Andy Owen: Organising Committee member on what can be expected from The Last Autumn Muster of Players

Lincoln College Rugby has been a big part of many rugby players careers over the years, with many going on to represent various provinces around the country and the country itself.  

"The Last Autumn Muster of Players" from the 1950-1990 era are gathering over the weekend beginning 23 May to celebrate what was a tremendous period of rugby at the then College. 

Andy Owen, one of the organising committee members, spoke with Lesley Murdoch about the event and what participants can expect across the weekend. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, a very very influential and a very important part
of Canterbury rugby history is going to be celebrated in
May the Lincoln College Rugby Reunion, the Autumn Muster. In
his own words, the old player from the golden period
in the eighties, Andy Owen joined us.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Good morning, morning, easy.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Well, this is exciting to get together because while Lincoln
College did become Lincoln University in nineteen ninety, prior to
that it was a very handsome rugby history, especially the
eighties team people like Bruce Dean's, Albert Anderson, Andy Dalton
went through Lincoln College, Andy Jefford. There's a whole lot
of players that actually contributed. When you look at that

(00:42):
very successful Canterbury raanfully shield era to that era from
Lincoln College.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
Ess right, there's a really rich history of rugby at
Lincoln and I guess it goes back for the too.
You look back to names like Waltson Winner and kel
trem Main both both for Lincoln Ian Nurst and dugan
Lee through the seventies all blacks, and then those that
go there in the early eighties. I think in nineteen
eighty three there were six Lincoln boys in the nine
ninety three all blacks and that carries right through to
the Lincoln University today where we've obviously seen the Barretts

(01:09):
and white Locks in recent years have been wonderful players.
So it's certainly a hotbed of rugby for sure.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Yeah, and the women as well. Looking back to the
coaching side of it, DoD Stuart back in nineteen sixty
nine he coached. Didn't he coach Canterbury to Ranfidy Shield victory?

Speaker 2 (01:24):
He did? He did coach Canary for a number of
years as I understand it, and then he was involved
with Roger Luff in nine point eighty one and coaching
that famous team that won the competition in nine ninety one.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
You are getting together, How are the numbers looking for
your May events growing?

Speaker 2 (01:38):
We've just gone online in terms of getting people to
register and that's starting to happen now. Our days are
those are the twenty seconds Frida of the twenty third
and Saturday the twenty fourth of May. So we're just
looking to get some momentum going now we've got six
weeks to run and really get some good numbers along.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
So what prompted the reunion.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Last year Roger Luff was presented with a life membership
by Lincoln Rugby. It was an iconic figure and as
an iconic figer and a kind of coach during the eighties,
and a few of us were lying and we enjoy
the night, and we thought perhaps we should have a reunion,
and we talked about having a nineteen eighties reunion because
Lincoln College finished at nineteen eighty nine. Then we worked
out that the youngest person playing rugby at Lincoln College

(02:19):
in nine eighty nine was about fifty four or fifty five,
so we thought we'd better get on with it. So
that's what's prompted the exit this year.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
It's fantastic because people in the end, they do love
getting together and they need a purpose and you've found it.

Speaker 2 (02:33):
People will enjoy it. They'll come from one end of
the country to the other, which is the catchment of
Lincoln College after all, and particularly the guys from the
North Island stuff. They'll really enjoy it. Enjoy the weekend,
I'm sure.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
So what's going to be the structure of the weekend.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
So Thursday night we will have what's what we're calling
a Captain's Run, which at the high school old was
rugby club, which is just the local guys and the
ones who've come into town early. That'll just be casual
drinks on night. As our main function, which is at
the Hornby Club and the Big Room there, we're going
to have Ben Harris and Justin are levery couple of
talented guys to run. A series of interviews will be

(03:08):
the main theme of the night, and just interview guys,
not necessarily the top players. More the characters Rugby's become
less significant as all these years have gone by. It's
more about the fun and the friendships and the connections.
You've been adjusting a couple of talented guys, so we
look forward to that. So that's on the Friday. That
starts about help us four with drugs and runs through

(03:30):
to a meal and the speeches, and then on a Saturday,
a tour for those interests out at the university, a
lunch at the university and then a full afternoon of
rugby with all the Lincoln Uni rugby teams being there
on their club day.

Speaker 1 (03:44):
If someone's listening now and they would like to be
part of it, how do they get hold of you.

Speaker 2 (03:48):
It's quite simple. All they need to do is google
LCFC reunion and they'll end up on the Lincoln University
alumni site and they can register there online.

Speaker 1 (03:59):
It's super and obviously put a lot of thought into this,
of course you do when you've got something with the
handsome history that Lincoln College has.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
Had up on a lot of rural bloodlines and just
a year history of a good attitude and sporting ability.
If you look at the university now, I mean it's
a wonderful facility. Obviously the curricul, the New zeal Cree
of association out there, the rugby and then the other
range of sports of high performing sports men and women.
It's pretty impressive, it is.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
And for us here obviously tomorrow Sunday up at omahe Domain,
there is going to be a very big memorial service
for one Gris Wiley. You know, one cannot put into
words what his effect and what he has left the
mark he has left on rugby.

Speaker 2 (04:46):
Guess from a Christs boy Lesley. So I grew up
with it. I grew up as a kid watching Kennedy
at Master Park in the seventies and I can't ever
remember a minute when now like while it wasn't pay
number eight and dominating. So that's my first memory. Then
we had the privilege job as we became a bit
older and a bit naughtyer through the Shield era. They
were just wonderful years and we're just blessed to have them. Really,

(05:07):
the nature of the rugby and the excitement life was simple.
Then when you look back, they were fantastic times. I
always remember three'sb inter viewing Alec Whally was oh Saturday morning.
Some of those interviews were priceless. I don't know they
had a lot of media training. He just shot from
the hip, which was great. And then I guess by
other memories at the end of it when he coached

(05:28):
the All Blacks and particularly say eighty eight eighty nine
and my humble opinion, that's some of the best All
bat raby that we've been seen. And I guess that
was as really very much as.

Speaker 1 (05:37):
Influence phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal. There may never be someone like
him again. But as you said, you know, they were
the best of days. You might have seen uncomplicated days,
but I think it was the best era.

Speaker 2 (05:49):
Oh you know, just what wonderful memories of it all We.

Speaker 1 (05:52):
Are looking for Friday, the twenty third of May, Saturday
the twenty fourth of May. This is when it's all
going to happen for the Lincoln College Rugby foot Ball
Club for the autumn muster. Andy Owen all the very
best and we know that you will have a fantastic time.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
Thank you, Missi. It's not about star rugby plas, It's
just about fun and friendship. You don't even have to
have played the game, you know, if you're just associated
with the college, you know, everyone's more than welcome. And
then the other thing I would say is thank you
Naslie and Craig for all you do for Cannibury Sport
club Sport. It's fantastic.

Speaker 1 (06:23):
Oh you're very kind. Thanks to Chie.

Speaker 2 (06:24):
Thank you very much. Thanks Listening for.

Speaker 1 (06:27):
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