FAMOUS TOUR SELECTIONS

As we head into another selection for a touring party we recall a few notable selections from over the years:

In 1967, the NZRU Chairman, Tom Morrison, tried to intervene in some decisions. He unofficially told the coach Fred Allen that the NZRU would be happy if Colin Meads, Ken Grey, and Bruce McLeod were not chosen for the tour to Britain, to avoid embarrassment from their rough play. Fred Allen ignored the suggestion. 

In 1986, John Hart admitted that he would have selected Michael Jones for the 1986 tour to France - but instead, he arranged off-season training for him with Graham Mourie with a view to a 'shock tactics' selection for the 1987 World Cup. 

After the touring party was selected for the 1963-64 tour, the media reported that Don Clarke was overweight. In Andrew Mulligan's book of the tour Clarke is listed at 17.5 st. The next heaviest is Ron Horsley at 16 st. Colin Meads is listed at 15.10 st. He had a very good tour in terms of his play, but a poor tour in terms of his goal-kicking. 

The selectors famously and inadvertently picked 31 players for the 1967 All Black tour of Great Britain and France. They had to omit one before the announcement. The unlucky man was Mick Williment.