Thousands attend funeral of All Blacks great Colin Meads

The casket of All Blacks legend Colin Meads is carried by family following his funeral service in his home town of Te Kuiti, New Zealand, on August 28, 2017. (New Zealand Herald via AP)

WELLINGTON: A crowd estimated at several thousand, including the New Zealand Prime Minister and high-profile rugby players, attended the funeral Monday of All Blacks legend Colin Meads.
Mourners packed the community hall in Meads’ tiny hometown of Te Kuiti and spilled over into an adjacent marquee in which the service was shown on large screens. Te Kuiti, with a population of less than 5,000, saw its population increase by almost half as crowds paid tribute to Meads, who played 55 tests among 133 matches for the All Blacks between 1957 and 1971.
He was voted New Zealand’s Rugby Player of the Twentieth Century.
Speakers included brother Stan Meads, with whom he played 15 tests, former All Blacks captain Brian Lochore, his daughter and grandchildren.
Meads died Aug. 20, aged 81.