Cereal challenge a killer for England

The rugby-mad children of Arrowtown Primary gave a group of England players one of their toughest Rugby World Cup 2011 challenges during a school visit on Thursday afternoon.

Wings Mark Cueto and Chris Ashton, front rows Alex Corbisiero and Dylan Hartley and number 8 James Haskell were invited to eat a dry cereal biscuit as quickly as they could.

The school's chief challenger proudly announced that All Blacks captain Richie McCaw could do it in 15 seconds before the visitors struggled their way through the test.

Hartley, first to stop the watch for England, finished way behind McCaw's mark on 49 seconds.

"That's probably the hardest food challenge I've ever taken on," he said. "I can't see how anyone can do that in 15 seconds."

The players arrived in a helicopter that landed in the middle of the school's rugby field before being led into the assembly hall for an official welcome and a question-and-answer session with face-painted and flag-waving pupils.

Focused on rugby

After a powhiri haka by a group of pupils and a rendition of the traditional welcoming song, Tihei Mauri Ora, the players were greeted by the school's sports teacher, Paul Winders.

Cueto accepted the welcome and responded on behalf of the England team. He congratulated the school's mixed Rippa Rugby team on reaching the final of a national competition for 10 to 11-year-olds in Auckland last month before presenting school principal Robin Harris with a signed shirt.

The school children prepared for the visit last week with a Rugby World Cup parade in which all the classes adopted a different country.

"We've been very focused on rugby and your visit is the icing on the cake," said Mr Harris.

"I'm sure the kids will remember this very fondly, we don't often get high profile people at the school."

Year-eight children had prepared questions for the players and discovered a few secrets.

Cueto revealed the All Blacks were the only (major) international side he had never beaten while Haskell told how teammate Jonny Wilkinson does a little dance before he kicks the ball to make himself comfortable - though he joked the dance hadn't really worked against Argentina.

Warm welcome

New Zealand-born Hartley described the players' welcome as "very cool".

"I went to a school similar to this," he added. "Rugby is such a big driver in New Zealand and I think the kids just love to see any players. To be part of that is so cool."

Back in Queenstown, another group of England players, including Wilkinson, visited Wakatipu High School where they received a warm welcome before taking to the field for a ball-handling session with the school's rugby squad.

“They taught us a lot of things that were new to us and we’ll definitely be using it,” said youngster Brooklyn Niwa.

England leave Queenstown for Dunedin on Friday ahead of their next Pool B match against Georgia at Otago Stadium on Sunday.