Wellington: The All Blacks have taken the Rugby World Cup trophy to New Zealand's second-largest city of Christchurch, which was stripped of its World Cup matches after a February earthquake which left 182 dead.
About 50,000 fans turned out at Hagley Park near the still cordoned-off central city to greet the team, which beat France 8-7 in Sunday's final to win the World Cup for the first time in 24 years.
Christchurch was to have hosted seven World Cup matches, including two quarter-finals, but was forced to give up those games when its main stadium was damaged in the 6.3 magnitude quake which hit the city on February 22.
Thirteen members of the team, including captain Richie McCaw, play for the Christchurch-based Canterbury Crusaders and McCaw said it was "special" to return to the city and "put a bit of a smile on people's faces."
Coach Graham Henry, who is originally from Christchurch, said it was "great to be home and I hope the future is very bright, I'm sure it is."
Widespread destruction
The earthquake claimed 182 lives and caused widespread destruction.
Meanwhile, the end of the Rugby World Cup has turned sour for beaten finalists France after they were fined for breaching protocols and police were called to an incident involving players and photographers. There were also accusations McCaw was eye-gouged during Sunday night's final.
A witness said police were called to an inner-city Auckland restaurant yesterday after a photographer accused French lock Pascal Pape of spitting at him, while another said he was slapped in the face by a second French player.
Television reporter Andrew Morrison was at the restaurant and said members of the French team were enjoying themselves inside, but the situation turned "very ugly" and some players went outside when photographers arrived.
"One photographer was pushed in the face, another one was spat on and things started to get very heated. The players started to clear out of the restaurant after that and French management wouldn't comment," he told Television New Zealand.
"Police were called in to the incident but at this stage we understand no charges have been laid."
The previous day there was an incident at another Auckland restaurant, where the French players gathered before the International Rugby Board (IRB) annual awards.
The Kermadec general manager Hamish Klein confirmed there was a "small incident" but, while social media reports claimed staff were in tears, Klein said there had been no complaints.
McCaw downplayed the eye-gouging reports but did not deny it happened late in the game. "I got a poke in the eye but I don't know if there was any intent," he said.
