Chiefs play medicine men

CHRIS HILLOCK/Waikato Times

SIGN HERE: Junior Poluleuigaga signs Te Awamutu man Jock Smith's cast during his "rounds'' at Waikato Hospital yesterday.

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Waikato hospital patients received some rugby remedy yesterday when Chiefs players cheerfully kissed babies, signed casts and delivered food to patients in a community relationship-building drive.

Brendon Leonard, Jarrad Hoeata, Junior Poluleuligaga, James McGougan and Tanerau Latimer visited the hospital in one of the Super 14 franchise's initiatives to build on their goodwill in the Waikato.

And, after spending a day with hard-working hospital staff, the players might have been the ones to have learned new training tips.

A couple of the players had joined up with some orderlies, Chiefs spokeswoman Erin Andersen said.

They walked around with them and had a look at what they did for a job – and had been surprised to discover orderlies walk about 35 kilometres a day, Mrs Andersen said.

"During that time the other three players helped deliver food to patients in the children's ward at the hospital. It was a great hit with everyone."

Mrs Anderson said the initiative, called Chiefs in the Community, gave players time between training sessions and other activities to mix with the public in ways that allowed squad members to interact with fans and supporters to get close to some of their favourite players.

She said such visits by the Chiefs were always in high demand.

"We get a lot of requests and obviously cannot attend all them but we do try to get out to as many places as we can."

- © Fairfax NZ News