Rugby encyclopedia

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 17

Rugby encyclopedia

(By JOHN BROOKS) "The most comprehensive rugby book ever published," is the bold claim made in advertisements for "The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugbv" (Moa Publications, 448pp'. $24.95). The compilers of the Spanish Rugby Annual, which is so big that it could be used, at a- pinch, to form a boundary wall with Gibraltar, might take issue with that assertion. But as far as the Antipodes are concerned, the book's publicist would be justified in saying, in Captain Qneeg's parlance, “I kid you not." Rod Chester and Neville McMillan, the two Auckland rugby enthusiasts who researched and wrote the monumental “Men in Black." have hit the mark yet again with this comprehensive companion volume. They have kicked off with biographies of every All Black that ever was. and, having warmed to their task, moved on to cover administrators, coaches, referees, and even a few writers and broadcasters. All the 26 unions, and their affiliated clubs, are given space, and there are sections on Maori, services' and universities’ rugby as well as detailed team records and national statistics. There is a handful of trifling errors and omissions, and some of the assessments of

players’ qualities are distinctly reserved. It is unfor-, tunate. too. that the cover picture is of yet another nondescript line’-out — but that is a common fault with New Zealand Rugby books. However, such criticism is of the carping kind, because the concept and execution of the book is superb, and the biographical section, in particular, is little short of fascinating. A good deal of New Zealand's rugby lore was in danger of extinction before Messrs McMillan and Chester came along, and their dedicated efforts have led to the publication of this outstanding book. It resuscitates the legends of many famous players, and even a few skeletons rattling in cupboards are given an airing. For instance, Jimmy O’Donnell’s biography recalls that he was arrested in Clinton and brought to Invercargill under a fugitive warrant before going to Australia with the 1884 New Zealand team. Several shop-keepers to whom O’Donnell owed money harboured strong suspicions that he did not intend returning from Australia. They were right. The book contains about 500,000 words and more than 530 illustrations. As such, it is a volume to be browsed through at leisure, and over a long period. There will be few dull moments.