Buck is back!

Media Release

3 June 2011

Buck is back!

Buck Shelford is thrilled to have been selected as the North Harbour Rugby Legend as part of the Living Legends project. “I guess the selection shows me I really have achieved in my sport” says Buck.

A household name in New Zealand, Thomas Wayne Shelford (Buck) started playing rugby as a five year old, recalling his earliest rugby memory as breaking his collar-bone on the frosty grounds of his primary school as a young boy. The accident obviously had no lasting effects as he went on to become one of New Zealand’s most dominant All Blacks.

Buck was educated at Western Heights High School in Rotorua where he played in the first XV in 1973 and 1974. He went on to play for Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools and Auckland age grade sides before he made his Auckland debut in 1982.

He stayed with his North Shore rugby club and automatically moved to North Harbour Rugby Union when the separate union on the North Shore was formed in 1985.

His rugby career was going from strength to strength and by 1985 was selected for the All Blacks. His son Eruera was born in the same week he was picked for the All Blacks. “That’s got to be one of the best weeks of my life” says Buck.
Buck was an automatic choice for the 1987 Rugby World Cup, and played in five of the six matches. Buck is hoping that New Zealand’s hosting of Rugby World Cup again this year will bring the All Blacks another home win.

He took over from David Kirk as captain for the tour of Japan in October and November and played in each of the five matches. Upon becoming captain, Buck brought his teammates to Te Aute College, a Māori school, to see the students perform a traditional haka. Although the All Blacks had been performing the haka at the start of their matches since the team's inception, it was Buck who taught them the proper way to perform the "Ka Mate," the haka they still use to this day at the start of their matches.

Buck then led the All Blacks on one of their great periods of domination, going through unbeaten from 1987 to 1990. This Buck says was his greatest achievement in rugby.

Buck retired from playing rugby in 1995 after a spell at the Rugby Roma, in the Italian Championship and coached for some time in Britain, including spells at Saracens and Rugby Lions. He returned to New Zealand and was the assistant coach of the North Harbour team in 1997 and coach in 1998.

Shelford and his wife Joanne have two children, Lia and Eruera. Buck is currently studying at Massey University in Albany in Auckland.

He sends a message to young New Zealanders to enjoy each and every day. “Don’t be in a hurry. Life is short enough without chasing it. Take your time and enjoy the ride, you never know what you will see.”

ends