Jock Hobbs – The Man Who Saved Rugby Union

This week, sad news emerged that Jock Hobbs had passed away after a long battle with Leukemia. Hobbs was an All Black during the 80’s and his playing career has much been discussed as well as his ability to deliver a World Cup against the odds to New Zealand soil. His achievements in those regards are truly outstanding. However it is possibly the beginning of his career as an administrator in NZ that has had the biggest impact on rugby in general.

Jock Hobbs, a qualified lawyer, devoted his energies to his family and career, but his links to rugby remained and he became a New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) councillor in 1995, ‘emerging as a crucial figure in defusing the rift that had developed between players and the NZRU when rugby went professional’.

‘The defection of New Zealand's top players to the Kerry Packer-backed World Rugby Corporation had been considered a done deal until Hobbs, still a fledgling administrator, worked around the clock for six weeks to secure the key players' signatures for the NZRU. He was lauded as "the man who saved rugby" after persuading All Blacks poised to join a breakaway professional circus to return to the NZRU fold. He was involved in negotiations to finance the new professional game that emerged following the 1995 World Cup.’

Hobbs is now a revered man in NZ rugby and should be viewed in the same manner in the rest of the rugby playing world. If it wasn’t for him, the rugby landscape could look very different. We could be playing a cross breed of Union and League. I for one am delighted that our proud game remains as it is and Hobbs deserves his credit for playing such a vital role in securing its future.

RIP Jock Hobbs