New Zealand’s greatest rugby player of the 20th Century

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Colin Meads, a famously tough All Blacks lock hailed as New Zealand’s greatest rugby player of the 20th century, has died after a year- long battle with cancer. He was 81.

Verna Meads said her husband had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last August. Mr. Meads played 55 tests among 133 games for New Zealand between 1957 and 1971— a number thought prodigious in an era in which the All Blacks seldom played more than four tests a year.

Hardened by his life as a sheep farmer in the rugged King Country district of New Zealand’s North Island, Mr. Meads was endowed with great strength, stamina and toughness. He famously once played an entire match with a broken arm.

Prime Minister Bill English said Mr. Meads’ death was “a great loss to New Zealand.”

Mr. Meads “represented what it means to be a New Zealander. He was no- nonsense, reliable, hardworking, warm and very generous with his time,” English said. “I remember when I was younger hearing stories about how he used to shear sheep all day and go running at night. I thought I’d give it a go. I quickly learned the Meads legend was built on physical and mental toughness.”

At 6- 2 and 220 pounds, Mr. Meads was considered a giant in rugby at the time, though he would be small for a lock by modern standards.

Mr. Meads was regarded as New Zealand’s greatest All Black, even when players of the modern era such as Richie McCaw, who played 148 tests, surpassed his record for test appearances.

He was widely considered to embody the best qualities of an All Blacks player: he was tough, uncompromising, loyal and humble.

In a relatively young nation, he also helped to define qualities which were seen to be essential to the New Zealand character.

His humor, simplicity and self- deprecating nature were much admired. Mr. Meads played at a time when rugby was an amateur game and, having to leave his family farm to travel with the All Blacks on tours which were often several months in duration, he experienced financial disadvantage to represent his country’s most famous team.

He was a popular and prolific after- dinner speaker. With a pint of beer clutched in one hand, Mr. Meads would regale audiences with droll recollections of his career and pithy observations on the state of the modern game. His biography “Colin Meads, All Black” was the best- selling sports book domestically of its time.

Mr. Meads is survived by wife Verna and their five children Karen, Kelvin, Rhonda, Glynn and Shelley, their 14 grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren.