All Blacks manager Darren Shand is being honoured for his services to rugby but he finds that a strange way to describe a dream job.
Shand was today appointed an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, recognised for his role in guiding one of world sport's great teams.
The All Blacks have enjoyed unprecedented success since Shand became manager in 2004 and, if you asked him, the job is hardly a chore.
"It says you're being awarded for service to rugby but it hardly seems like service when you've got a job like this," he said. "It's just a wonderful thing to be part of and I love doing it."
Shand received the call-up to the national side after being manager for Canterbury and the Crusaders and, even though he oversaw success with both sides, he was perhaps an unexpected choice.
"I was a risk, to be honest, when I started the All Blacks job," he said. "I was asked to do a big role and I wasn't an ex-All Black or anything like that, so I had to carve my own way.
"I had great support early on from Steve Tew, Chris Moller and Jock Hobbs. They believed in me and gave me that chance. And in this job, when you are on the road a bit, my wife's been a rugby widow for 12 years and she's been so supportive. "
Shand wants to continue his "service" as long as he's allowed.
