Dad to be in stands for son’s ABs debut

From Leithfield all the way to Johannesburg, North Canterbury’s proudest father will be sitting in the stands at Ellis Park when Fletcher Newell makes his All Blacks debut.

The 22-year-old tighthead prop, who was called into Ian Foster’s squad when Ofa Tu’ungafasi was scratched from the tour to South Africa with a neck injury, will make his debut off the bench early tomorrow morning (NZT). Having only been in South Africa for a matter of hours, Newell’s father, Arnold, will be cheering his son on, surrounded by more than 62,000 Springboks fans in what is widely considered to be the most intimidating atmosphere in world rugby.

Arnold Newell, still on cloud nine following a phone call from his powerhouse son on Tuesday to inform him he was going to be named on the bench, got another emotional and even more mind-blowing ring early yesterday morning.

The conversation started with ‘‘you’d better pack your bags’’.

‘‘He said ‘we’re getting you over for my debut’,’’ Arnold Newell said of the phone call.

Despite all of his commitments in amongst a tough week for the All Blacks, Newell has organised a trip over for his father, with a little help from the All Blacks staff, to make sure the proud dad doesn’t miss the Crusaders’ prop’s first appearance in an All Blacks jersey.

‘‘It was pretty emotional actually,’’ Arnold Newell said. He said he never imagined he would be there for the special milestone at Ellis Park, instead planning to be glued to the TV in the small hours of tomorrow morning.

‘‘It’s pretty surreal really,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re just average New Zealanders and it’s pretty special,’’ Newell said as he fought back tears.

Happy to reveal that he is one of the proudest father’s on the planet, Newell has erected a sign on State Highway 1 at their hometown of Leithfield to make sure everyone coming into North Canterbury knows the tiny township has a new All Black. ‘‘It’s just because I’m so proud.

Someone else who would have been equally proud was Fletcher Newell’s mother Sarah, who died when he was just 15. ‘‘He’s just boxed on, carried on, left that behind a wee bit,’’ Newell said. ‘‘He’s got a wee tattoo on his arm for his mum.’’