Rugby historian honoured
Ever since he was a boy, Manawatu¯ ’s Clive Akers has been fascinated by the historical side of rugby.
O¯ piki farmer Akers has long been a leading rugby archivist and historian in New Zealand, writing several books and has been on the management committee for Palmerston North’s New Zealand Rugby Museum for more than 40 years.
So it was fitting the 64-year-old became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours for services to rugby and historical research.
The honour was ‘‘very much a surprise’’ and he said he felt privileged. ‘‘I’ve stuck with it long enough,’’ he said.
‘‘In the case of the museum, you’re working with such a wonderful bunch of volunteers.
‘‘I’ve been chairman since 1994, approaching 25 years, I suppose, and my job’s easy. Whenever there’s something to be done, there’s always somebody that puts their hand up.
‘‘They’re a great bunch of guys who all keep me motivated.’’
Akers has been on the museum’s management committee since 1975 and has been chairman since 1994.
Initially the museum was on the corner of Grey St and Carroll St in an old art gallery, which didn’t have much storage or display cases, before shifting to the Showgrounds on Cuba St.
Akers then oversaw the move to the permanent site at Te Manawa, and the museum opened in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Everything can be properly cared for at the new site.
Until Bob Luxford came along, Akers was putting the exhibitions up, curator and handyman. He was made a museum life member in 2012.
On the writing side, Akers has produced seven major rugby history books, notably including Monro: The Life and Times of the Man who gave Rugby to New Zealand (2008), The New Zealand Rugby Register 1870-2015 (2016),
and Balls, Bullets and Boots (2016) on rugby in New Zealand during World War I.
The weighty tome The New Zealand Rugby Register was a 35-year project of compiling every coach, player and referee involved in New Zealand’s firstclass rugby history.
Akers has been the lead author of the annual New Zealand Rugby Almanack since 1994 and is a member of the Association of Rugby Historians and Statisticians.
‘‘Even when I was at secondary school I was reading George Nepia’s biography,’’ Akers said.
‘‘He went to the same church as us boarders when I was at boarding school in Masterton and his book by Terry Mclean was sitting there in the library.
‘‘I was fascinated by it. Akers had a modest playing career, playing for Rathkeale College, then High School Old Boys in Palmerston North, then in Hawke’s Bay and King Country as he shifted around for work, before returning home.
‘‘I had a lot of enjoyment just watching Manawatu¯ . I used to go to all their home games.
‘‘My brother-in-law was playing in the team at the time.’’
‘‘The most enjoyable project was the [Neil] Monro biography. I’d been umming and ahhing for some years thinking a journalist would do it or some writer.
‘‘I said to Neil Monro I’ll have a crack at it. It was really fascinating.’’