Rugby dreams come true for McKenzie | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

He's spent 10 years playing the game, now Rotorua's McKenzie Lunt is going to be part of the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup 2011 sponsor Emirates Airlines ran the flagbearer programme that gave teenagers from around New Zealand the opportunity to carry national team flags on to fields across the country during the tournament.

The youngsters were selected by Rugby World Cup 1987 winning ex-All Black Grant Fox and Emirates' Chris Lethbridge.

"It has been a much more exacting process than we expected, such has been the calibre of the entries," Mr Lethbridge said.

Entrants had to write a 50-word entry explaining why they should be picked.

"There were many poignant stories and a number of parents and entrants were emotional when they received the good news," he said.

McKenzie was one of 91 lucky young New Zealanders who will be team flagbearers during the Rugby World Cup.

"I've been playing since I was four and have played in Tai Mitchell teams too. I really love the game, it's really exciting."

McKenzie said he plays as halfback for the Western Heights High School under 14 A-team and has tickets for all the games being played in Rotorua.

"Just being part of it is going to be a lot of fun," the 14-year-old told The Daily Post.

He gets to run the Fijian national flag on to the pitch for their game against Namibia in Rotorua on September 10.

Others from the Bay of Plenty and Taupo selected to bear flags at World Cup matches were Rotorua's Okahurangi Ngahana-Hartley and Matthew Wiringi, Taupo's Joshua Monro, Opotiki's Luka Conner, Shayne McAlley from Tauranga, Tate Nolan of Papamoa and James Lellman from Tauranga.

Taupo's Joshua Monro is descended from legendary Charles John Monro, attributed with introducing the game of rugby union to New Zealand. Joshua will march out with the New Zealand flag, leading New Zealand onto the field in their match against Japan at Waikato Stadium on September 16.

Charles John Monro was sent by his father to Christ's College in Finchley, North London, to study for three years.

There he learned the code of rugby union that originated from Rugby School and William Webb Ellis.

When he returned to Nelson he convinced his mates to join him playing the game and on May 14, 1870, Nelson College and Nelson Football Club played the first game of rugby in New Zealand at Nelson's Botanical Reserve.