Buck Shelford tribute

Wayne 'Buck' Shelford was one of the greatest No.8's and hardest men to ever play rugby. A truly great All Black and formidible presence during one of the stellar periods of All Black rugby.

If ever there was one moment when New Zealand’s Shelford embedded his name forever into rugby's rich history, it was during the infamous “Battle of Nantes” in 1986.

Playing only his second Test for the All Blacks against a physically intimidating French side, Shelford found himself at the bottom of a rather aggressive ruck on 20 minutes.

An errant Les Bleus stud found its way to his groin, where it somehow managed to tear his scrotum, leaving one testicle hanging out.

This alone would leave most men screaming in agony and heading for the nearest hospital. But not Shelford. He calmly instructed the physio to stitch him up.

The French public were gobsmacked as an over-eager pitchside cameraman filmed the stomach-turning surgery, and even more so when Shelford returned to the field and carried on playing...

"I was knocked out cold, lost a few teeth and had a few stitches down below," Shelford later recalled. "It's a game I still can't remember... I don't really want to, either."

Sadly the recent news has come through that the now 49 year old legend has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a form of cancer which affects white blood cells.

"We found out a month ago and he has five more months of treatment," his wife Jo told the Sunday Star Times newspaper in New Zealand.

"We are very positive and pleased with how the treatment is going but it has been a traumatic time for the family."

We wish him and his family all the best. Enjoy this great tribute to a true All Black legend.

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Classic Punch ups From the Past - Buck Shelford vs Huw Richards

Buck Shelford was renound for being an All Black hardman. In 1987 when the All Blacks played Wales at Ballymore in the World Cup Semi-Final, the result was 49-6 but was remembered more for Shelford flooring Welsh lock Huw Richards late in the match.

When Shelford spied Richards and Gary Whetton having a skirmish – the latter alleged the Welshman grabbed his wedding tackle in a maul – he decided to put an end to their frolicking and felled Richards with a well placed blow to the head.

Though Shelford was also belted by a Welsh player, he remained on his feet and on the field. Richards was not so lucky. After a brief visit to la la land, he woke up to discover referee Kerry Fitzgerald had sent him off for provoking the incident.

Remarkably, Shelford escaped censure by the officials and played a major role in the All Blacks winning the final the following weekend.

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