KeithQuinnRugby
Thinking and talking about rugby every day for 50+ years
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Favourite Photos: People, places and stories from around the rugby world
From my travels I have collected many photos; had them sent to me or saved them, because, well, behind most of them there is a good story!
Why Can't they have games like this any more?
4 January 2015
I know this is technically not a 'favourite photo' - but I love it all the same. I can't resist putting this programme cover up on site from my home collection. I do it under the heading of 'will we ever see games like this EVER again in modern rugby?" (ie; a real 'minnow' rugby union against a rugby 'powerhouse.') This classic was from the 1968 All Blacks tour of Australia. It was the second game of a 12 match tour and New Zealand won 74-0. Read more »
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A picture from the day when one All Black totally shocked the conservative New Zealand radio audience!
31 December 2014
Look at the picture here of the famous day (or was it infamous?) when an All Black uttered an expletive on the air which shocked the radio audience at home - but delighted them too! Confused? View the picture then click on 'Favourite Sports Yarns' on the front page to read the full background story. You'll smile at the way we were! Read more »
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South African Rugby Sure Got Carried Away with this Picture's caption!
27 December 2014
This favourite of mine is from the 'Bizarre' file. It is from a match programme of the 1986 Rebel Cavaliers tour of South Africa. I guess the desperate and isolated South Africans when they saw Pinetree and Kirky in charge - with Foxy, Buck, the Whettons, Andy Haden, Jock Hobbs and all the other current best New Zealand players slip into their country, thought they had the 'All Blacks' on tour. But they had not! This team defied the then 'current' official NZRU and Government stance against sporting contact with Apartheid South Africa. (Silly me; I called this team the 'Cava-liars') This is now the tour that no one ever talks about. It is consigned to its dodgy place in New Zealand rugby history. Remember? This team played four full 'tests' against the Springboks who awarded their players full cap status. [One dictionary meaning of the word 'cavalier' is; offhand, indifferent and showing a lack of proper concern.] That certainly applies still. *{Now scroll down here for other favourite rugby photos I have kept over the years!]* Read more »
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This Game is nicknamed in New Zealand rugby history 'The Water Polo test.' Here you can see why!
Onto the field they come for the 'Water Polo' test; New Zealand v Scotland in Auckland 1975.
17 December 2014
What a day this was. Look at the water! It had rained so hard overnight at Eden Park the Auckland Rugby Union phoned the local radio station 1ZB and said to the public - 'even if you've got tickets - don't come.' They added, ' - the streets are flooded, the car parks are under water and the 48-hour rainstorm is not scheduled to stop!' But 45,000 fans said - No way!' They wanted to see the All Blacks play (maybe because New Zealand was wearing white jerseys?). The game went ahead and the All Blacks scored 4 converted tries for a 24-0 win. Scotland were lucky to get zero! Afterwards the All Black prop Billy Bush said with relief, 'thank goodness the referee (Peter McDavitt of Wellington) blew up any collapsed scrums quickly - someone could have drowned!' Never a truer word spoken! *(Scroll down here - and on other pages here - for more of my favourite rugby photographs)* Read more »
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Found; An old programme reminding Australia of a horror rugby day.
7 December 2014
Isn't it amazing what you sometimes find in a box of old 'stuff' at your place. This is one such piece of rugby memorabilia. Read more »
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What Would Today's Players Think of This?
4 December 2014
Close your eyes and think of the green lawns of Twickenham, or Eden Park, or Ellis Park - or anywhere in modern times where test rugby is played. You would NEVER see mud like this. All you see these days is serried lines of mown greenery. Read more »
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Every day there is Rugby History 15 May 1975
Click to show A BIG All Black Great was Born on this Day in Auckland.
Little did the baby Jonah Lomu or his parents know that 19 years and 45 days later he would be playing for the All Blacks in a test match!
A-Z of Rugby
Click to show VANNIER, MICHEL
VANNIER, MICHEL
Racing Club de France, Chalon and France
43 internationals for France 1953–61
A stylish French fullback who became that country’s most-capped last line of defence, Michel Vannier was a gifted runner who was also blessed with a calm assurance. He played in three French teams which won the Five Nations Championship and was a member of the great French team which went to South Africa in 1958 and won the test series.
Vannier first came into the French international side in 1953 against Wales, in Paris. He had an unhappy day but held his place for the internationals of the next season. He steadily built up his tally of caps over the next five seasons. He was an excellent goal-kicker and had a sure touch with a drop-kick. In the end he totaled 175 points in international matches.
Vannier was most unfortunate that a serious knee injury forced him to miss the tests in South Africa in 1958. He missed all of 1959’s international matches but was back in 1960, a comeback that was highly acclaimed and popular with the rugby followers of France.
His last international was in Australia at the end of the French tour there and to New Zealand in 1961. His form on tour had not been as impressive as before, but his total of caps won had reached 43. The mark stood as a French record until the great Serge Blanco passed it in 1987.
10 Questions to well known sporting people
Today's KQ Rugby Quiz
Name the NZ player who captained the All Blacks to a test match win; then also captained a team to beat the All Blacks within a year?
What do you think?
Click here to show the answer.