Rugby: Greats serenaded by family duet

Hinewehi Mohi in front of a statue of her great uncle George Nepia at Eden Park. Photo / Martin Sykes

The great niece of rugby icon George Nepia last night serenaded legends of the game at Eden Park, with the help of her late uncle.

The moment capped a night where a 1st XV of Maori greats were named to launch a history of Maori rugby since the 1860s.

The title of the book, Beneath the Maori Moon, by Malcolm Mulholland, was taken from a song the fullback laid down in the 1930s.

Nepia's great-niece Hinewehi Mohi accompanied a recording of the great man, who has been dead for 22 years.

Being able to sing with her uncle was something quite special, she said.

"He was a lovely old geezer. He had a great voice, beautiful and smooth. I remember him when I was little, him coming and singing around the table with my grandfather. All I've got to go by is a recording my grandmother made on a dinky old tape recorder. I've used a bit of that recording."

Former coach Matt Te Pou, with Colin Meads, Keith Quinn and others selected the premier team. Nepia was always going to be a shoo-in, he said.

"He was the guy who broke through and was acknowledged as world class. He had big defence and he could attack. He personified the flair that Maori rugby is known for."

The team: George Nepia, John Timu, Rico Gear, Johnny Smith, Bill Osborne, Carlos Spencer, Sid Going, Zinzan Brooke, Wayne "Buck" Shelford (captain), Waka Nathan, Robin Brooke, Tiny Hill, Carl Hayman, Hika Reid, Steve McDowell.