Wanganui rugby fly Air Chathams to Christchurch Wednesday to face Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield. Front: pilot Duane Emeny, coach Jason Hamlin, pilot Craig Emeny and coach Jason Caskey.
Wanganui rugby fly Air Chathams to Christchurch Wednesday to face Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield. Front: pilot Duane Emeny, coach Jason Hamlin, pilot Craig Emeny and coach Jason Caskey.
Steelform Wanganui was hoping the old adage ships passing in the night was a lucky omen Wednesday morning while awaiting their Air Chathams charter flight to Christchurch.
The in-bound flight from Auckland carrying paying passengers arrived at Whanganui Airport and once disembarking the aircraft became a charter flight to ferrythe Whanganui team to Christchurch to play Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield Wednesday evening.
Aboard the in-bound Auckland flight was Blues and New Zealand Under-20s World Cup winning hero Stephen Perofeta.
Perofeta had only just flown home from Georgia where he scored 14 of the Baby Blacks' 64 points against England to take the World Cup.
Unbeknown to Perofeta and his former Whanganui team mates, their paths crossed at Whanganui Airport. Perofeta is home resting before flying back to Auckland and full training with the Blues on Sunday.
Perofeta was keen to wish his rugby mates luck in what is regarded by many as mission impossible.
However, the youngster is living proof of what can be achieved.
"I was a bit over-awed on debut for the Blues last week but that match gave me the confidence to perform at the U20 Wolrd Cup. I'm loving my rugby now and look forward to getting back on the field," Perofeta said.
