Grant Batty: Former All Blacks captain Andy Leslie plays tribute to former teammate

Grant Batty died, aged 74, in Queensland on Friday. Photo / Photosport

Former All Blacks and Wellington captain Andy Leslie has described teammate Grant Batty as the ultimate competitor and a great person following his sudden death.

Batty died on Friday in Queensland, Australia, aged 74. The news sent shock waves across both sides of the Tasman.

Hailing from Greytown, Batty played 56 matches and 15 tests for the All Blacks between 1972 and 1977, scoring four test tries.

He was often one of the smallest men on the field, standing 1.65m tall and weighing 70kg. Legendary Scottish rugby commentator Bill McLaren claimed Batty played “like a runaway bullet”.

Leslie and Batty were close during their years on the field, playing against each other in club rugby before becoming teammates for Wellington and later New Zealand, the former captaining the All Blacks during the 1976 tour of South Africa.

Speaking to the Herald, Leslie called Batty a good friend and was shocked to hear the news of his death, as the pair had just caught up months prior.

“I didn’t think anything would get him in the end,” Leslie said. “I thought he was bulletproof.

“He was out here about three months ago ... and we were sitting in the coffee bar having a laugh and a chuckle.

“I was lucky enough to play with Grant at provincial level as well as the All Blacks and you know he would probably be the greatest competitor I’ve ever played with.”

Andy Leslie served as New Zealand Rugby President for several years. Photo / Photosport

Leslie recalls one incident during the tour of South Africa where Batty proved that while he was small in stature, he had plenty of heart.

“In the first test, I got put on my bum by one of the big forwards and I was sitting on the ground and Batts was jumping up trying to clip him around the ears,” Leslie said.

“He was the first one there defending me. He’s just a ferocious competitor and a great friend.”

While there were occasions Batty defended Leslie, he recalled one time that wasn’t the case.

“He was playing for Marist St Pats at the time, and I was playing for Petone and we had a great rivalry,” Leslie said.

“I can remember him coming in and having a crack at me or something, I had a crack at him.

“Dave Martin and I got ordered off, the little bugger went away back on to the wing laughing.”

After hanging up the boots, Batty won the NZ Superstars series three years in a row before moving to Queensland.

He served as an assistant coach for the Queensland Reds in 1999-2000, coached the Australia Under-19s in 2001 and went on to coach in Japan’s Top League.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.