New Zealand: Shocked by the cyclone, united in a game of rugby

When Hurricane Gabriel destroyed their home and school on February 12, Ollie Mitchell and Payton Thompson, both 11, were traumatized. Since then, these two friends have tried to recover from this disaster thanks to rugby.

In the Hawke’s Bay area, near Napier, the devastation caused by the passage of Hurricane Gabriel was extensive: rivers burst their banks, and floods washed away bridges, roads and homes. Rising water levels and power outages led to the evacuation of more than 9,000 people and eight residents were found dead.

Placed in boarding school

After homes and schools were destroyed, the boys’ parents made the decision to place them in a boarding school in Havelock North, South Bay, so they could be together to get through this ordeal.

Since the cyclone, Ollie and Payton have played in the same rugby team, after playing for rival clubs.

This close bond between the two friends, as well as the solidarity that developed with their other teammates on the field, was essential for their reconstruction after the shock caused by the hurricane.

Since the start of the World Cup, the two friends have been glued to the television screens to follow the performances of the All Blacks team, in search of a fourth World Cup victory in France (after 1987, 2011 and 2015), especially local ones. Hawke’s Bay star Brodie Retallick.

After being eliminated in the semi-finals by England four years ago, the New Zealanders will play a high-stakes quarter-final on Sunday morning against Ireland, ranked No. 1 in the world by the World Rugby Rankings and the last six Grand Slam champions. Competition.