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Wayne "Buck" Shelford Article

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Bullitt

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The 860th All Black is a true legend and definately one of the greatest number 8's ever. He started his rugby career while at Western Heights high school, Rotoura as a first XV player in 1973/1974 before also playing for Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools and Auckland age grade sides. He debued for Auckland in 1982.

In 1985 he was chosen as an All Black for the first time, all be it for the abandoned tour of South Africa. Not loosing his place in the team however, he went on tour to Argentina, playing and winning 4 games (scoring 2 trys in the 3rd game and another in the 4th).

Shelford joined the unauthorised Cavaliers tour of South Africa in 1986 and, when he was eligible again for the All Blacks, was chosen for the second test against Australia but had to withdraw because of injury. He went on the tour of France at the end of the year, where he played in both tests.

If ever there was one moment when Buck embedded his name forever into rugby's rich history, it was during the infamous “Battle of Nantes†in 1986.

Playing the second Test 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."

Tough *******.

Buck was an automatic choice for the 1987 World Cup, and played in five of the six matches, and also played in the Sydney test in which the All Blacks regained the Bledisloe Cup. He took over from David Kirk as captain for the tour of Japan in October and November and played in each of the five matches.

Shelford then led the All Blacks on one of their great periods of domination, going through unbeaten from 1987 to 1990, with only a drawn test against Australia in 1988 to mar the perfect record. The Welsh aura was shattered with two hidings in New Zealand in 1988 (hurrah!), followed by a tour of Australia, then in 1989 Argentina and France were dispatched, as were Wales and Ireland at the end of 1989.

By the beginning of 1990, however, Shelford's form was not as dominant as it had been and after two tests against Scotland he was dropped, prompting a public outcry. The criticism of the selectors intensified during the following series against Australia, when the All Blacks were beaten in the third test. "Bring Back Buck" signs appeared at grounds and talkback radio callers and writers of letters to editors created a groundswell of opinion, which was ignored by the New Zealand selectors.

'Buck' was not brought back for the tour of France at the end of 1990 and in 1991 he was given consolation roles as captain of a New Zealand XV that played Romania and the Soviet Union, and of a New Zealand B team that played Australia.

Shelford left New Zealand in late 1991 and headded to a struggling Northampton and instilled the same mental toughness that he gave to the All blacks for half a decade earlier. While at the Saints, Shelford had a memorable clash with Tiger's "Whitbred world player of the year, Dean Richards. It can be argued that Shelford taught a young England flanker named Tim Rodber a lot of his trade during his time.

At the end of what was thought to be his one at only season at Franklins Gardens, his final game produced a 2 try performance and secured top division status. Geoff Allen game an emotional farewell over the PA system before the adoring crowd sand 'Now is the Hour' (the Maori farewell).

The returning Shelford was not seen a the ground for the the first month of the 91/92 season as domestic rugby played second fiddle to the world cup, this time being played in Europe. He had a media role for the competition.

Shelford remained with Northampton until 1994 in a coaching role before taking over at Saracens until 1997 when he returned home to New Zealand to coach North Harbour.

The Maori word 'mana' may have been coined just for Shelford. A competitive and skilful No 8, he led by example, whether driving over the advantage line from scrums or rucks, defending or standing up against real and imagined slights. His quickness to take the law into his own hands would have been harshly judged in rugby's more recent years, but there was no question that he was one of the great forwards to play for New Zealand.

Originally posted by However@ there are some more reasons why he should be inducted into the hall of fame, including;


Buck Shelford doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Buck Shelford has allowed to live.

Outer space exists because it's afraid to be on the same planet with Buck Shelford.

Buck Shelford does not sleep. He waits.

Buck Shelford is the reason why Wally is hiding.

Buck Shelford counted to infinity - twice.

When Buck Shelford does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.

Buck Shelford is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.

Buck Shelfords hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.

There is no such thing as global warming. Buck Shelford was cold, so he turned the sun up.

Buck Shelford can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.

Buck Shelford doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.

Buck Shelford gave Mona Lisa that smile.

Buck Shelford can slam a revolving door.

Buck Shelford does not get frostbite. Buck Shelford bites frost

Buck Shelford doesn't kill two birds with one stone. Chuck Norris kills all birds, with two stones. The ones in his pants.

Buck Shelford knows the last digit of pi.

The air around Buck Shelford is always a balmy 78 degrees.

When Buck Shelford wants an egg, he cracks open a chicken.

Buck Shelford plays racquetball with a waffle iron and a bowling ball.

According to the Bible, God created the universe in six days. Before that, Buck Shelford created God by snapping his fingers.

Buck Shelford doesn't believe in ravioli. He stuffs a live turtle with beef and smothers it in pig's blood.

Count from one to ten. That's how long it would take Buck Shelford to kill you...Fourty seven times.

The 1972 Miami Dolphins lost one game, it was an exhibition game vs. Buck Shelford and three seven year old girls.

Buck Shelford is not Politically Correct. He is just Correct. Always.

Mr. T pities the fool. Buck Shelford rips the fool's head off.

Buck Shelford had to stop washing his clothes in the ocean. The tsunamis were killing people.

Buck Shelford has volunteered to remain on earth after the Rapture; he will spend his time fighting the Anti-Christ.

Buck Shelford is the only known mammal in history to have an opposable thumb. On his penis.

A man once taunted Buck Shelford with a bag of Lay's potato chips, saying "Betcha can't eat just one!" Buck Shelford proceeded to eat the chips, the bag, and the man in one deft move.

Buck Shelfords favorite cereal is Kellogg's Nails 'N' Gravel.

In the first Jurassic Park movie, the Tyrannosaurus Rex wasn't chasing the jeep. Buck Shelford was chasing the Tyrannosaurus AND the jeep.

"Brokeback Mountain" is not just a movie. It's also what Buck Shelford calls the pile of dead ninjas in his front yard.

Buck Shelford does not wear a condom. Because there is no such thing as protection from Buck Shelford.

Buck Shelford once had sex with a cigarette machine in the Osaka airport.

Rules of fighting: 1) Don't bring a knife to a gun fight. 2) Don't bring a gun to a Buck Shelford fight.

Buck Shelford is the only man who has, literally, beaten the odds. With his fists.

In ancient China there is a legend that one day a child will be born from a dragon, grow to be a man, and vanquish evil from the land. That man is not Buck Shelford, because Buck Shelford killed that man.

Buck Shelford wipes his ass with chain mail and sandpaper.

When you play Monopoly with Buck Shelford, you do not pass go, and you do not collect two hundred dollars. You will be lucky if you make it out alive.

Buck Shelford describes human beings as "a sociable holder for blood and guts".

Buck Shelford likes his ice like he likes his skulls: crushed.

Buck Shelford can kick through all 6 degrees of separation, hitting anyone, anywhere, in the face, at any time.

Most tough men eat nails for breakfast. Buck Shelford does all of his grocery shopping at Home Depot.

Buck Shelford did not "lose" his virginity, he stalked it and then destroyed it with extreme prejudice.

Everything King Midas touches turnes to gold. Everything Buck Shelford touches turns up dead.

Buck Shelfords pulse is measured on the richter scale.

Most people know that Descarte said, "I think, therefore I am." What most people don't know is that that quote continues, "...afraid of Buck Shelford."

Buck Shelford enjoys a good practical joke. His favorite is where he removes your lower intestine and pretends to make a balloon animal out of it. Then he cracks your skull open with a Volvo for not complimenting him on his balloon animal.

Buck Shelford CAN in fact 'raise the roof'. And he can do it with one hand.

Kenny G is allowed to live because Buck Shelford doesn't kill women.

For Buck Shelford, every street is "one way". HIS WAY.

There are now five cup sizes at Starbucks: Short, Tall, Grande, Venti, and Buck Shelford.

Buck Shelford once created a flamethrower by urinating into a lighter.

Instead of having a cigarette after sex, Buck Shelford heads outside and brands his cattle.

Buck Shelford actually built the stairway to heaven.

Whoever said "only the good die young" was probably in Buck Shelfords preschool class.

Buck Shelford once skewered a man with the Eiffel tower.

The best part of waking up, is not Folgers in your cup, but knowing that Buck Shelford didn't kill you in your sleep.

Buck Shelford doesn't own a can opener, he just chews through the can.

Occam's Razor says that the simplest answer tends to be the correct one. Buck Shelfords Razor involves a flick of the wrist and a Columbian Necktie.

Buck Shelford needs a monkeywrench and a blowtorch to **********.

Buck Shelfords invented all 32 letters of the alphabet.

If a tree falls in the forest, does anybody hear? Yes. Buck Shelford hears it. Buck Shelford can hear everything. Buck Shelford can hear the shrieking terror in your soul.

Buck Shelford actually owns IBM. It was an extremely hostile takeover.

He, who laughs last, laughs best. He who laughs at Buck Shelford … dies.

Buck Shelford is like a dog, not only because he can smell fear, but because he can **** on whatever he wants.

Buck Shelford can jump-start a car using jumper cables attached to his nipples.

Buck Shelford doesn't have blood. He is filled with magma.
 
one tough cookie. I'm sure i got most of the bottom quote in a forward about chuck norris.
 
Originally posted by Teh Mite@Apr 3 2006, 05:58 PM
Well, I'm so glad I bothered sorting this one out...


<_<
Sorry going through a transitional stage with the Hall of Fame, so currently we are putting polls on hold, at the moment anyways...
 
Buck Shelford doesn't kill two birds with one stone. Chuck Norris kills all birds, with two stones. The ones in his pants

obviously somone didnt do a find and replace
 
hes a f***ing legend. he got his ball rucked out and played on ffs!!! never lost as all black captain.



BRING BACK BUCK
 
quite possibly the toughest man in rugby history..

and he wasnt bad at playing it either

geez i remember a backrow looking like this:
michael jones,zin zan brooke,buck shelford

:mellow:

they would kick ass today too...

buck shelford for prime minister
 
nice one, lucky for you though, i know that youre not one of these kiwis who know nothing, so i know your just yanking my chain.
 
why should all 3 of those go in before buck shelford.

not really a lot to add really. shelford is a true legend of the game and defintely deserves to go into the hof
 

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