FIRST GRADE TROPHIES 

Reuben O’Neill was Chairman of the Auckland Union between 1995 and 2000, following in the footsteps of two of the most progressive Chairs the Union ever had, Malcolm Dick and Rob Fisher.

His first year was when the rugby world got turned on its ear. First there was the Super League war in Australia, in which an increasingly large number of New Zealand rugby players were being targeted to fill the ever-growing number of roster spots, and rugby, nominally still amateur, didn’t have the weapons to fight back openly. The New Zealand Union, along with a number of leading provinces – put together a blueprint for a professional competition which would at least give the players something. Sponsored by Sky Television, it was good as far as it went, but that wasn’t far enough.

So, the next thing was to try and come up with a big-market TV product. This was done by selling the SANZAR rights to News Limited, Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, for the then staggering sum of US$555 million over ten years. But unknown to the various national unions, a rival operation, the World Rugby Corporation, was also trying to get a professional gig up and running, and the players were far from happy that nobody had asked their views on the News Limited deal.  It took some months, of often bitter fighting, to get things sorted out.

Over the next five years, O’Neill was one of the most influential people in one of the world’s most influential rugby organisations. In his time the game changed immeasurably, and there were no road maps to follow. O’Neill and others in equivalent positions had to write the book themselves. If they made a mistake, the cost could have been huge. It’s fair to say they did a better than good job, getting this brave new world up and running without the messes that littered Northern Hemisphere competitions.

While his name might not be overly familiar, his guidance helped clear the pathways for today’s elite players. But he also never forgot the clubs, and it is fitting his name is perpetuated on a simple club trophy.

Bryan ‘Beegee’ Williams was one of New Zealand’s greatest players, and a global superstar before his 20th birthday. His first All Black selection, as a 19-year-old winger, was for the 1970 South African tour when he, along with three Māori players, became the first ‘coloured’ players allowed into the apartheid-riven country; Williams’ heritage was Samoan and Cook Islands. All were given the tag ‘honorary whites’ for the duration of the tour to avoid complications.

He was one of two outstanding figures on that tour – Colin Meads was the other - becoming the idol of coloured and black fans in South Africa and a particular hero to Pasifika people in New Zealand. More than 1000 fan letters followed him home after that tour, reflecting his immense popularity. He was a certain All Black selection until 1978, not missing a test between 1971 and 1977, and was the third player to appear in 100 matches for New Zealand (38 tests). Only John Kirwan (67) has so far passed his career total of 66 tries in the All Black jersey. He also played 130 times for Auckland and around 240 games for Ponsonby, his lifetime club.

After his playing days were done, he became a noted coach at club and rep level, guiding Ponsonby to Gallaher Shield success, Auckland for five years (1987-91) during which time they lost three of 93 matches, and was involved as technical advisor and coach with Manu Samoa for a decade. He was also an in-demand administrator, rising to the Presidency of the New Zealand Union in 2011, World Cup year.

Williams is a Life Member of Ponsonby Rugby Club, the Auckland Rugby Union and the New Zealand Rugby Union, among many personal honours. He was knighted in 2018 for services to rugby, just the second man to have no other service mentioned in his citation after Sir Fred Allen. In 2020 he received what many felt was a long-overdue Steinlager Salver at the New Zealand Rugby Awards, recognising lifetime achievement. Despite everything he achieved on a global scale, Williams is still a fixture at Ponsonby, serving on the committee and attending club matches every weekend.

Anyone involved in Auckland rugby for a period of 50 years or so will know who Peter Hall was. A stalwart member of two clubs during his playing career, he would rank high on the list of those who have made most senior appearances in Auckland, and his total would be nudging 300 over a career that was mainly spent with Otahuhu but included four seasons in the middle with Grafton.

After ending his playing days, Peter’s service to rugby really began. A tireless worker for his club wherever they needed a willing pair of hands, he was soon a fixture at Sturges Park. Young players were not always sure how to take him, as he could appear gruff and stern, but once you got to know him you realised, he was a rugby man through and through, always seeking what was best for the game and one who kept an eye on youngsters making their way.

Made a Life Member at Otahuhu, Peter was that club’s delegate to the Auckland Union for many years – indeed, once he agreed to take it on another election for the post was not held for a generation or more. Hall’s 37 years with the ARFU stand alongside anyone’s contribution to the Union. He was, at various times, a member of the Eden Park Trust Board, the New Zealand Rugby Coaching staff, and a loyal member of the Barbarians club. He died on 11 February 2020, aged 92. This trophy was first awarded to Ponsonby in 2002.