KeithQuinnRugby
Thinking and talking about rugby every day for 50+ years
You are here: Home » News Comment
News Comment
MY TAKE ON SOME OF THE RUGBY NEWS STORIES WHICH COME INTO MY WORLD.
Gabriel David's interview with Gary Sobers
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...
8 January 2019
*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 »
Comments 0
The moment in 1925 referee Albert Freethy sent Cyril Brownlie on his 'long march' into rugby history.
Nearly 100 years after one of rugby’s greatest scandals, an old scrapbook is dusted off and opened.
20 December 2018
By Keith Quinn Read more »
Comments 0
The grave of Keith Murdoch in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
Keith Murdoch - One More Story on the Mysterious Life and Lonely Death of the Banished All Black.
9 June 2018
*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 »
Comments 0
Colin Meads - At his last public outing.
20 August 2017
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 »
Comments 0
I loved this picture of Meads, aged 34, leading out the All Blacks at the start of the 1970 tour of South Africa. The main team leader Brian Lochore was injured.
Colin Meads - Where does he sit among the All-Time All Blacks? One Man's View.
20 August 2017
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 »
Comments 0
Big burly Gordon Wood in his heavy woollen pullover, who became a regular & much-loved touch-judge in 1959. This picture taken in Auckland.
RIP to an Old Lion - A true or tall story?
22 June 2017
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 »
Comments 0
Login / Register Free
Every day there is Rugby History 6 September 1986
Click to show His 18 seconds as a test player happened on this day!
Marty Berry came on v Australia at Eden Park in a losing Bledisloe Cup game for just 18 seconds. But his other midweek games for the ABs spread over 7 seasons.
A-Z of Rugby
Click to show VANNIER, MICHEL
VANNIER, MICHEL
Racing Club de France, Chalon and France
43 internationals for France 1953–61
A stylish French fullback who became that country’s most-capped last line of defence, Michel Vannier was a gifted runner who was also blessed with a calm assurance. He played in three French teams which won the Five Nations Championship and was a member of the great French team which went to South Africa in 1958 and won the test series.
Vannier first came into the French international side in 1953 against Wales, in Paris. He had an unhappy day but held his place for the internationals of the next season. He steadily built up his tally of caps over the next five seasons. He was an excellent goal-kicker and had a sure touch with a drop-kick. In the end he totaled 175 points in international matches.
Vannier was most unfortunate that a serious knee injury forced him to miss the tests in South Africa in 1958. He missed all of 1959’s international matches but was back in 1960, a comeback that was highly acclaimed and popular with the rugby followers of France.
His last international was in Australia at the end of the French tour there and to New Zealand in 1961. His form on tour had not been as impressive as before, but his total of caps won had reached 43. The mark stood as a French record until the great Serge Blanco passed it in 1987.
10 Questions to well known sporting people
Today's KQ Rugby Quiz
What did the famous Welsh and British Lions hooker Bobby Windsor achieve on his 42nd birthday?
What do you think?
Click here to show the answer.