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No.8, Blackheath of London huh? Supposedly the oldest club in the world. I played against Blackheath in Chch for the Christchurch Football Club in the late 80s for CFC 125th.
Burgs. WTF is with the top lip?
Being a kiwi I started palying at 5 and continued until I was 15 when I found out that pootang, pot and booze was much more fun for a unfit fat kid with feet for hands.
However, after my first stay in Oz where everybody said "wadda mean ya don't play rugby, you're a kiwi aren't you?", I had thinned out and got taller (6 foot, 95kgs) and started palying again.
Played for Sumner RFC Flanker (Razor Robertson, AB loosie)
Inglewood RFC No.8 (Dave Loveridge AB halfback)
Christchurch FC, flanker, (fabulous history, no women in the clubrooms on a Saturday night after 6pm, that was until 1985! Jock Hobbs, Robbie Deans and numerous other ABs.)
Halswell RL Club, 2nd Rower then Prop (various Kiwi players you rugger chaps wouldn't know)
West Melton RFC, No6, No8. (Country club with short history) I have played, still do, coached, managed, committeed and now Player Liaison Officer (cool name). Started the Golden Oldie team 12 years ago.
I have always loved this game, since I was 20 anyway. Have played with some great players, never reached the level I wanted (obviously not enough) and was a better leaguey than a rugby player.
Rugby is still the centre of the community I live in and it still dominates most male pub conversations.
Best rugby memory? Chch club final against High School Old Boys (Merts club) at AMI Stadium (Lancaster Park in those days) won 10-3, followed by mad Monday that lasted until Thursday.
Proudest Moment, coaching an Under 15 team through a season with one loss revenged in the final. I still wear the greenstone given to me by those boys everyday. Josh Tatupu was one of those kids.
Most admired Rugby person, Fred Allen, player, captain, coach, selector (all ABs), good honest rooster.
Players I've enjoyed the most; David Campese, Jerry Collins, George Smith, Jonah Lomu, Habana, Elsom, Larkham, Martin Johnson and particuarly Eales
Blah blah blah, sorry finished now.
---------- Post added at 19:55 ---------- Previous post was at 19:49 ----------
Just noticed can't spell played very well also missed the wonderful Michael Jones off my list. He transformed the role of a 7 then reinvented himself as a 6, truly gifted player who is/was a gentleman.