Well, my millennium has been made...

[cyRil]

Me, a mate and Andre Pretorius threw ice at Bryan Habana in TigerTiger Cardiff last year before our match in November.

 

[QLD]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RC @ Nov 21 2008, 05:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

It's f***ing awesome when you meet the big guys isn't it?
And it's so easy to do so in cardiff. Walk past the hilton at about 9am and you'll see them in the dining area eating their breakfast, on display infront of the public.
I'm surprised nobody takes any pictures or stands and stares. Everybody looks in as they walk past tho. Lol.

I've been lucky enough to meet loads of world class rugby players in the past.
I used to work in a rugby shop in cardiff and touring players would often come in just for replacement studs, or some tape or something like that and becuase of this i've met quite a few.
My list: -

Dan Carter
Ma'a Nonu
Ali Williams
Rico Gear
Luke McAllister
Leon Macdonald
Kevin Meealamu
Bryan Habana
Victor Matfield
Juan Smith
Matt Giteau
Lote Tuqiri
Chris Latham
Stirling Mortlock


Those guys truly stand out as recognisable names when they walked into my shop.
A bunch of others also come in, but lots were pacific islanders and i don't know many of those players.

I've also had the pleasure of meeting the likes of Lomu, Campese, Carling (ahem), JPR, JJ Williams, Gareth Edwards, Ray Gravelle, Shane Williams, Henson, Alun Wyn Jones and Ian Evans.
Jamie Roberts, Rhys Williams and Jamie Robinson were always in the shop, but they most notably bought welsh rugby jerseys. Lol.[/b]

That's awesome.

I think I've only met Lote Tuqiri, he was outside the shopping centre standing at a bus stop after school. It was right after the world cup and the final hadn't even been played, went up said G'Day unlucky about the WC.

My brother used to be friends with Horwill back in school so he's been to my house and met him recently too. He's always been huge.

 

[Gulli]

I bumped into (literally) troy flavell in the pizza barn at waipu (if any of you kiwis know it) earlier this year. He seemed like a real nice bloke, didnt talk for long though, just got his autograph for my bosses son.

 

[Jer1cho]

Dan Carter porked my mom.

EDIT: Wait????

 

[Sir Speedy]

I met Robert Sidoli like, two years ago.
It was surreal.

Then again, he's not much of a big name anymore...
Nice list RC. 0.o

 

[DonBilly]

I travelled with the All-Blacks from Lyon, where they had trashed les Bleus the night before, to Paris, I was in the same wagon of the train and it was easy to discuss with them. I enjoyed it.

 

[DanCarterite]

I'm getting two signed photo's of the current touring team (all players signing it) for my stepsons for christmas. The son of a good friend of mine went to school with Mils (yeah he played rugby under Graham Henry there too) and they have stayed good mates, Mike often goes out on the **** with the team (their collective ambition is to drink him under the table, something they haven't managed yet). I got a christmas card from Mils last year, courtesy of another friend, when Mils called in to visit him last year.

The only AB i've actually met was Grant Fox in the National Bank in Newmarket, I was shocked at how big he is in real life, he looked like such a weed compared to the rest of the Blacks on the pitch.

 

[KZNSharksFan]

I have a trump card here!

Once while on holiday at the beach, I saw Ollie Le Roux, the great man himself, compete in a contest at the hotel. A challenger from the crowd faced off with Ollie in a race to see who could finish a burger, chips, steak and a large vessel first. There were no survivors.

I got his autograph, but i was only 8 at the time so didnt really appreciate it

 

[SaintsFan_Schweinsteiger_Webby]

Do you know who isn't fun to meet? Brian O'Driscoll. He's a grumpy bugger.

 

[RC]

Lol, i thought that with Neil Jenkins as well.
He hobbled in to buy a kicking tee from us and just kind of grunted at me when i told him how much the tee costed.
f***ing one trick pony!

 

[shazbooger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SaintsFan_Schweinsteiger_Webby @ Nov 22 2008, 01:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Do you know who isn't fun to meet? Brian O'Driscoll. He's a grumpy bugger.[/b]

Yeah he's his own biggest fan and takes the responsibility way to seriously.

 

[steynboi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RC @ Nov 20 2008, 09:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

My photo with Lomu is hillarious, i'm shaking hands with him and his forearms are almost 3 times the size of mine. Brilliant.[/b]

nice lol got a photo so we can see would be funny for comparison

 

[wolfparade]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gay-Guy @ Nov 21 2008, 08:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ Nov 21 2008, 08:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

f***.


Yeah, when he asked why I didn't try anything I was like, he was with Jimmy Cowan, and he looks a mean prick!
What I couldn't believe was that out of the many people around, that no one was taking any notice of them. That really pees me off for some reason, I was thinking, here is the best player in world rugby, a guy who will go down as one of the all-time greats of the game and no one could give two shits.
Hmmm.[/b]

Well we ignore the AB's as well here in NZ....we just stand at a distance and pretend we are not doing anything but secretly we are having little glances....and then when we are out of earshot we say Thats Dan carter OMG!"

It could also be the fact that people in Wales have no idea who he is.....Carter doesn't play soccer.  <<<<Disclaimer have not had breakfast yet.
[/b][/quote]

LOL! i agree fully

 

[frntline]

WOW I must say i H8 you guys all i got here in the states is Todd Clever(FLanker) and Chad Erkine(USA SH) although my mate from Ireland his brother is good friends with Andrew Trimble!


:cryy: thats all i got :wall:

 

[wolfparade]

Woah man i would much rather meet USA Stars than all blacks honestly your a lucky man to be able to support such a promising team

 

[Gay-Guy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolfparade @ Nov 23 2008, 11:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Woah man i would much rather meet USA Stars than all blacks honestly your a lucky man to be able to support such a promising team[/b]

:lol:

 

[frntline]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolfparade @ Nov 22 2008, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Woah man i would much rather meet USA Stars than all blacks honestly your a lucky man to be able to support such a promising team[/b]

promising team yeah maybe but after losing to japan twice is really promising in my book but although Japan are looking great.

But yeah the only two player i wanna meet now is Mike MacDonald and Takudzwa"Zee" Ngwenya. But it is kinda cool cause i know alot of people who are in the USA training camps cause there are 2 of the top team in chicago.

 

[wolfparade]

I personally think that NZ should host alot more of these nations and or Recruit some of their players for a season to give them, some high class experience. Just like that player for manawatu the argentinian at full back who used to play soccer

 

[frntline]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolfparade @ Nov 23 2008, 12:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I personally think that NZ should host alot more of these nations and or Recruit some of their players for a season to give them, some high class experience. Just like that player for manawatu the argentinian at full back who used to play soccer[/b]

I agree the state were trying to get a super 14 team but it really is 2 far away and the IRB/Sanzar shot that down.

 

[wolfparade]

Thats shocking how do they expect to grow the game when they cant even involve smaller unions into top class competition. I dont know if you have played rugby 2008 but on that game there is a mode called world league which is a 4 tier promotion relegation competition with teams from SH and NH mainly europian and super 14 teams but if the IRB were to take on a concept simalar to that with 2 teams from america 2 teams from argentina 2 teams from japan and another 5 teams from other unions ie Romania Uraguay Portugal Russia etc and have them play in the same comp as S14 teams and Euro teams it would benefit everyone. And also to improve competetion run a parrelel tournement in a knockout style with quater and semi finals to allow the lesser unions to have a game against the higher unions
and then introduce a player trade system kinda like the draft in NFL where teams can buy players that are willing to play for another club to improve the quality of play. To me that would be an ideal competition and we could scrap the S14 and euro competetons. Anyways that is what i believe would help grow the sport