Legends of the Jubilee Cup: Tony Meachen

Tony Meachen is the only player to captain two clubs to the Jubilee Cup title. In 1977 he captained Athletic to the Jubilee Cup and in 1984 he led Marist St Pat's to the Wellington club rugby championship title (pictured above). He also represented Wellington at hooker throughout several seasons over this period and went on to coach for many years at club fifteens and representative Sevens level.

As a former First XV hooker for St Pat's Town, you started out as a flanker at MSP because your path was blocked by Wellington hooker Kevin Horan who was also captain?

After leaving school I played for MSP from 1972-1975. But, with Kevin Horan at hooker, I was only able to play flanker for the MSP Premiers and so I asked coach Brian Coulter if I could instead play for the Junior 1sts in my preferred hooker position. We won this grade in 1972 and I spent the next three years playing hooker for the Wellington Colts and flanker for the MSP Premiers. The following year, 1975, I was the reserve hooker for Wellington against Manawatu.

At the end of 1975 I wrote a letter to then MSP Chairman David Gray explaining that in the past four years I had not been able to play a game for MSP at hooker and that I was leaving the club and would return the day that Kevin Horan stopped playing. So I left to play for Athletic in 1976 and was the first choice Wellington representative hooker by the end of the 1976 season.

Can you remember making your Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup debuts?

My Swindale Shield debut was the opening game of the 1972 season against Oriental Rongotai at Hataitai Park. Mick Robbers was the MSP captain and he spoke loudly of the important rules to stick to.

My first Jubilee Cup game was on 7 July 1973 against Petone at Athletic Park. I had to play flanker against the Petone loose forwards Trevor Morgan, Alan Martin and Andy Leslie. I received good support from Tank Rodger and Colin Meo from the MSP front row. I had to hold on to the ball at some rucks and mauls and they helped Gareth Head and Frank Walker from tripping over me. We lost 7-20 that day and I needed some stitches in my right ear at fulltime.

What was it like coming into top level rugby as a as a hooker? Was it a rough introduction being in the front row at that time? Apart from Kevin Horan, who were some of the other hookers and forwards you encountered early on?

Front row rugby as a hooker was a challenging exercise in the 1970s and 1980s. When playing for Athletic I learnt a great deal from Kevin Phelan and Scott Crichton. Playing for Wellington in 1981 and 1982 with Brian McGrattan, who I played with at MSP, and with Crichton, from Athletic, was memorable. Back in the day front row rugby was tough.

What are some memories of first playing for Wellington and later playing in Ranfurly Shield rugby?

Representative rugby in the mid-1970s with Grant Batty, Mark Sayers, Brian Cederwall, Richard Cleland, Andy Leslie, Graham Williams, Al Keown and a host of other great players was an awesome experience.

The South Island tour was a learning experience. I was reserve and sitting in the grandstand with John Dougan watching Wellington play and lose to Southland. Subsequently, there were two changes to the team for the next game against Otago with John promoted to first five-eighth and me selected at hooker. We won this match. ?

Defending the Ranfurly Shield against Canterbury in 1982 we had developed some pressure techniques in the front row. The front rows would engage, a loud oomph would be heard from the opposing hooker and Wellington would have the tighthead. We took six tightheads off the Canterbury All Black front row. Early in the second half their coach Alex Wylie stormed out of the Athletic Park grandstand on to the sideline and yelled ‘get rid of their front row'. He went back and sat down and two scrums later the front row collapsed and there were boots flying!

When did you first captain Athletic in Premier club rugby?

I took over as Athletic's captain from Phil Taylor in the second round of 1976 and we won the Hardham Cup. I had won the Hardham Cup with MSP in 1974, but had shared it with Naenae Old Boys, so this was satisfying.

After that, you captained Athletic to win the 1977 Jubilee Cup and then the 1978 Swindale Shield?

One thing that drove me those two years was that MSP were a great team and Athletic were not supposed to win. However, I was and always will be a Marist man so it was hard times for me.

When did you move back to MSP?

My last game for Athletic was the last match of the 1980 season. Playing against MSP in the last second of my last game for Athletic at Athletic Park I raced across to the corner flag to tackle Zuk Marinkovich. I reached out to tackle him, but the faster Ken Laban beat me to it and he knocked my arm into Zuk's neck. Two months later, following Kevin Horan's retirement, I fronted up to Zuk's office to ask if I could re-join MSP as Zuk was the new MSP coach. Luckily for me, he smiled and invited be back for the 1981 season!

Despite losing to Petone in the previous year's Jubilee Cup final, MSP at that time was a champion side?

Yes, Wellington flanker Paul Quinn was MSP's captain and prior to losing to Petone in the last game of 1980 they had not been beaten in 42 matches. Athletic at that time was down a little from where they had been a few years previously. I won the Jubilee Cup for a second time in 1981, with MSP.

What were some of the special moments playing for MSP in the early 1980s?

I have lots of special memories from those seasons back at MSP, but captaining the side to win the Jubilee Cup in 1984 was particularly memorable. There was a great culture in club rugby in the 1980s and socialising after the game at the host club was always enjoyable.

You kept playing until 1987?

At the end of the 1987 season I was encouraged to coach MSP's Senior B team so was player-coach of that team that year. My last game playing for the MSP Premiers was in 1997 against Western Suburbs. I left the field with 20 minutes to play, but at 44 years of age I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. My brother Ellis was the Wests coach as well. MSP won the game and went on to win the Jubilee Cup that year.

What other coaching roles did you do after your fulltime playing retirement?

For the next several years I was involved coaching MSP's Premier and Premier 2 sides.? In 1988 MSP captured the Swindale Shield - Jubilee Cup double while I was the Premier 2 coach and in 1994 MSP had two teams playing in the Swindale Shield and the Premier 2s beat Harlequins' and Upper Hutt's top teams. I also coached MSP's Sevens teams during this period and moved into coaching Wellington's Sevens teams throughout the 1990s.

I coached the Wellington Sevens team in 1994 and 1995 and from 1998 to 2006. In 2002 we won the New Zealand title, with Scott Waldrom as captain. The managers, John Willis, Pat Quin and Dave Meaclam were outstanding.

In 2002 and 2003, I was Technical Advisor and Manager of the Manu Samoa National Sevens team on the IRB World Sevens series, defeating New Zealand in a match in their first tournament in Dubai. Between 2004 and 2008 I was a New Zealand Sevens selector and a resource coach for Sir Gordon Tietjens.

A key aspect of my role as Wellington Sevens coach was identifying and developing talent. Selecting 17-year old Fa'atonu Fili from St Pat's Town, 16-year old Victor Vito from Scots College and 14-year old Julian Savea from Rongotai College to play for Wellington in the Nationals were highlights.

As well as being a top rugby player, you were also a top level player and a tennis coach?

1976 was a busy year. I brought a sports shop in Cuba St, was a professional tennis coach and most days attended rugby training or went to the gym at night. The most enjoyable aspect was playing representative rugby for Wellington and finishing the year as Wellington's first choice hooker.? The most challenging aspect was coaching the junior tennis players before and after school and coaching the parents who weren't working during the day.

For me, rugby and tennis complemented each other. One of the obvious benefits was fitness related, but I learnt a lot about body mechanics which crossed over into both sports from the technical advisors who were all football coaches when I was in the USA doing my professional tennis coaching qualification.

Many top level rugby players played summer sports to a high level, less so now?

There were many players who played top level rugby in the winter and cricket or tennis in the summer. Allan Hewson and Brian Cederwall were two players who did both to a high level.

For many, rugby Sevens has replaced these summer sports. Guys play Sevens to enhance their skills, fitness and most importantly confidence.

Nowadays, you are involved in New Zealand Marist Rugby? What is your role with the New Zealand Marist?

I am currently the manager for the New Zealand Marist Rugby Federation, managing the events, funding and support structure for the 29 Marist clubs, 49 Marist colleges and 189 Marist primary schools. We also support the Marist clubs and schools in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Argentina and the Brothers club of Australia. My involvement in the organisation started in 1991 when my father retired from the role and I was asked to take his place.

Rugby and sport has also been a family affair. Your brother in law is former MSP and All Black lock John Fleming? Your sons Edwin and Valentine both play for the MSP Jubilee Cup and Hardham Cup teams?

John came down from Auckland and played for MSP. Him and I went to the nickel mines in West Australia after the 1974 season and came back in early 1975 with loads of money. My sister Stephanie returned home from playing professional tennis in England and they met. Later, John was selected in the All Blacks and toured UK and Europe in 1978.

Coaching the Senior 1 team last year we were short of players and my oldest son Edwin was encouraged to come and play at prop. He performed very well given he hadn't played there since primary school days. My youngest son Valentine was asked by Alama Ieremia to play hooker for the Wellington Samoan team last year, and they had big wins over the Wellington Development and Colts teams. I was pleased not to read a Walker, Cleland or a Leslie name in Petone's front row when Valentine hooked for the MSP Premiers against them.

What are your thoughts on the modern game and modern club rugby competition compared to when you were playing?

Back in the day club rugby was a genuine contest. For example, most of the players that played for Petone were of Petone families and brought into the traditional values and code of ethics. Similarly, the Marist boys were taught at the Marist colleges and learnt the Marist rules

The modern game has moved on significantly at times from being a sporting contest to entertainment. Today it seems the most important thing is how you look not how you play. I can't think of anyone in the old days who would wear bright orange or yellow boots or tie their hair in a ponytail.