My Dad, the All Black: Part 1

By SANDY McKAY

The game of rugby began at Rugby School in England in about 1820. There were often 50 or 60 players in a team, sometimes more. The game was called football but was also known as 'bigside'.

What would you do if your mum had her picture on the front page of the paper, propped up in a sleeping bag, reading The Encyclopaedia of All Black Legends, and sipping liquorice tea out of a thermos flask?

Die of embarrassment?!

Well, I tried that. I hold my breath for 63 seconds and then, just when I'm turning blue, Eric punches me in the tummy and I have to start again. And it's not just the paper Mum appears in either. So far she's been interviewed by More FM Radio and filmed by Channel Nine for the local news.

It's awful. Completely dreadfully totally embarrassing.Leonie McCann, first in line at Carisbrook. Leonie McCann, rugby radical. Leonie McCann, famous fan. Leonie McCann, William's Mum.

Publisher: Longacre Press

Price: $14.95

Age group: 9-13 years