Andy Donald joins bid for Crystal Trophy

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 559, 25 October 1994, Page 12

Andy Donald joins bid for Crystal Trophy

Ohakune' s Andy Donald will be putting on Rothmans Classic All Blacks gear again to help win back the crystal trophy at the World classic rugby championship at Bermuda next month. The trophy will be contested by eight teams of retired international rugby players, who have been given the honour of representing their countries on the rugby field once more. The youngest player is 32. "The rugby is getting a bit hard now," admitted Andy, (37), who is making . a comeback after a two-year break from the classic team. "While the mind knows what it should be doing - it's not so easy to get the body to respond. But even though we're getting on a bit - we don't like coming second. He believes the New Zealanders have to take the tournament very seriously. "Y ou get injured in rubgy if you go in half pie," he said. "If you get stuck in - it's okay." The Rothmans Classic All Blacks have already proved that the footy field is no retirement pasture. They have won the championships four times in the past five years, losing in the final to the British Barbarians last year. Manager and player Andy Haden rates his team's chances of victory as "better than good" this year. "But each match is tougher than the one before that." The team will be keeping a sharp eye on the Barbarians. But the Classic Springboks, who are competing

for the first time, are also cause for concern. In between matches, team members play golf, attend a nightly cabaret and explore the sights on motorbikes. Andy Donald, who farms sheep and beef, believes his work has helped prepare him for some arduous competition. "But I am trying to do a bit more. I've pumped my training programme up, done a bit of running and looked for my old football. The worst thing of course, would be to over-train and get injured." Andy played in 20 matches and seven Tests for the All Blacks as half back,

from 1981 - 1987. The finest moment in his rugby career was playing in the Bledisloe Cup series. New Zealand had lost their first test and was losing the second at Brisbane - with the score at 12 ml. 'Then we got up and won the match - and went on to win the series" Now Andy Donald watches rugby on TV and travels to Wellington or Auckland to test matches. He enjoys getting together with other rugby players. "We have a bit of a yarn and remember how good we were - or thought we were. That's the good part about rugby. On the social side you get to meet

different people from all over the world." The first match of the World Classic rugby championships will be held on November 14. The 1994 Rothmans Classic All Blacks are Robbie Deans, Terry Wright, Fred Woodman, Murry Watts, Bruce Robbins, Andy Jefferd, Bernie McCahill, John Boe, Dave Loveridge, Andy Donald, Alan Dawson. Bruce Middleton, Snow Cruden, Andy Earle, Alan Whetton, Jock Ross, Andy Haden, Brent Anderson, Steve McDowell, Bret Wilson, Bruce Hemura, John Spiers and Peter Sloane.