Wynne Gray: Amid the celebrations, here's to special absent fans

The first game of the Rugby World Cup at Eden Park between the All Blacks and Tonga. Photo / Alan Gibson.

Opinion

These are joyous times for those wanting to be part of Rugby World Cup festivities.

As we soaked up the splendour of the opening ceremony last night at Eden Park and the first combat between the All Blacks and Tonga, my mind drifted to those unable to be there.

Blokes who would have loved to have seen another global tournament in New Zealand to compare it with their initial enjoyment 24 years ago.

Men like broadcaster Graeme Moody, former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves, Clemmo and Clarkey.

Sir Paul was a rugby supporter whose love for the sport developed during his schooldays in Wellington and he was a regular spectator.

Clemmo worked at the Herald where his fanaticism about any sport shone as the department deputy editor. He was knowledgeable on most pursuits, someone who spent his leisure time at rugby, league and cricket matches or in front of the goggle box.

Clarkey wanted to be at most World Cup matches at Eden Park this year, but those plans disappeared when his heart gave out on a family boating weekend away.

Both men loved attending matches and enlivened our lives by debating all the consequences well into the night and the next week.

Moods was due to commentate World Cup games for his radio audience but a surfing accident in Australia denied him that stage. His funeral this week came when he should have been interviewing teams and preparing his tonsils for weeks of work.

Moods was 60, though he looked much younger because of his devotion to exercise and he had the enthusiasm of a 25-year-old.

He was always up, the glass was always half-full - no, probably three-quarters full for Moods. Even on tour, if things went a bit pear-shaped for the All Blacks, Moods always discovered the silver lining.

We teased him to the extent that he acquired the "32" nickname bestowed on him to signify his place in the All Black tour party after the 30 players and A. N. Other member of the group.

When he was young, Moods' family bought a radiogram, and the third LP he bought was a recording of Winston McCarthy rugby commentaries.

After starting his radio career at Whakatane, his interest in surfing boomed and he won several awards for rescuing troubled swimmers. When he shifted south, he surfed on the wild Wairarapa coast.

He had some prangs and after a close call a few years back damaged his knee, he began cycling to work whatever the weather.

His wife, Bev, was his constant companion, his No 1 love ahead of his career and the surf. They were both trained teachers whose interest in people and life glowed.

It's unfair Moods, Sir Paul, Clemmo and Clarkey were red-carded before the World Cup. A judicial hearing would have overturned all those verdicts, but we can remember them all as good keen men.