Greg Rowlands has been remembered as a smaller player with a big heart. Photo / Supplied
Greg Rowlands has been remembered as a smaller player with a big heart. Photo / Supplied
Former All Black Greg Rowlands will be farewelled on home turf at Tauranga Domain on Thursday - a fitting venue for the celebration of a life dedicated to rugby.
The Rotorua-born Bay of Plenty rugby legend died peacefully on Sunday, aged 73.
His last two decades were marked by worseningdementia, believed to have been brought on by rugby head injuries, but his family says he would not have changed his life.
Rowlands toured Argentina with the All Blacks in 1976, and was the second-highest point scorer across four games, scoring 44 points.
At a provincial level he was a legendary goalkicking fullback, playing 161 games for the Bay of Plenty from 1969–1981.
Cooney said Rowlands was a proud, loyal and dedicated father, with an "extremely positive" attitude to life.
He staunchly believed anything could be achieved if you put your mind to it.
"The odds were stacked against him from birth, being a very sick, premature baby. He probably got told a lot that he couldn't really achieve what he achieved."
He "was just a little fella" and inspired smaller players.
She said his death was not a shock and his dementia had been geting worse for years. His family believed its early onset was linked to head injuries from rugby.
"It's been a long time coming, it's been a hard road for dad," she said.
Greg Rowlands. Photo / File
"He wouldn't have changed anything. You could have told him he's going to get dementia when he's older doing what he's doing, and he would've said: oh well, so be it."
Eldest daughter Kim Rowlands said the family hugely appreciated the support they had received during his illness, as well as the work put into rugby injury prevention.
She wanted her father to be remembered for his achievements.
"The legacy he leaves behind is the lives he's touched ... he's touched a lot of people."
He was an outdoors type, enjoying hunting, fishing and anything that involved adventure, from hiking Lake Waikaremoana to canoeing the Wanganui River. He always sharing it with his family.
Former Bay of Plenty and All Black rugby player Greg Rowlands pictured at the Tauranga Domain in 2016, where his funeral will be held. Photo / File
"He was just a really good, all-around, honest man ... honest, gentle ... we're just extremely proud as a family of what he's achieved."
Son Brett Rowlands said the outpouring of love from the community after his dad's passing was "very humbling".
"Dad did everything for the Bay Rugby Union, he gave his whole life to that cause."
Former Bay of Plenty rugby player and fellow Tauranga Sports rugby life member Graeme Moore said he and Greg were "closer than brothers".
They played for Bay of Plenty together for 12 years from 1967. Moore remembered Rowlands' "fearlessness and dedication to doing the job right".
Tauranga Boys' College 2nd Rugby XV of 1964, with Greg Rowland in the front, second from the right. Photo / Supplied
He was "courageous" and didn't shy away from big men.
He remembered Rowlands getting "smashed" in one game after passing to Moore who scored the try, then having to be convinced to take a breather instead of kicking the goal.
"He played some great games, he was a standout every time he played."
Moore visited his good friend in palliative care but said it was just hitting home now "that he's gone".
Bay of Plenty Rugby board member and long-serving Tauranga Sports member Craig Sandlant said Rowlands' contribution to the club and to local rugby was "huge".
"Greg was one of the first players from Cadets Rugby Football Club to represent the All Blacks," he said.
Greg Rowlands toured Argentina with the All Blacks in 1976. Photo / Supplied
He said the club was hit "hard" by the loss.
"He was a small, slight man, but had a way bigger heart."
He said Rowlands was survived by his family in the club, with Brett playing for the senior Bs and senior reserve team.
Tauranga Sports president Paul Taylor said Rowlands was a legendary name around the club, and a "lovely, gentle" person.
Former Bay of Plenty Rugby player and Tauranga Sports life member Graeme Moore. Photo / File
Taylor knew Rowlands from when he first arrived at the club in 1997 and said he was "in awe" at first.
"To be in a club with someone with such a great history in rugby, especially as a younger person coming through, looking up to an ex-All Black."
Taylor said Rowlands was a strong advocate for club rugby at all levels and was "always willing to give back" in whatever way he could.
It would be an honour to be able to celebrate his life at the club ground on Thursday.
Rowlands also had a career in radio.
Greg Rowlands holds the record for the most games played and points scored for the Bay of Plenty. Photo / Supplied
Gold AM breakfast show host Brian Kelly said Rowlands was a salesman for Radio 1ZD when he arrived in the 70s but eventually became the station manager for Classic Hits.
Kelly said Rowlands, who left radio about 15 years ago, had been a good guy to work with and was well-known across the Bay.
He remembered Rowlands as being small for a fullback and getting a "hammering" from other players he took on, including the late Sir Colin Meads.
Funeral details
Rowlands' funeral will be held on Thursday at 1.30pm at the Tauranga Sports Rugby Club at the Tauranga Domain.
The funeral is open to anyone who wishes to attend.
