Members of Arrowtown School's Rippa Rugby team, who represented Wales in the Rippa World Cup in Auckland earlier this week, proudly display their silver medals at Queenstown Airport on Wednesday.
Pictured with coach Paul Winders are (back row, from left) Ella Little (10), Alex Bodeer (11), Reece Collin (10), Zac Hourston (10), Angus Frew (11), Lewis Deeman (10) and Anna Aiken (10); (front row, from left) Alex Hull (10), Alice Robinson (10), Jak Jessop (10) and Jaxon Collins (10).
The Welsh (Arrowtown) team was beaten 50-20 in the Rippa World Cup final by the All Blacks, represented by Whau Valley Primary School, of Northland.
A group of incredibly proud parents welcomed the tired but happy children home at Queenstown Airport on Wednesday morning.
Alex Bodeer told the Queenstown Times the team was thrilled with its accomplishment of finishing second overall from about 600 teams who started the big tournament.
"We went there feeling like we wouldn't get very far and we got to the finals. [The All Blacks] were a really good team."
Alex made it clear her loyalty would lie with the All Blacks during RWC 2011, "but Wales, too".
