Like everyone, I found Jock Hobbs appearing as if from nowhere to give Richie McCaw his 100th cap last year very moving. We all knew he’d been sick, and what an effort it would have been just to be there.
I’m a bit young to remember Jock the player, but I love how he, yinnow, saved rugby and the All Blacks from that bloody cowboy outfit in the 90s. Or, yinnow, got us the world cup.
It’s very Kiwi to be the behind the scenes guy, just getting stuff done and quietly being a bloody legend. Of course, we are poorer without him – I hope our current administrators listened carefully when Jock spoke, because that was how you’re meant to do it.
Video – Jock hands Richie McCaw his 100th cap
I’m fortunate to be old enough to remember Jock Hobbs both as a player and as an administrator. He ought to have been All Black captain for the 1987 RWC, but injuries stopped that from happening.
His feat, along with Sir Brian Lochore of signing leading players to the NZRU in 1995 is the stuff of legend. If you haven’t read it, Peter FitzSimons’ book The Rugby War backgrounds the time, albeit more from an Australian perspective. But I well remember the 1995 test between New Zealand and Australia at Sydney, which many speculated would be the final match between the countries. After the match, the All Blacks were taken by bus to Kerry Packer’s home where they were offered WRC contracts. It was only the whistle-stop tour by Hobbs and Lochore which saw the All Blacks mainly stay loyal to the NZRU, beginning when Josh Kronfeld and Jeff Wilson signed on. That was the beginning of the end for WRC, and the turning point in rugby.
Jock Hobbs’ death will leave a huge void in the rugby community.
PS: Have added your blog to my blog-roll, and will stop by from time to time