Adventures of a lifetime

Kiwis World Cup pioneer John Bond – aged 90 – fondly recalls the 1954 series in France, and other dramas.

The Rugby League World Cup is rekindling remarkably vivid memories for a Kiwis pioneer from the first tournament 68 years ago.

Canterbury forward John Bond –

‘‘91 next month’’ – is a long-retired freezing worker still living independently and driving his own car. ‘Bondy’ was just 22 when he left on the adventure of a lifetime for the inaugural 1954 World Cup in France.

Most previous Kiwis teams had toured to Europe by boat, but the Class of 54 ‘‘flew on a Constellation. It took us a week to get there’’, Bond told Stuff this week.

‘‘Every so many thousand miles you had to refuel. We stopped one night in Singapore at Raffles Hotel.’’

There were just four teams at the first World Cup – hosts France, Australia, Great Britain and the Kiwis. Bond said the players were aware they were creating history.

‘‘We got given a World Cup medal with our names on it. I gave mine to my grandson.’’

The Kiwis were one of the best teams in the world in the early 1950s. They had won a test series in Australia in 1952 and another at home in ’ 53 and they also beat Great Britain here in 1954 before the World Cup. But six leading players, including goalkicking supremo Des White, scrumhalf Jimmy Haig, star back Tommy Baxter and tough forward Frank Mulcare, weren’t available for France.

‘‘We didn’t have a very good side, [there was] no discipline amongst the players. The other sides were too good for us.’’

Bond said the Kiwis were well led by coach Jim Amos, from Canterbury, and manager Tom McKenzie from the West Coast. He had a lot of respect for some team-mates, including front row mate Bill (Ginger) McLennan from Blackball on the West Coast, loose forward Alister Atkinson (‘‘very quick off the back of the scrum’’) and hooker Lory Blanchard, ‘‘a great guy’’ who ‘‘went right to the top’’ as a future Kiwis coach.

The Kiwis had the honour of playing the first-ever World Cup match against France at Paris’ Parc des Princes. Captain Cyril Eastlake joined France’s flamboyant skipper Puig Aubert for the coin toss and the Kiwis entertained 13,000 Parisians with a haka. Jimmy Edwards scored the first try in World Cup history after five minutes. ‘‘He was a good quick winger, we called him Aussie Edwards,’’ Bond said.

Bond, playing in the second rower, kicked two goals but France won 22-13, scoring four tries while superstar fullback