer into a sporting hope.

An Auckland rugby fan has penned a version of the Lord's Prayer in ode to the All Blacks.

Matt Weavers has transformed the traditional Christian prayer into a sporting hope.

Mr Weavers, who works in advertising, said the game had become something of a religion to many Kiwis. "I wanted something for them to rally behind."

He said given it's 4.6 million Kiwis to 24 million Aussies, then an "appeal to a higher cause" could only help.

So with a mate, Terry Metcalfe, he sat down in a pub one afternoon and "bashed out" the Webb-Ellis Prayer.

Mr Weavers said he was not an avid fan or overly religious but had a "healthy respect for both religion and rugby". He acknowledged transforming the Our Father into a form of rugby reverence could ruffle the more religious among us.

"It's a fine line I'm treading," he admitted. "But I think most will take it with a grain of salt and see it as a bit of fun."