Rugby: Black Panther new ambassador

Waka Nathan. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The man known as The Black Panther is making a rugby comeback.

But these days you are more likely to see former All Black great Waka Nathan off the field promoting the game, rather than on it making the scything runs that he is best remembered for.

The 70-year-old was yesterday at the Hutt Old Boys Marist rugby club, where the New Zealand Rugby Union announced him as ambassador of its Rugby World Cup 2011 Rugby Legacy Programme.

The role sees Nathan as the public face of a drive to leverage the hosting of Rugby World Cup 2011 to attract more people into the sport and create better systems and infrastructure for the game in New Zealand.

Nathan, who debuted for Auckland just before his 19th birthday in 1959 and became a key member of the side during its then record-breaking Ranfurly Shield reign, said he was honoured to help grow the sport he loves.

"Hosting RWC 2011 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everyone with an interest in rugby. More importantly, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to introduce a whole lot more people - especially young people - to the game," he said.

"I am honoured to be involved in this programme which, for me, is perhaps the most important thing that RWC 2011 can do for us by inspiring the next generation of young Kiwis to get involved in rugby."

A former New Zealand Maori selector and manager of the Maori team that toured Wales in 1982, Nathan never played in a losing All Black side in his 14 tests.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said Nathan embodied many of the traits that the programme was intended to foster and encourage.

"Waka is a loyal supporter of rugby and maintains his interest at every level," he said.

NZRU communications manager Brian Finn said the union would be working with provinces and other partners on a range of six initiatives in the lead-up to next year's tournament, culminating in August with 20 school teams from around the country competing for a Mini Rippa rugby world cup.