To be named in Bay of Plenty's Centennial XV is a huge honour, says former All Blacks and Steamers hooker Hika Reid.
As part of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union centenary, the province's greatest 15 players were chosen from those who had worn the jersey over the past 100 years.
The
team was announced at a special centenary luncheon at the Holiday Inn at the weekend. Sports commentator Tony Johnson, who was MC, announced the team to about 300 past and present players.
Johnson said the selectors had used a special criteria when selecting the team.
"No1 priority was their playing ability in the blue and gold hoops. Making the All Blacks, New Zealand Maori sides, Super Rugby is a great achievement, yes.
"But for the purpose of selecting this team [that] was considered secondary to what these players achieved playing for Bay of Plenty."
Not just on-field achievements were taken into account, Johnson said, but what players did for Bay rugby after they finished playing. One of those players recognised had played 84 games from 1978-1987.
Reid said he was proud to be named along side some of the greats. "It's a great honour. It was quite good because a few of them [selected] I've played with in the same team or same era.
"Some of them were my heroes, like the'76 team, and you hear about all these greats like Red Conway that were before my time but you know the name. To actually be up on stage with them was great."
Another person to be singled out was former All Blacks fullback Greg Rowlands, whose 161 for Bay of Plenty between 1969 and 1982 is still a record. "All I can say is it's an honour. The shame is we won't be able to take the field (but) the good thing is we will never be beaten."
Bay of Plenty Centennial team:
Dinny Mohi (156 games from'61-'77), Hika Reid (84 games from'78 to'87), Peter Kennedy (101 games from'79-'81), Gary Braid (124 games from'81-'91), Manu Maniapoto (107 games from'60-'69), Alan McNaughton (122 games from'68-'80), Dick "Red" Conway (72 games from'62-'68), Eru Beattie (65 games from'58-'67), Mark Basham (91 games from'80-'87), Ron Preston (152 games from'80-'91), Peter Woods (79 games from'88-'92), William Bill Gray (59 games from'50-'65), Eddie Stokes (129 games from'71-'81), Graham Moore (114 games from'67-'80), Greg Rowlands (161 games from'69-'82).
To be named in Bay of Plenty's Centennial XV is a huge honour, says former All Blacks and Steamers hooker Hika Reid.
As part of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union centenary, the province's greatest 15 players were chosen from those who had worn the jersey over the past 100 years.
The
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