Category: Uncategorized
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Tom Lawton Snr- patriarch of Australia’s greatest rugby family.
Having a great rugby playing father or grandfather does not guarantee their offspring will emulate their feats. For those born to greatness it is often a curse rather than a blessing for sons and daughters who will always be in the shadow of their dominant parentage. The odds of descendants equalling or bettering their parent’s…
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George Nepia, 100 years ago, was he really an All Black at sixteen years of age?
If the stories are true, George Nepia, famed All Black fullback, was selected for the All Blacks on their “Invincibles” tour as a sixteen year old player. In an interview with Michael Romanos, Nepia revealed he was born in 1908 rather than 1905 or 1904 as some records show. In the interview he stated that…
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George Nepia, 100 years ago, was he really an All Black at sixteen years of age?
If the stories are true, George Nepia, famed All Black fullback, was selected for the All Blacks on their “Invincibles” tour as a sixteen year old player. In an interview with Michael Romanos, Nepia revealed he was born in 1908 rather than 1905 or 1904 as some records show. In the interview he stated that…
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Umaga, Cleaver and Gifford add to growing list of those disenchanted with rugby union.
I am a rugby fan hanging on by a thread to a game I have followed for over 50 years. It brought immense joy, frustration and disappointment in that time, but none more so than the current rugby climate. I am not alone, with many long-term fans expressing disappointment with today’s game. The latest being…
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Des Connor, representing Australia and New Zealand makes him the greatest Wallaby halfback
The number of top class halfbacks produced by Australia and New Zealand is quite astonishing. Having played the position myself I have a natural affinity with the role and what it entails and who the best exponents are. It is the best position on the field with opportunities to highlight all of rugby’s skills including…
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“What a score!”-BaaBaas 1973, made possible by a free flowing referee.
To conclusively prove that today’s refereeing and officialdom is pedantic, making games unwatchable, is that fifty years on from the magnificent 1973 Barbarians versus All Blacks match, we are still discussing the game and “the try”. Whereas the 2023 Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa will be forgotten about in the…
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A Heavenly Rugby Team
Unfortunately the only criteria for this Dream XV are that you had to have passed away! In my research I thought of eligible players who to my disappointment found them to still be alive! Oh well, back to the drawing board. There are some names that are just guaranteed selections and other more contentious picks.…
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Colin Meads, prototype for the New Zealand rugby player
If you had to describe the ultimate New Zealand rugby player to a non-rugby fan and use one player to support your argument, would Sir Colin Meads best represent your case? Yes, there would be support for the Richie McCaw’s, Dan Carter’s and Jonah Lomu’s of the modern rugby time, but I would suggest that…
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Russell Fairfax-rediscovering one of the “free spirits” and an interview to boot!
In a segue from my recent article about inspirational coach Geoff Mould, one of his protégé’s at Matraville High School was precociously talented Russell Fairfax. With a philosophy of running rugby, it was no wonder Fairfax exemplified this attitude. Mould moved him from flyhalf to fullback where he was a sensation on the Australian Schoolboys…
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Ken Catchpole, taking us back to the sixties.
Living the quiet country life in New Zealand meant we did not see the bright lights of London and the cultural change to rock and pop music with bands including the Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Kinks. In later years I wondered what it would have been like to live there, closer to the action!…