Bruce Graham, left, father Alec and John have a day at the races in 2012. The Manawatū connection on the Grand Slam tour extended beyond the playing fields. Watching from the stands was a rugby-mad Palmerston North barber following the team around while on his OE. John Graham started cutting the hair of the Manawatū players in team hotels and then their team-mates, becoming the All Blacks’ unofficial barber. His work was even noticed by rugby commentator Keith Quinn. As one game was beamed into New Zealand TV screens in the middle of the night, Quinn said as the All Blacks ran out: “They even got their local barber from Palmerston North to give them a haircut.”
Opinion: Why is Rod Stewart singing Team NZ s America s Cup anthem?
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Opinion: Why is Rod Stewart singing Team NZ s America s Cup anthem?
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Sky Sport commentator Fauono Ken Laban said it wasn t good enough. I find it offensive from a Pasifika point of view and from a professional broadcaster s point of view I find it completely unprofessional and unacceptable that commentators won t take the trouble to learn to pronounce the names correctly.
The former Wainuiomata rugby league captain said sports like rugby and netball used to be dominated by pālagi players in New Zealand but are now overwhelmingly Māori and Pasifika. As an example, I think it was 28 of the 37 players that wore the All Blacks jersey in 2020 were Māori and Pacific Island boys and the same obviously in rugby league and netball. We ve seen that for quite some time so our main sports is a reflection of how society has changed.
New show to Champion the Pacific athlete
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