Photojournalist Peter Bush has been photographing the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby since 1949, on assignment for The New Zealand Herald.
In his 70-year career he has captured such legends as Meads, Whineray, Kirkpatrick, and McCaw, numerous World Cups, and documented such tours as the All Blacks in apartheid South Africa and the Springboks’ New Zealand tour in 1981.
Here, Peter provides some commentary for the photos used in our exhibition Rugby Legends: The Spirit of the Black Jersey.
Back in 1987 the opening Rugby World Cup was played at Eden Park in brilliant sunshine between the All Blacks and Italy. This game is remembered for the incredible blistering run by winger John Kirwan, who ran the length of the field to score his try.
It was a game attended by many and varied noisy spectators from the rugby nations of the world, and it was still the original Eden Park. I had played on it as a schoolboy and it was the same ground I had watched the legendary Kiwi Army team play Auckland back in 1946.
From that opening Rugby World Cup game, other games were played throughout New Zealand, with the final game between New Zealand and France back at Eden Park – also on a fine, warm day.
For some long-forgotten reason I was convinced this World Cup of rugby would be a one-off event. How wrong I was to be shown, and can now look back on the various cup games I have covered in many countries of the world.
But the first Rugby World Cup will remain a special memory alongside the original Eden Park.
In the above photo, Michael Jones races up the field supported by Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford and John Drake, with a lone French player in defence, during the All Blacks’ 29–9 win over France in the final.
Above, Lions’ Barry John lies winded while teammate Mike Gibson gives much-needed first aid, during a 1971 New Zealand tour match. The brilliant pair appeared in ten of the games during the tour, which remains the only time the Lions have won a Test series here.
Above, Israel Dagg shows his exuberant delight – or is it relief? – at the All Blacks’ narrow 8–7 win over France during the 2011 Rugby World Cup final at Eden Park, Auckland.
Above, The Black Ferns’ Charmaine Smith breaks the tackle of Wallaroo captain Ashleigh Hewson at Eden Park on 22 October, 2016, on the way to a record-setting 67–3 win by New Zealand.
