Western News: April 27, 2023

4
Thursday April 27 2023
Bluey looks back on his days
YOU WOULD have to be over 70
to have heard of Bluey.
Derek ‘Bluey’ Arnold was born
on January 10, 1941 in Balclutha.
In those days a person with red
hair was called ‘Blue’ by their
mates, a saying that seems to
have originated from Australia:
“Ow ya goin Blue?”
Bluey was a rugby player.
Between 1959–1971, he played 87
matches for Canterbury and 15
for the All Blacks, including four
tests.
A New Zealand player of the
year in 1964, at 173cm and 67kg
he would have been at a distinct
disadvantage marking current
All Black Jordie Barrett, who at
196cm and 95kg often plays in
the same second five position.
Bluey says there is “daylight”
between the rugby of his day and
the modern game, not just the
rules – now far too complicated
and suffocating the sport – but
the challenges facing the All
Blacks before professionalism
took over.
Bluey was one of 30 players
on the 1963 /64 tour of England,
Ireland, Scotland, Wales and
France, playing an unbelievable
36 games from October 23 to
February 24 (with just one loss
0-3 and one draw 0-0).
With nearly five months away
from a job, some of the team
had to resign to go on tour and
a couple got leave without pay,
while Bluey as a stock and station
agent continued to get his salary,
courtesy of a rugby mad boss.
These amateurs were paid 10
bob (shillings) a day by the New
Zealand Rugby Football Union in
the 1960s.
Today, top All Blacks earn
more than a million dollars a
year.
Bluey said in those days the
rugby fraternity looked after the
family at home, particularly the
local clubs that rallied around,
making sure the lawns were
done, spare food was donated,
and outings arranged and
presents organised for Christmas.
The players were a bunch of
young, spirited guys overseas for
an extended length of time. Bluey
said it was an overwhelming new
experience, discovering the big
lights, especially for those players
from rural New Zealand.
The 1963/64 tour reality was
a good example of downtime
curbed by the weekly routine of
rugby, rugby and more rugby.
After breakfast it was training
then lunch, training then tea,
with evenings reserved for
tactical discussions for midweekers
and Saturday games.
Public or private functions and
travel fitted in in between, with
the only time off on Sundays.
This might be an afternoon at
a bar or a bus tour, but in most
cases it featured women.
NOW AND THEN: Between
1959–1971, Derek ‘Bluey’
Arnold played 87 matches
for Canterbury and 15 for
the All Blacks, including four
tests.
Sunday
14th of May
Mother’s Day extra
treats on the buffet:
Whole Salmon, Tzatziki
and Teriyaki
Slow Roasted Harissa
Lamb Shoulder
Extra Indulgent Pastries
and Desserts
7/11 Chalmers St, Hornby, Christchurch. Ph: 03 421 8926