Editorial: Down-to-earth Hore beats the PR machine

Hore relayed his decision after stepping off a plane from London. Photo / Getty Images

All Black star retires in the good old-fashioned way

Nothing much happens in the world of the All Blacks these days without the careful control of the corporate machine that is the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Usually, a co-ordinated media plan, with comment from the great and good and sponsors' names ever-present, massages any public news of our top rugby team.

How refreshingly old-school then for Andrew Hore to have announced his retirement from international rugby with not a logo or PR man in sight.

The 35-year-old hooker relayed his decision after stepping off a plane from London. There was no media conference or staging or scripting - just an All Black saying his future rugby would be confined to the Maniototo club in Central Otago.

As Hore is a player of major note - 83 test appearances, including captaining the All Blacks once at the 2011 World Cup - it seemed all the more out of kilter with modern professional practice.

But it was in keeping with Hore's make-up. He comes from the farming stock that has served New Zealand rugby so well down through the years.

Physical and mental toughness enabled him to extend his playing career past the norm. It also enabled him to go out at the top. His final test will always be remembered as the cliff-hanger in Dublin that enabled the All Blacks to become the first team in the professional era to go through a season unbeaten.

The NZRU issued its statement on Hore's departure a day-and-a-bit late. He was long gone.