Exploring the evolution of sport in New Zealand, this book delves into its rich history from the Māori traditions to contemporary professional athletes. It highlights key sports such as rugby, netball, bodybuilding, and surf lifesaving, providing insights into the development of various codes, the organizations behind them, and the influential players who have shaped the landscape of New Zealand sports.
In the world of rugby, the All Blacks have an unsurpassed legacy of success. We are the best of the best. Legends in Black comprises frank, no-holds-barred interviews with New Zealand rugby greats, each sharing their thoughts on every aspect of what it means to be an All Black: first selection, the haka, international and provincial rugby, professionalism, team culture, camaraderie, technical advances, coaching and leadership. A one-of-a-kind account of New Zealand rugby, Legends in Black draws on unprecedented access to some of the biggest names in the game - revealing the secrets to why we win. 'The winning ethos was so fundamental to the culture and had been ingrained for years, and it just keeps going. The wonderful thing about the All Blacks is the tradition of its history, the belief by players in what happened before. Winning was something that was an absolute focus.' - John Hart 'Leadership is within the team. I had a role as a fixer, if there was trouble going on - not a dirty role, but as the one able to talk to the opposition and tell them, 'I wouldn't do that again, if I were you.''' - Colin Meads 'Winning becomes a habit, because success is fantastic, but when you take those platitudes you've also got to learn how to lose, lose well and graciously, and learn from your losses.' - Wayne 'Buck' Shelford 'It was about working out who you played the game for . . . it's not the name of the team or the colour of the jersey, but the people around you.' - Andy Haden Also available as an eBook