Colin Meads
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| Colin Meads | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Colin Earl Meads | ||
| Date of birth | June 03, 1936 (age 70) | ||
| Place of birth | Cambridge, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.92 m | ||
| Weight | 102 kg | ||
| Nickname | Pinetree | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Position | Flanker, No. 8, Lock | ||
| Amateur clubs | |||
| King Country | |||
| correct as of . | |||
| National team(s) | Caps | (points) | |
| 14 Years |  All Blacks |
55 | (65 ) |
| correct as of . | |||
Colin Earl Meads, DCNZM, MBE (born June 3, 1936 in Cambridge, New Zealand) nicknamed "Pinetree", is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer who played 133 times (55 of these were test matches) as an All Black from 1957 until 1971. He played first as a flanker and number 8 , but mostly as lock.
Meads captained the All Blacks several times, and although never a regular captain, he holds the record of longest period of captaincy (NOT consecutive games), from the first date (1960) he was appointed captain to the last match he captained (1971).
He had the reputation of being what euphemistially is called "an enforcer" and certainly he was involved in his share of controversial incidents and in 1967 he became only the second All Black ordered off in a test when Irish referee Kevin D. Kelleher dispatched him for dangerous play against Scotland at Murrayfield.
In 1970, Meads broke his arm playing against Eastern Transvaal in South Africa. He emerged from a particularly vicious ruck with his arm dangling horribly. It was an obvious fracture, and yet Meads completed the match. When the doctor cut away his shirt and confirmed the break, Meads muttered, "At least we won the bloody game."
His brother Stanley Meads played 30 matches as an All Black. In 11 matches Stanley and Colin locked the All Black scrum. His son Glyn "Pinecone" Meads also played for King Country.
Meads was named Player of the Century at the NZRFU Awards dinner in 1999.
A Colin Meads fan club exists, with the members at their meetings wearing No. 5 jerseys, drinking 5oz beers and reading from "Colin Meads All Black" while planning how to mark the great man's birthday on June 3.
The primary trophy contested in New Zealand's current semipro domestic competition, the Heartland Championship, bears the name Meads Cup in his honour.
[edit] External links
- Colin Meads at AllBlacks.com
- Player profile from Otago
- NZ Rugby Museum profile
- Player listing from Planet Rugby
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Colin Earl Meads |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Pinetree |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Former New Zealand Rugby union footballer. Considered greatest New Zealand Rugby player of all time. Has record for New Zealand appearances. |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 3 June 2006 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Cambridge, New Zealand |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
