Buck Shelford

Sir Wayne Thomas Shelford KNZM MBE (born 13 December 1957) is a New Zealand former rugby union player and coach who represented and captained New Zealand (the All Blacks) in the late 1980s. Nicknamed "Buck", he played as a number eight for Auckland, North Harbour, Northampton and Rugby Roma.

Shelford toured South Africa with the unofficial New Zealand Cavaliers in 1986. He made his debut for the All Blacks later that year and went on to win 22 caps. He was part of the team that won the 1987 Rugby World Cup. Shelford captained the All Blacks from 1987, and the team was undefeated until he was controversially dropped in 1990. He is credited with revitalising the performance of the All Blacks' traditional "Ka Mate" haka in the 1980s.

After retiring, he coached North Harbour and English club Saracens.

After playing for Western Heights High School First XV, Shelford was selected for the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools and Auckland age grade sides, and made his Auckland provincial debut in 1982. Shelford enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Navy as a physical training instructor (PTI), and during this time also played rugby for the Navy team. In 1985, when the North Harbour Rugby Union was created, he moved with it as his club side was a member. This was the same year he was first selected for the All Blacks, for the later abandoned South Africa tour.

Shelford's first game for the All Blacks was against Club Atlético San Isidro in Buenos Aires on 12 October 1985. He then joined the unauthorised Cavaliers' tour of South Africa in 1986, which included 28 of the 30 players selected for the original tour.

Shelford made his Test debut for the All Blacks later that year against France in a 19–7 victory in Toulouse, and then was a notable victim of the infamous "Battle of Nantes" in the second Test. Roughly 20 minutes into the match, he was caught at the bottom of a rather aggressive ruck, and a French boot kicked his groin, ripping his scrotum and leaving one testicle hanging free. He also lost four teeth in the process. After discovering the injury to his scrotum, he calmly asked the physiotherapist to stitch up the tear and returned to the field before a blow to his head left him concussed. He was substituted and watched the remainder of the game from the grandstand where he witnessed the All Blacks lose 16–3.

In 1987, the first Rugby World Cup was held in New Zealand. Shelford played in five of the six All Blacks games and was a member of the team that won the final against France 29–9. He was involved in an incident during the semi-final match against Wales that saw Huw Richards become the first player to be sent off in the tournament. Richards punched the All Black lock Gary Whetton after a loose scrum and Shelford reacted in defence of his teammate, landing a blow that knocked Richards to the ground. Shelford escaped punishment while Richards left the field.

Shelford took over as All Black captain after the World Cup, first captaining the side during the 1987 tour of Japan. During his captaincy from 1987 to 1990, the All Blacks did not lose a game, only drawing once against Australia in 1988.