When I was kid in the 80’s my dad was always yelling at the TV when the All Blacks played “GO BERNIE!!” He was a huge fan! 😆 Then when I grew up I yelled at the TV when Brooke came on singing “GO BROOKE!!!” 😆 Hmm Maybe my future kids might yell at her Kids on TV when they become famous 🤔😆
I toured New Zealand in 1981 as a u19 with the Oak Bay Wanderers from Victoria BC Canada. I was in Wellington and watched SA against the All Black's what a thrill, and the aftermath and riots are something one could never forget. We were very good and played very good opponents Christ Church Old Boys was my 18th birthday we finished playing against Aukland u19 we played the Wellington school boys and I think half are team was a year older. We won 4 tied 1 and lost 1 on a drop kick that never went through i know i caught the ball 5 yards right of the post haha. Back then Canada were about 8th in the world we got to 6th but with no professional league we have not kept up. I learned what rucking was all about on that tour. I was a fullback and fielded many an up and under, luckily I was a sprint champion and avoided a lot of hits. When you found yourself on the bottom of a ruck it could be very unpleasant. We learned one man rucking would get called for mountaineering but all 8 forwards was called good rucking. I played Jr national and Sr provincial but like these two said we still had to work and it did cost the chance of making money touring. I wouldn't have traded it, I toured your great country, Australia, Great Britain and a number shorter trips in America. This brought back memories and I loved watching both play but watched Wilson in person and was impressed
wow, thanks for sharing that, I had no idea Canada had much of a Rugby history but then again it is part of the Commonwealth after all so shouldn't be surprised. And Yes, I too remember the '81 tour, although I was bought up in a small town and didn't see it first hand, it was a time in NZ we hadn't seen the likes of before or since really. Good stuff cheers
Stu Wilson and Bernie Fraser were both entertaining personalities back in the amateur 1980s. Not like today in the pro-era where our top rugby players are mainly dull and cliched in front of a camera.
