Today in History

1936 Colin 'Pinetree' Meads born

The legendary All Black lock was a physically tough and uncompromising player. Rugby writer Lindsay Knight described him as New Zealand's equivalent of Australia's Sir Donald Bradman or America's Babe Ruth in terms of sporting legends.

Between 1957 and 1971 Meads played 133 matches for the All Blacks, including 55 tests. He earned a reputation as one of the greatest players of all time. Meads was the personification of the New Zealand style of rugby. He became a genuine folk hero who epitomised the nation and the rugby of his era. He was a backblocks farmer who remained loyal to his small rural-based provincial union, King Country, as both a player and administrator. In the age of professional rugby Meads has been seen by the media and public as a champion of the game's old values.

After hanging up his boots Meads turned to administration and coaching. He became chairman of the King Country union and a national selector in 1986. He was axed from this position when he opted to go on the unauthorised Cavaliers tour of South Africa as coach. After a spell on the outer, Meads was welcomed back into the fold in 1992 and was elected to the New Zealand Rugby Union council. He was the manager of the All Blacks at the 1995 World Cup.

In 1999 Meads was named as New Zealand’s Player of the Century by the New Zealand Rugby Monthly magazine. He was inducted into the International Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Sporting Hall of Fame. His significance to wider New Zealand society was confirmed in 2001 when he received this country’s equivalent of a knighthood, being made a member of the New Zealand Companion of Merit.