Fri 9 Sep 2011 In: Hall of Fame View at Wayback View at NDHA
Grant Robertson is more of a suit and tie man these days Grant Robertson is a man who has achieved many things, but did you know that as a rugby-mad Dunedin youngster he was once a ball boy at an All Blacks game? The out Labour MP shares his love of the oval-balled game, as the Rugby World Cup kicks off. Among the many hats the Wellington Central MP wears is that of a self-confessed rugby head, who is obviously excited about the Rugby World Cup being on home soil, although the timing is far from ideal for a politician. "I'm not sure how much of it I'm going to get to see, which is sad, because it's a buy time obviously leading into the election for us," he says. Robertson grew up with a father who was a rugby referee, "so I trailed along with him to games. My grandfather, his father, was a huge rugby fan as well, so I think it was there from a really early age of my life," he explains. The young Dunedinite loved to watch the game and played as well, and was a ball boy at the 'Brook. When he was 11-years-old in 1983 he was a ball boy for the All Blacks when they played the British Lions in a test. "For those who don't follow rugby closely, the ball boys are those who go and fetch the ball when it gets kicked out and bring it back to the players," he says. "That was a huge honour and privilege; it was at that point the greatest day of my life," Robertson recalls. "It was however freezing and some of the All Blacks wore mittens because it was so cold. But my friend and I and another couple of the boys were there and we fulfilled that role and got to be up close with all my heroes. It was just a tremendous day. That's undoubtedly the highlight of my rugby experiences when I was growing up." Can you spot Grant and his mate on the sideline as Stu Wilson is about to score? As someone who has lived in the capital for 17 years or so, Robertson has become a fan of the Wellington Lions and the Hurricanes, while he has also kept some loyalty to Otago sides. "I grew basically in Carisbrook as a rugby ground, so I can ever forget that. My number two team is definitely Otago, after the Wellington teams." The last time New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup, Robertson was a teenager and like all local rugby fans he wants to see the national side repeat the glory of 1987. He says the players to watch are also the ones that will be key to the team's success. "The All Blacks will go well at the World Cup if Dan Carter plays well, if Richie McCaw leads the forward pack well." He predicts the much-hyped Sonny Bill Williams will be used chiefly as an impact player. As to what else to look for, he believes the Pacific Island teams will be a highlight and could potential cause an upset. "I think that's going to be exciting for people to watch. New Zealanders have obviously got a lot of affinity with the Pacific Island teams." For anyone who doesn't know much about rugby, especially as there will be saturation coverage and it will be hard to avoid, a way to get into the spirit would be to support a minor team and get behind them. "There are people like Russia and Georgia and so on who are going to struggle against some of the bigger teams, but they're going to deserve a bit of support early on. So that's one way of stimulating a bit of interest." Robertson says generally, the thing to do is watch the athleticism and remarkable skills the players have. "And obviously get behind the All Blacks as the tournament goes on and hopefully we'll see them there in the final at the end of October." He appreciates that not everybody is in to rugby, and points out the election campaign will be underway so there will be other entertainment around. "Then again that may not be exiting to some people, they may be forced to watch the rugby after that!' he jokes. Jacqui Stanford - 9th September 2011