KeithQuinnRugby
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To 1989-90 Wallaby Peter FitzSimons
This Ten Questions idea is to ask a leading rugby personality; either a player, from the the media or an administrator some questions which may prompt a response from them which we have not heard of before;
Peter, or 'Fitz' as he is widely known generously replied to me while on holiday in France. So typical of a very nice man. His Saturday and Sunday 'FitzFiles' columns in the Sydney Morning Herald are a must to read! His many books are too!
PETER FITZSIMONS: The former Wallaby rugby international forward is now much better known as a prolific writer of biographies and historical works. He lives on Sydney's north shore and readily agreed to respond to KeithQuinnRugby.com's questions.
Who were your heroes in sport when you were growing up?
Dennis Lillee and John Newcombe. I dreamed of opening the bowling for Australia, and winning Wimbledon. True, I achieved neither, but I did once get a very useful 2 wickets for 8 for the Knox Grammar School's Under14 C team, and I also once took a set off Julian Lovell in Fifth Form. And he went on to be AT LEAST one of the top ten tennis players of the Sixth Form at Knox Grammar.
Not counting where you live now; is there a favourite other place on earth you would like to live in?
As I write this my wife and I are heading to Donzenac, a little village north of Brive, France where I played rugby for four years in the 1980s. We go back every year. This year we are in a buying mood, for a little house atop a hill, overlooking 'Donza.'
Is there a trait in your personality that you do not like?
No!
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Lack of generosity of spirit.
Do you have a great fear or superstition of anything?
I have no superstitions, which includes no belief in any religions. I find the likelihood of there being a Magic Sky Daddy up there - of any description - to be literally beyond belief. I have had many discussions on this subject with Nick Farr-Jones and he is mad. Do you hear me? MAD!
In all your life what do you consider your greatest and most proud achievement?
My proudest achievements, and greatest are two distinct things. I remain tragically proud of being the only Wallaby sent from the field against the All Blacks for violence. My greatest achievement is to have written 25 books in the last 25 years, not all of them colouring in books.
What is your most treasured possession?
My late mother's notebook, where she put down her thoughts on various things, for over 70 years.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A just completed book, three happy children, a happy wife, and being on my way back to Donzenac with her. How funny I should say that...!
What is something that you feel you haven't yet achieved in your life?
I have books that have sold really well in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Holland, and sold reasonably well in UK and USA. But I have never had a dinkum international best seller, and I want one! My best chance is the world discovering just how extraordinary the saga of the shipwreck of the BATAVIA is, off the west coast of Australia in 1629. Please buy it and TELL EVERYONE!
What has been a kind of 'motto' that has got you through life - to where you are today?
One is; "There is no problem so great that enough gin 'n tonics can't fix them in the short term!' And...'The Art of Writing is the Art of Rewriting!'
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Every day there is Rugby History 21 June 1930
Click to show Modern times have arrived! The first radio call of a rugby test in New Zealand!
Great Britain beat NZ 6-3 in the first of a four test series. From Carisbrook in Dunedin a local 4YA staff member Alfred Laurie Canter was the commentator.
A-Z of Rugby
Click to show BAIRD, ROGER
BAIRD, ROGER
Kelso and Scotland
27 internationals for Scotland 1981–88
4 internationals for British Isles 1983
A winger who might be best remembered by statisticians as the man who played for Scotland in 27 tests but never managed to score a try.
The baby-faced Baird, a former schools scrumhalf and an expert in the sevens game, was blessed with many talents. He was fast and elusive, and although slightly built, he had courage beyond his size. His speed was real: he once cleaned up three Scottish Borders track and field titles in one afternoon.
As a try-scorer, Baird had impressive credentials at every level other than for Scotland in test matches. His total of tries for the South of Scotland was a record, and he scored many in sevens rugby, including at the Melrose Sevens and on trips to the Hong Kong tournament.
Baird did have one test try-scoring moment but it was for the British Isles in New Zealand in 1983 in the third test in Dunedin.
10 Questions to well known sporting people
Today's KQ Rugby Quiz
Name the NZ player who captained the All Blacks to a test match win; then also captained a team to beat the All Blacks within a year?
What do you think?
Click here to show the answer.