IT was more a case of chow down rather than scrum down when a west Dorset company catered an event the All Blacks rugby team attended.

Bridport-based catering company Sausage & Pear was asked to provide some food for an event where the famous New Zealand team was appearing during the Rugby World Cup.

The catering team travelled to Carnaby Street in London last week to the event at Pro Direct for sports brand Adidas. The brand was promoting their new rugby boot and Adidas also sponsors the All Blacks team.

Players spent time chatting to journalists and attendees and Ross Moore, Managing Director of Sausage & Pear, said it was amazing to meet some of the players.

The catering team got to meet players Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu and Aaron Smith, who even signed the board the team brought the canapés out on.

Mr Moore said: “It was great, they are really down to earth. They seemed really happy to be there and happy to participate in what they were doing.”

The previous day the All Blacks had taken on Namibia in the World Cup and won 58-14, but despite the game the day before, Mr Moore said that “nothing was too much trouble for them.”

He said: “It was good fun.”

The rugby stars are not the only ones to have sampled tasty treats from Dorset recently. Mr Moore said that this year the team has also catered for events where stars including designer Vivienne Westwood, singer Paloma Faith, boxer David Haye and actor Sir Ian McKellen have attended.

Mr Moore said: “It’s a lot of fun. We really enjoy it.

“You get to meet some amazing people. Being a caterer is like getting a backstage pass.”

Sausage & Pear was set up five years ago by husband and wife team Ross and Claire Moore and is based on the Dreadnought Trading Estate, in Bridport.

The name comes from the couple’s school nicknames.

During the summer the team are occupied with wedding catering and in the winter they do more corporate and charity events.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830981

e: catherine.bolado@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @DorsetEchoCB