Billy Bush : a front row view on life / Kingita Ngahere (Bush) Te Pohe.

Foreword by Les McFadden -- Foreword by Ian Kirkpatrick -- Acknowledgements --

Introduction: standing tall -- 1. Selection and start -- making the All Blacks -- 2. Huhu and kererū -- growing up in Hawke's Bay and Bay of Plenty -- 3. Education and escapades -- life in Whakatāne -- 4. Lagging and lollies -- work and leisure in Whangārei -- 5. Brothers and Belfast -- arriving in Christchurch, 1969 -- 6. Corners and Cantabs -wearing the red and black -- 7. Deluge and Dublin -- All Blacks, 1974-75 -- 8. Frying pan and fire -- All Blacks tour of South Africa, 1976 -- 9. Sidelined and selected -- Lions tour of New Zealand, 1977 -- 10. Great dive and Grand Slam -- All Blacks tour of Britain and Ireland, 1978 -- 11. Dark days and division -- Springboks tour of New Zealand, 1981 -- 12. Mana and wairua -- Māori rugby -- 13. Torrid and terrific -- playing for New Zealand Māori -- 14. Frustration and farce -- Māori tour of Wales and Spain, 1982 -- 15. Shambles and sackings -- coaching New Zealand Māori teams -- 16. Vino and Villoba -- seasons in Italy -- Epilogue.

"Bill Bush (Billy Bush) has a life story unlike any other All Black. A kina diver at primary school, a labourer at the Marsden Point refinery at 14, it took a promise of a Fanta and a pie to get him to play rugby, a sport he initially reckoned was too rough for him. The reluctant warrior became a fearsome, revered All Black prop, and captained and coached the Māori All Blacks. His insights on rugby, and its place in New Zealand life, are unique.The journey Bill takes readers on in Billy Bush is not all about playing rugby but explains his whakapapa (lineage), his upbringing, his beliefs, and hopefully demonstrates that there are other ways to get on in life and to be successful. Bill offers some simple life lessons: don't get trapped into seeing the grass as being greener on the other side of the fence. Stand tall and proud alongside others; enjoy the simple things in life along with your successes, however small they may be. Embrace the things you enjoy as a valued New Zealander by focusing on simple goals with honesty, hard work, and determination."--Publisher's website.