Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

All Blacks to wear white armbands to mark Pike River mining tragedy

Updated at 8:36 am on 25 November 2010

The All Blacks will wear white armbands against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday morning to mark the Pike River mining tragedy, and the Wales Rugby Union agreed to a New Zealand Rugby Union request for a minute's silence before kick off.

News of yesterday's second explosion at the Pike River mine hit the team hard, and the assistant coach Steven Hansen says it was particularly heartbreaking for the NZRU president John Sturgeon, a former coal miner who had been involved in the industry for 38 years.

Sturgeon, who knows many of families struck by the tragedy, was fighting back the tears as Hansen spoke from the All Blacks hotel in Cardiff.

Hansen says he suggested white armbands because people will be able to see them on the black jerseys and he hopes they will show the families back home that the All Blacks are saying we feel for you, we love you and our prayers are with you.

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