Rugby: Beegee hopes test full of emotion won't be last

Bryan Williams (R) and his wife Lesley. Photo / Greg Bowker

The importance of Bryan Williams in this part of the world hit home again yesterday when he was mentioned in glowing terms at the official welcoming ceremony for the All Blacks.

And the man himself hopes an All Blacks v Samoa test in Apia isn't such an unusual occurrence in the future.

Williams, now 64, was a blockbusting wing who played 38 tests and 75 matches for the All Blacks in the 1970s, and coached Manu Samoa at the 1991 World Cup in France and the United Kingdom when they finished second behind Australia in their pool after beating Wales and Argentina.

A Ponsonby stalwart, his son, Paul, represented Manu Samoa at the last World Cup.

Williams senior has long been an advocate of a test in Samoa and he will be at Apia Park today as he arrives on the same early-morning flight as Prime Minister John Key.

In a wide-ranging and entertaining speech at the All Blacks' official welcome in Apia yesterday Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi talked of Williams when connecting the many links between his country and New Zealand.

"In the 70s, in the days of just radio broadcasts our people listened intently and followed closely the playing exploits of Bryan Williams, whom most had never seen in real life."

He added: "When the team played in the World Cup for the first time in 1991, there was no television in Samoa. Only a special arrangement with TVNZ enabled TV screens to be put up at Apia Park in the nick of time to receive a telecast feed of the games from the United Kingdom.

"Our people from around the country made the trip to come and camp at Apia Park at night to show their support and watch. Those days are remembered in nostalgia but they demonstrate the spirit held then and continues up to this day of the ... affection of our people for the Manu."

Williams, known as Beegee, who scored 14 tries in 13 appearances in his first All Blacks tour to South Africa as a 19-year-old, said: "It's a massive occasion and I guess not before time. It's something that probably should have happened some time ago but we've got to be appreciative of the fact that it's happening now.

"The relationships between the two countries, and obviously the rugby players, are very strong so one would hope that in future there will be ongoing exchanges like this."

When it was suggested that Samoa had contributed a lot to New Zealand rugby, Williams replied: "I think conversely New Zealand rugby has also contributed a lot to Samoan rugby because a lot of the players who have played for Manu Samoa have learned rugby here in New Zealand as well. It's a mutual benefit, I think.

"It'll be a very special occasion, there'll be a fair amount of emotion."