Colin Meads facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sir Colin Meads

Meads in 1956
Birth name	Colin Earl Meads
Date of birth	(1936-06-03)3 June 1936
Place of birth	Cambridge, New Zealand
Date of death	20 August 2017(2017-08-20) (aged 81)
Place of death	Te Kuiti, New Zealand
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 3+1⁄2 in)
Weight	102 kg (225 lb)
School	Te Kuiti High School
Notable relative(s)	Stan Meads (brother) Rhonda Wilcox (daughter)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Number eight All Black No. 583 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1955–1973 King Country 139 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1957–1971 New Zealand 55 (21)

Sir Colin Earl Meads (3 June 1936 – 20 August 2017) was a famous New Zealand rugby union player. He played 55 test matches for the All Blacks, New Zealand's national team. He played mostly as a lock forward from 1957 to 1971.

Many people think Meads was one of the greatest rugby players ever. He was nicknamed 'Pinetree' because he was so big and strong. He was a true legend in New Zealand rugby. In 1999, he was even named the country's Player of the Century.

Early Life and Family

Colin Earl Meads was born on 3 June 1936 in Cambridge. His parents were Vere and Ida Meads. Colin grew up on a sheep farm near Te Kuiti with his four brothers and sisters. He believed that growing up on a farm made him strong and fit.

Colin's brother, Stanley Meads, was also a well-known rugby player. Stanley played 30 matches for the All Blacks. In 11 of those matches, Colin and Stanley played together as locks.

Colin and his wife, Verna, had five children. Their daughter Rhonda Wilcox played netball for the Silver Ferns. Their youngest daughter, Shelley Mitchell, played for the New Zealand women's basketball team. Their son Glynn 'Pinecone' Meads also played rugby. Colin lived on a farm near Te Kuiti until he passed away in 2017.

Rugby Career Highlights

Colin Meads played his club rugby for Waitete R.F.C. in Te Kuiti. He first played for King Country in 1955 when he was 19. He had a great first game, scoring a try and even a drop-goal! He went on to play 138 more games for King Country.

In 1955, Meads was chosen for the New Zealand Under-21 team. They toured Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon). He played in all eight games and was seen as a very promising player.

Becoming an All Black

Meads was selected for the All Blacks' tour of Australia in 1957. He played his first test match against the Wallabies. He played in both test matches and scored a try in the second one. From 1957 to 1971, Meads was almost always chosen for the All Blacks. He only missed two series during this time.

His famous nickname, "Pinetree," came about because of his large size and strong presence on the field. Some say his teammate Roger Boon first used the name in 1955. Others say Ken Briscoe gave him the nickname in 1958 when they toured Japan.

Leading the Team

Meads was captain of the All Blacks 11 times. His first time as captain in a test match was in his final series against the British & Irish Lions in 1971. His last international game ended in a 14–14 draw. This meant the Lions won the series 2–1, which was their only series win over the All Blacks.

After a car accident later that year, Meads seriously injured his back. He never played for the All Blacks again. However, he recovered enough to play for King Country for two more years. He played a total of 361 first-class matches, which was a record for 42 years!

A Tough Player

Meads was known for his incredible strength and toughness. Once, in a game in South Africa, he broke his arm during a tackle. But he kept playing until the end of the match! When the doctor confirmed the break, Meads simply said, "At least we won the bloody game." He even played in the third test match with his arm still broken, held together by a thin guard.

Another time, Meads was kicked in the head and had a large cut. The team doctor wanted to take him to the hospital for stitches. But Meads told him to do it right there in the dressing room! He was also known as a "hard man" on the field.

Controversial Moments

Meads was involved in a few controversial moments during his career. In 1967, he was sent off the field by the referee for dangerous play against Scotland. This meant he was temporarily removed from the game.

In Australia, there was an incident where player Ken Catchpole was injured while Meads was tackling him. Catchpole's leg was badly hurt. Meads later said he was just trying to bring Catchpole to the ground and didn't realize his other leg was stuck. Years later, Meads was invited to a dinner in Catchpole's honour. He was warned he might be booed, but he went anyway and was not booed.

After Retirement from Playing

After he stopped playing rugby in 1973, Meads became the chairman of the King Country rugby union. He also helped select and coach the North Island rugby team.

In 1986, he was chosen for the national selection panel. However, he was later removed because he coached an unauthorized tour to South Africa. At that time, the All Blacks were not allowed to tour South Africa.

From 1994 to 1995, Meads was the manager for the All Blacks, including during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He was very strict in this role and would tell his players off if they played poorly.

Public Life

Even after retiring from rugby, Meads remained a well-known person in New Zealand. He often gave speeches at events, and the money raised went to help people with intellectual disabilities. He also appeared in TV advertisements for different products.

In 2007, Meads and his wife sold their sheep farm and moved into Te Kuiti.

In August 2016, it was announced that Meads had pancreatic cancer. He passed away on 20 August 2017, because of the cancer. As a way to show respect, many New Zealanders placed rugby balls outside their homes. Meads is buried in the Te Kuiti New Cemetery.

Honours and Tributes

Many people believe Meads is New Zealand's greatest rugby player ever. He was named Player of the Century at the NZRFU Awards in 1999. He is a member of both the World Rugby Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.

Meads was seen as a tough, loyal, and humble person. He was 1.92 metres (6 feet 4 inches) tall and weighed around 100 kg (220 lb). He had a very strong physical presence and was incredibly fit. He always said this was thanks to growing up and working on a farm.

In 1971, Meads was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to rugby. In 2001, he became a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for his work in rugby and the community. In 2009, he accepted the title of Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM), which meant he became Sir Colin Meads.

On 19 June 2017, a statue of Meads was unveiled in the Te Kuiti town centre. Meads, despite battling cancer, attended the event and spoke.

One of the trophies in New Zealand's domestic rugby competition, the Heartland Championship, is called the Meads Cup in his honour. Rugby writer Lindsay Knight once said that Meads was New Zealand's version of famous sports legends like Sir Donald Bradman in Australia or Babe Ruth in the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Colin Meads para niños