After polishing off his bootlegged drink, Combs raised his hand to the sky before diving into 1, 2 Many (featuring Brooks and Dunn) from his 2019 album What You See Is What You Get, as the rugby stars danced along and filmed the moment unfolding.
Combs was in Aotearoa over the weekend to perform two massive gigs on January 17 and 18 at the Mt Eden venue.
Eden Park is primarily a sports venue, commonly used to host Super Rugby, provincial and international rugby union matches during the winter season.
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In a review of Friday night’s concert, Herald entertainment reporter Mitchell Hageman said Combs and his crew “delivered a top-class country extravaganza, packed with pitch-perfect musicianship, heartfelt stories, and a party atmosphere that I reckon could’ve left some wanting to book the next flight to Nashville”.
He described the scene on Friday night as “one that proved Aotearoa’s love for country music is stronger than it’s ever been.”
Eden Park has a capacity for over 50,000 attendees at concerts, so around 100,000 country music fans from across Aotearoa are estimated to have packed the stands over the two nights.
The When It Rains It Pours singer, who fittingly donned an All Blacks cap for both concerts, is a huge fan of rugby and once played Aotearoa’s national sport while he studied at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
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Luke Combs charmed the crowd of thousands at Eden Park on January 17 with his charisma and cheeky smile. Photo / Corey Fleming
Speaking to the Herald‘s Jenni Mortimer in 2022, Combs revealed he was just “one try away from making the Eagles [US men’s national rugby team]” while in university and joked that “making the All Blacks never happened”.
“It was fun. I played for three and a half years in college and I had a really great time doing that. I played football in high school, so it was kind of an easy transition.
“Obviously, there are some major differences. At the end of the day, you get to hit people, and that was pretty gratifying,” he joked.
“I love rugby, I love watching it,” he added.
Combs previously confessed during his last New Zealand show in August 2023 that within four days of being in the country, he had “shot a red stag and been to an All Blacks game”.
“I’m really having a good time,” he told the crowd at Spark Arena.
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The post Luke Combs performs a shoey with NZ rugby stars at Eden Park concert first appeared on Rugby 247.
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2025-01-18 23:25:08
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