Farewell ‘Legs’ the legend
Former All Black Ian Eliason, one of the most popular players to pull on an amber and black Taranaki rugby jersey, has died after a short illness, aged 73.
The Kaponga Rugby Club stalwart, nicknamed ‘‘Legs’’, played a record 222 games for the province between 1964 and 1981.
Eliason died at home in New Plymouth on Sunday night.
He debuted for Taranaki as an 18-year-old, and retired at 36 – having only once left the field because of injury.
Eliason was also selected as an All Black lock, playing 19 matches on the 1972 internal tour, and 1972-73 tour of Britain, Ireland and France.
TRFU chairman Lindsay Thomson said it was ‘‘an incredibly sad day for Taranaki and New Zealand rugby’’.
‘‘He was a humble, passionate rugby ambassador who will be greatly missed but fondly remembered,’’ Thomson said.
‘‘He will be remembered as a true gentleman who encompassed everything that was good about the game.’’
Former Taranaki All Black, and close friend, Murray Wills described Eliason as a very popular and congenial teammate who made huge personal sacrifices to play.
‘‘Often his family would step in to take care of the farm while he was away on rugby trips with Taranaki, or the All Blacks.’’
The pair played more than
100 games together for Taranaki through the 1960s and
1970s.
Wills first met Eliason when the pair played against each other at club level.
‘‘I saw this skinny 17 or
18-year-old kid with a chest and long arms and legs coming out of it.
‘‘Though he wasn’t exceptionally tall he was co-ordinated and a very good lineout jumper, and he ruled the lineouts in club games. I knew it wouldn’t be long before he played for Taranaki.’’
Eliason had some great contests with ‘‘Pinetree’’ Meads, and earned respect because ‘‘Legs’’ never gave in, Wills said.
Off the field Eliason was unique in many ways, he added.
‘‘He gave out so much to people and he made many friends throughout his rugby career, and later as president, and patron, of the Taranaki Rugby Union, and also as a tour leader for overseas All Black tours.’’
Eliason’s honest outlook may also have played a part in him not being selected for a test match, Wills said.
‘‘He was always a real innocent country boy who probably didn’t push his name forward enough when it came to selection for the test team.’’
Eliason’s Taranaki locking counterpart, John Thwaites, remembers him as ‘‘a fabulous team-mate, with great sense of humour who always gave his best on the field’’.
Rugby photographer Peter Bush described Eliason as ‘‘the warmest, friendliest, and I still think he stood for what an All Black, if you came from a lesser province, was all about.’’
Eliason and his wife Ngaire retired from their farm and moved to New Plymouth to live, and he became a regular attendee at the weekly aqua jogging class at their local pool.
‘‘He was a humble, passionate rugby ambassador.’’ Lindsay Thomson