By his own admission, Bill Bush was an unlikely All Black. A kina diver at primary school and a labourer at Marsden Point refinery at 14, Bill was keener on swimming.
It took the promise of a bit of kai – Fanta and a mince pie – to lure him into his first game of rugby as an 11-year-old for the Wairaka Marae third-grade side.
“I did go to Rugby Park in Whakatāne after rugby games, but it was only to collect empty bottles to earn enough to get into the local picture theatre,” he recalls. “When I was asked why I wasn’t playing rugby, I’d reply, ‘Oh, no... it’s too rough for me!’
“Honestly, for a long time I couldn’t get over how the hell I’d got into the All Blacks team! It feels like I didn’t pick rugby – it picked me.”
The reluctant player became a fearsome, revered All Black prop in the 1970s, playing 37 games between 1974 and 1979, and captaining and coaching the Māori All Blacks.
He played two tests against the Springboks in South Africa in 1976, and earned three caps against the touring British and Irish Lions the following year.
Chatting to the Weekly over Zoom from his home in Christchurch – where he lives with long-time partner Annette Nelson – the 74-year-old could have probably become a comedian too. He’s quite a hoot, retelling stories from the past.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 19, 2023 من Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 19, 2023 من Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
TREASURE & TRAUMA
The launch of the new season of Celebrity Treasure Island doubled as an eighth wedding anniversary celebration for contestant Millen Baird and his wife Siobhan Marshall, who came fourth on the show back in 2022.
JUDGE JAY-JAY
Radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas
CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'
The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother
DEAD FUNNY! SHOSHANA'S GOING SOLO
The Emmy Award-winning writer is starring in a macabre new comedy
TWO RAW SISTERS BABY MAKES THREE!
Rosa and Margo have a new cookbook and bundle of joy on the way
HOME AND AWAY'S NEW MÃORI STAR
The son of a Kiwi sporting Legend, Cantona Stewart is making waves in Summer Bay
TV STAR AIDEE 'THE NIGHT I ALMOST DIED'
The actress and director opens up about her terrifying ordeal
CARMEL SEPULONI I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHTER!
Our former deputy PM the lessons she's learnt in politics on CTI
KENNEDY & SOLLY'S ROMANTIC RACE TO THE ALTAR
The Black Ferns co-captain and her rugby star husband organised the ir nuptials in just five days!
THE BRAD & GEORGE SHOW is back!
Their lovable bromance is stealing the spotlight in Venice!