Carter seeking World Cup glory

New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands John Carter says he could teach the All Blacks a thing or two about winning rugby world cups his team has won four.

Carter departed Rarotonga for New Zealand on Wednesday night mostly to support the Cook Islands delegation headed to the Pacific Forum, but partly to participate in the 2011 Parliamentary World Cup.The World Cup will kick off early for Carter, with games in the parliamentary variety beginning in Wellington on Saturday, September 4 (NZT).

The New Zealand team will be playing for their fifth world cup trophy, coming up against parliamentary teams from Australia, South Africa, UK/Ireland, Argentina, Japan and France.

The team has won all but one of the Parliamentary World Cups since the competition first began in 1995.The only time the prize fell outside of New Zealands possession was in the 2003 World Cup in Australia, where the host nation won it.

Considering the teams dominance of the World Cup, Carter joked that he could share a few pointers with the All Blacks team before their World Cup begins on September 9.

Weve won four out of five cups, so I think we could show the All Blacks how to win a World Cup, he said yesterday.

The competition follows similar rules to golden oldies rugby, with current and ex-parliamentarians allowed to play.

When asked if he was harbouring dreams of whacking any of his foreign counterparts on the field, Carter said the truth couldnt be further away.

Ill actually be trying to get away from them rather than going for them, he said.

But the main reason for Carters trip was to help the Cook Islands push to host the Pacific Forum meeting next year.

Carter said he would be campaigning for the Cook Islands cause on and off the field.