Ewe nique cartoon rugby book

Wanganui cartoonist Colin Langmead has brought his team of fleecy rugby players the "Wool Blacks" back together just in time for the Rugby World Cup.

Mr Langmead's latest book, the self-published Best of the Wool Blacks, features stars such as Sunny Wool Wooliams and sees the Wool Blacks playing their sport all over the world.

Mr Langmead's flock evolved from a humble start as a doodle on the back of envelopes sent home while he was overseas, and developed into a team which has appeared in newspapers and cards for years.

The Best of the Wool Blacks is the fourth book Mr Langmead has published, and was a local effort with H and A print, Kiwiweb and Feilding's NightOwl Cutting Dies all playing a role in putting together the final product.

Self-publishing had been quite a learning curve, he said.

More than just a book about rugby, Mr Langmead's latest book included an introduction to New Zealand and illustrations representing different aspects of the game.

It was the book he would like to see sent overseas, or taken home as a souvenir.

It was very Kiwiana, he said.

"You probably couldn't get any more than it is really, it's very New Zealand"

It was "ewe-nique" to New Zealand, and done with a sense of humour.

Mr Langmead was in Great New Zealand Gifts yesterday signing copies of his book.

Mr Langmead's Wool Blacks cartoons will be appearing in the Wanganui Chronicle during the course of the Rugby World Cup.