Tough forward remembered

As recently as 2011, Graham Williams was still displaying the hard-nosed attitude to sport he was revered for as a Wellington rugby legend and five-test All Black.

Williams has died aged 72, after suffering from frontal lobe dementia and motor neurone disease in recent years. He would have turned 73 today.

Seven years ago Williams was the talk of Miramar Golf Club when he defied a dislocated shoulder mid-round to complete his match.

Not only complete it, but halve his division 11 interclub foursomes contest, and even curse the short putt he missed on the 18th for what would have been a remarkable win.

‘‘I’ve got quite a bit of arthritis in it and unfortunately I was walking across one of the foot bridges there and I slipped and landed on the bloody shoulder,’’ Williams told Stuff at the time.

‘‘I don’t know if it was actually dislocated, but it certainly felt like it the way it popped right out. I was going to pull out, but I decided to keep on and see how it goes.’’

Williams even removed his shirt to display the bruise, and admitted it was ‘‘pretty sore’’ after he defied the advice of his clubmates and continued playing.

‘‘The old rugby injuries are really catching up with me, that’s for sure,’’ he said.

Williams played a record 174 games for Wellington, finishing his long career in 1976. He was a brave, hard-working flanker who weighed only 90kg, small even for those times.

In 1967-68 he played 13 games for the All Blacks, including five tests.

His former Wellington and All Blacks team-mate Andy Leslie said in 2011 that Williams was never one to give in to injury on the rugby field.

‘‘When he lost his ear against Auckland I remember him holding it on.

‘‘It was lying in his hand when he got to the trainer on the sideline at Eden Park and he asked if they could tape it back on,’’ Leslie said.

Common sense prevailed and Williams was rushed to hospital to have his ear stitched back on, but Leslie said it wasn’t an isolated incident.

‘‘We were playing at Hawera one season and the morning of the match we had a reception at the mayor’s office, as you did back then, and we were having a bit of a kick around and Willy managed to get four or five stitches in his shin. He just taped it up and played that afternoon.

‘‘Back then there was an attitude that you didn’t give a sucker an even break. If you didn’t play then you risked losing your spot.’’

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester led the tributes for Williams.

‘‘Graham was a huge figure in rugby, and for many years was the pride of Wellington. He was revered at the Wellington Football Club, and understandably so,’’ Lester said in a statement.

‘‘The Williams and Adams car dealership was a big employer in Wellington and Graham was always a popular boss, someone many people speak fondly of.

‘‘I understand Graham has not been in good health for some time, but his death is very sad news for everyone who followed his career and came into contact with him in business."