KeithQuinnRugby
Thinking and talking about rugby every day for 50+ years
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A MESSAGE FROM KEITH QUINN: Welcome to my world of collecting yarns, favourite stories and pictures from a lifetime of broadcasting and reporting the great game of rugby union. This photo, sent to me after the final of the 1987 Rugby World Cup, symbolises the 'Pot of Gold' opportunities the game has offered me. In my working life I've done nothing else but report sport. So please - COME IN AND HAVE A LOOK AROUND MY MEMORIES. Your comments please to kqrugby@hotmail.co.nz
The programme for the 2015 Rugby World Cup final between All Blacks and Wallabies. New Zealand won 34-17.
Quinn’sPost
From the 2015 Rugby World Cup. My reports on the early games.
9 November 2015
I travelled to the eighth Rugby World Cup in Great Britain as an Ambassador for Williment Sport Travel of Wellington, New Zealand; I made it to into Cardiff at the quarter-final stage. Before that I posted a regular Rugby World Cup blog. Read more »
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Archives
Nanjing's Sporting Hope put into a Horror Historical Context
24 August 2014
Isn't THIS a Better Way to Accept Defeat?
20 August 2014
Headlines
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Did a young New Zealand radio presenter once influence the outcome of a Blackcaps cricket test? He thinks he did! Find out how he did it...
*By Keith Quinn (from his book Quinn's Quips)* Early in my broadcasting career by 1969 I was deemed sound enough by the bosses of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation to be the regular studio host of the Sports Roundup radio show. It was quite simple broadcasting work and therefore very good for a young bloke to be involved with. But one day I think I played a major role in New Zealand winning a cricket test match! Read on... Read more »
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Nearly 100 years after one of rugby’s greatest scandals, an old scrapbook is dusted off and opened.
By Keith Quinn Read more »
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Keith Murdoch - One More Story on the Mysterious Life and Lonely Death of the Banished All Black.
*This Story by Keith Quinn for keithquinnrugby.com:* The discussion of the end of All Black Keith Murdoch's life has recently become been a cheerless one to absorb. The beginnings of the demise of the tough prop forward's playing career is very well known. Read more »
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Colin Meads - At his last public outing.
The small New Zealand town of Te Kuiti, in the aptly-named King Country turned out in June 2017 for what was to be the last public outing for the districts legendary rugby star, the great Sir Colin Meads. I was honoured to be MC for the day and later wrote this story for 'NZTODAY.' Read more »
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Colin Meads - Where does he sit among the All-Time All Blacks? One Man's View.
I watched a lot of Colin Meads playing on the rugby field. I am of the age that can say that. Shamelessly I can say I loved the way Colin Meads changed the game for previously lumbering second row forwards, which I was myself, albeit at a club level only. Meads showed us all another way to play. Read more »
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RIP to an Old Lion - A true or tall story?
This story first appeared in the excellent *NZToday* Magazine's June-July edition. The author knows it is true as he remembers it. Some family members doubt his recall. Read more »
Quotes
Phillip Adams from 'Oz Wit' edition 16 August 2014
Writing about the Government in power in Australia in 2014; "Fumble, Bumble, Tumble, Stumble and Mumble. This Abbot Government embraces all the 'Umbles - except Humble!"
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Every day there is Rugby History 28 July 2014
Click to show South Africa ends great NZ sevens reign
New Zealand's sevens team had won four gold medals in a row from 1998-2010 but on this day at Glasgow in the final New Zealand fell to Kyle Brown's South Africam by 19-12. A great rugby era had ended.
A-Z of Rugby
Click to show OBOLENSKY, ALEXANDER
OBOLENSKY, ALEXANDER
Rosslyn Park and England
4 internationals for England 1936
One of rugby history’s most colourful characters, Prince Alexander Obolensky was the son of Prince Alexis of Russia. The young prince was born in Leningrad in 1916 but was taken to England the following year, presumably to avoid the Russian revolution.
He was educated at Trent College and Brasenose College, Oxford. ‘Obo’, as he was known, was an elegant and speedy wing and his rugby prowess was quickly recognised. Late in 1935 he played for Oxford in the annual Universities match, the first of three appearances in that famous game.
As a 19-year-old, early in 1936, he played for England against New Zealand at Twickenham. England caused an upset by thrashing the All Blacks by 13–0. Obolensky scored two tries, one of which has become a classic. His diagonal run through the New Zealand defence, as he scored for the second time, can still be admired on newsreel film footage and on YouTube. That game thereafter became known by rugby writers as ‘Obolensky’s match’.
After he left Oxford University his form fluctuated and fell away. He won only four caps, all in the 1935–36 season, but his memory is ensured both because of his colourful family background and his extraordinary, if briefly flowering, rugby talent.
A world record in first-class rugby is still entered in some books under Obolensky’s name. ‘Obo’ toured South America with a 'Rugby Football Union' team in 1936 (presumably an English selection), and in a game against Brazil he crossed for 17 tries, still a record for one game, though perhaps the first-class quality of the local XV might be called into question.
When World War II broke out, Obolensky joined the Royal Air Force. He died when the Hawker Hurricane he was piloting crashed on landing in East Anglia. He was the first of 111 rugby internationals from all countries to lose their lives in the conflict.
10 Questions to well known sporting people
Today's KQ Rugby Quiz
Which nation came third in the 1987 Rugby World Cup played in New Zealand?
What do you think?
Click here to show the answer.
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