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Former All Blacks captain Shelford knighted
By AAP
Former All Blacks captain Wayne Shelford has been awarded a knighthood in New Zealand's honours list.
Making his debut in 1985, Shelford played 48 games for New Zealand, including 22 Tests, and captained the team on 31 occasions before being controversially axed in 1990.
The 63-year-old, who is credited with revitalising the performance of the All Blacks' traditional "haka", was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby and the community.
"It's a great accolade, a great honour," Shelford, part of the All Blacks' 1987 World Cup-winning squad, said.
"It's one of those things you never think will happen - I'd never thought about it before.
"I'll wear it with pride for the family and all the organisations I work with. They'll carry that with them because they're my biggest supporters."
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Latest Comments
Agree with Wilson B- at best. And that is down to skilled individual players who know how to play the game - not a cohesive squad who know their roles and game plan. For those who claim that takes time to develop, the process is to keep the game plan simple at first and add layers as the squad gels and settles in to the new systems. Lack of progress against the rush D, lack of penetration and innovation in the mid-field, basic skill errors and loose forwards coming second in most big games all still evident in game 14 of the season. Hard to see significant measureable progress.
Go to commentsKeep telling yourself that. The time for a fresh broom is at the beginning - not some "balanced, incremental" (i.e. status quo) transition. All teams establish the way forward at the beginning. This coaching group lacked ideas and courage and the players showed it on the pitch. Backs are only average. Forwards are unbalanced and show good set piece but no domination in traditional AB open play. Unfortunately, Foster - Mark 2. You may be happy with those performances and have some belief in some "cunning plan" but I don't see any evidence of it. Rassie is miles ahead and increasing the gap.
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