Battling the Lions: Touring players living on in NZ

Michael Campbell-Lamerton. Picture / Amos Chapple

When Maina Graham's sons were born in the years of Lions tours there was no question what to call them - Maina knew he would name them after his favourite players from his favourite touring team.

In 1959 the outstanding Lions lock Bill Mulcahy grabbed Maina's attention, and his first son was christened Bernard Mulcahy Graham that year.

The Lions toured again in 1966 and Maina had another son. As the Lions collapsed to a four-nil series defeat, their captain, Michael Campbell-Lamerton, had one happy moment. He signed the registration of Maina's second son, Michael Campbell-Lamerton Graham.

To be named after a Lions captain may have been a great honour to Maina but Michael has some reservations.

"I'm not very proud of it," jokes Michael. "I was named after the captain of one of the worst Lions teams to ever tour this country." Both Maina's sons are big rugby fans and have taken a keen interest in researching the men they were named after. In what he calls a slightly surreal experience, Michael watched Campbell-Lamerton's son, Jeremy, play for Scotland in the 1987 World Cup.

"All that was running through my mind was here's this person from Scotland running around out there that doesn't know that I'm sitting here and I was actually named after his father." Bernard and Michael are both excited about the upcoming tour but will be on different sides of the fence.

Bernard is a firm supporter of the All Blacks but Michael says he is a born Lion.

"When it comes to the crunch I'll be supporting the Lions. I'm a Lion right to the bone. I was born under the star of Leo as well so I suppose it all adds up." The two entered the ballot for tickets to the Lions versus New Zealand Maori game but were unable to get tickets.

Sadly, Maina died on March 9, eight days before the death of his favourite Lion, Michael Campbell-Lamerton.