Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Buck Shelford tribute
If ever there was one moment when New Zealands Shelford embedded his name forever into rugby's rich history, it was during the infamous Battle of Nantes in 1986.
Playing only his second Test for the All Blacks against a physically intimidating French side, Shelford found himself at the bottom of a rather aggressive ruck on 20 minutes.
An errant Les Bleus stud found its way to his groin, where it somehow managed to tear his scrotum, leaving one testicle hanging out.
This alone would leave most men screaming in agony and heading for the nearest hospital. But not Shelford. He calmly instructed the physio to stitch him up.
The French public were gobsmacked as an over-eager pitchside cameraman filmed the stomach-turning surgery, and even more so when Shelford returned to the field and carried on playing...
"I was knocked out cold, lost a few teeth and had a few stitches down below," Shelford later recalled. "It's a game I still can't remember... I don't really want to, either."
Sadly the recent news has come through that the now 49 year old legend has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer which affects white blood cells.
"We found out a month ago and he has five more months of treatment," his wife Jo told the Sunday Star Times newspaper in New Zealand.
"We are very positive and pleased with how the treatment is going but it has been a traumatic time for the family."
We wish him and his family all the best. Enjoy this great tribute to a true All Black legend.
Posted at 1:07 am | 29 comments
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Viewing 29 comments
Anonymous June 26, 2007 8:51 pm
shiiiit i'd never heard of him till now hes amazing proper hardman and leader
Adam June 27, 2007 2:22 am
Legend and will be for ever the hard man of hard men what a champion i hope he gets well
Anonymous June 27, 2007 10:18 am
Im from australia and i have a great deal of respect for this mana true ledgend of the game
Tik June 27, 2007 12:16 pm
great tribute... never saw him but i enjoyed this movie.
Anonymous July 01, 2007 5:36 pm
wouldn't the man with the moustache be Jean-Pierre Lebrun?
Rob July 06, 2007 7:18 am
Great movie, thanks for bringing back the wonderful memories of an error when it wasn't about money but true passion for the game! Get well soon Buck.
backin15 July 09, 2007 6:07 am
Few ever earn the honour of being an All Black, fewer still the captain and only a handful ever attain the status Buck has. Fantastic tribute. Get well soon Buck.
Anonymous July 11, 2007 4:26 am
Unbelievable player and All Black rugby was the poorer for it when he was ridulously dropped. Backroom politics at its best...not.
Anonymous July 17, 2007 7:35 am
Nice one eyed comment. I believe that Welshman threw 4 or 5 haymakers before he got his and the guy he was throwing them at wasn't looking, infact his head was in a scrum. Wouldn't be much of a team mate if he stood there and watched.
H July 18, 2007 6:19 pm
"Nice kiwi cheap shot on that poor ole welshman who wasn't looking. A real hero"yea acctually he is, this is the good days of rugby the heritage of it. this cheapshot as you call it was after, like the person above said, the welshman threw 5 of them.(watch the vid of the entire inncident its on here somewhere.) Aspirational figure zinzan should have not replaced him so early. bring back buck!
Robert Sayers July 27, 2007 7:57 pm
My sons grew up idolising Buck Shelford. I was never happier than to see them admire a real man.I sincerely hope he beats this awful disease. If anyone can he will. get well soon!!!Bob Sayers
david September 14, 2007 10:03 am
An All Black captain has to be a steely-eyed mother, case in point, love the way he gives the boys the talking to midway through the clip... Fitz, Tana, Buck, all captains with those eyes, full of spirit and fire. And Pichot for Argentina! Not sure that the 'aw shucks' style of Richie can fire up the team when they come up against it. We'll see! Go ABs, and get well soon Buck!
Anonymous September 24, 2007 3:11 am
Get well soon Buck. You have always been a true kiwi hero to me.
Anonymous September 25, 2007 3:21 am
At about the 1:50 mark in the clip, it shows him playing against a side in all white. Does anyone know whether that was the October 1989 match v. Swansea at St. Helen's?I was there that day, and it looks like it to me, but I can't tell. My god watch a match it was.
capt September 25, 2007 4:00 am
welshman throws many punches, lands a couple. Buck throws one, lands it, welshman is out for the count. Another welshman smacks Buck, buck shakes it off as if to say "is that the best you can do you soft-cocked welsh pussy?". End of story, so much for tough welshmen- just look at their frontrow now, those two props look like woolblind faggots, they play like it too!
Anonymous October 16, 2007 8:40 pm
Not much more to add, other than it makes me want to go home and dig out some old tapes of Buck and the boys, back "in the day". The Hard Man of hard men, that's for sure.Get well soon.
Anonymous January 21, 2008 3:58 pm
Have to say quite a legend but hitting the welsh guy from behind is just pure pussiness, at least let him see you when you hit him like,,,
audit monkey January 22, 2008 5:14 pm
What a player, some real gas off the base of the scrum..not sure about that tache tho..as for smacking the Welshman any player who says they wouldn't have done the same isn't much of a team mate
Anonymous January 28, 2008 6:38 pm
That man is actually rock solid! And when he punched the Welsh second rower he was only standing up for his team mate so fair play to him! Brilliant player too!
Simon September 27, 2011 6:46 pm
A true legend..... before my time as i was born in 1989 but iv heard about him and watched his videos on youtube..... and inspiration too all those who aspire to be the best in their position..... best wishes from ireland and get well soon.
WT October 05, 2011 7:44 pm
I took up the game as an 11 year old in Ireland (1986) and I picked No.8 because of Buck. A true hardman of rugby. He inspired me so much. I hope you are not in too much pain with the illness. God Bless BIG MAN!!!
Reubster December 30, 2011 12:28 pm
As a North Harbour kid, I met him once as a kid and got his autograph. He was my hero for years and years. They don't make people like him any more, let alone rugby players.
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