Ex All Black steers side

If the stereotypical parliamentary rugby player’s attributes include an ability to talk up a storm and questioning the referee, then former All Black and New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chairman Richard Guy certainly breaks the mould.

Guy made his debut for the All Blacks against the British Lions in 1971 – a 3-9 loss in Dunedin – and played three further games in the black jersey throughout New Zealand.

The 71-year-old has been actively involved with the parliamentary rugby team for four of the five parliamentary world cups and said the difference between rugby players of the modern era and from his pastime was the heavy workload expected of the current athletes.

“They’re professional. It’s their occupation – the expectations were no different to my day,” the parliamentary rugby team’s manager said.

He said one of the keys to the All Blacks’ success was the fear of letting the jersey down.

“They have built up an enviable record – they’ve won 80 percent of their test matches. Succeeding teams are scared of losing the previous record.”

Just over 40 years after making his debut for the All Blacks, the pride of playing in the black jersey certainly has not worn off for the 71-year-old.

“I think for any sportsperson to represent your country it has got to be the honour of your career. It was a very proud moment to look down and see the silver fern.”

He then turned to management and later became the chairman of the NZRU during the 1990s, most notably during the advent of the professional era.

“Obviously I have been around teams all my life. I know what players required and what they didn’t require.”

It was fitting, then, that his next contribution has been to a team whose winning record at parliamentary world cups – New Zealand has won four of the five events, with only a slipup in 1999 against hosts Australia in the final.

“They’ve got a very good culture in the team, the culture they have built has been good over the years.”

As for the dynamic political banter one would imagine comes with playing for such a side, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“We’re brothers in arms,” co-captain Cam Calder said.

Surely there would be no objection to that.