Rugby Legend Colin Meads Awarded a Knighthood
New Zealand's Most Famous All Black Accepts a Title
May 12, 2009
Enjoying a legendary status throughout the rugby world, Meads, 72, will take the title of Sir, but told the Otago Daily Times on Tuesday that he does not want to be addressed in that fashion, "All my mates say they won't call me Sir, and I don't want them to."
Meads, nicknamed "Pinetree", played 55 tests for New Zealand during the 1960s and 70s (a huge number for that time when fewer international matches were played). This was a golden era for New Zealand rugby and Meads quickly became a folk hero and an embodiment of the ideal All Black (the nickname for the New Zealand National rugby union team).
Meads a Former All Black Captain
Although no larger than many of his contemporaries -- by modern standards he would be considered too small to be an international lock forward -- Meads had an imposing presence and his play was uncompromisingly hard. During his long career, he played both in the back row and at lock, and though not a regular captain, lead the All Blacks on several occasions.
Meads said that the decision to accept the title was harder to make than he had expected.
"I think of my great friends and guys who I have played under like Sir Wilson Whineray and Sir Brian Lochore.
"But they were perfect gentlemen while I was a bit rougher," he said.
Controversy and Injury to Ken Catchpole
Meads robust play was the subject of controversy; especially an incident involving Australian halfback Ken Catchpole, whose career was said to have been prematurely ended by Meads recklessly dragging him out of a ruck by the leg.
Meads' defenders, on the other hand, argue that Meads played hard, but expected no less from his opponents; and that incidents such as that involving Catchpole were more a case of Meads underestimating his own strength and the consequences of his actions rather than deliberately dirty play.
Meads' own high threshold for pain was illustrated on the 1970 tour of South Africa when during a match against Eastern Transvaal he sustained what was determined to be a seriously broken arm, but nevertheless played on and completed the match.
Of farming stock from the town of Te Kuiti in the King Country Province, Meads was a farmer himself, and after retiring from play has held numerous official positions both in King Country and New Zealand rugby.
Titles Reinstated in New Zealand
In New Zealand, titles were abolished in 1999; but in March 2009 New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced that they would be reinstated for those who had been made principal or distinguished companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit since 2000.
