Sporting Witness
Sporting Witness
The policeman who won the Rugby World Cup
Up next
October 17, 2019
9 minutes
Available for over a year
In the 1980s, London-born policeman John Gallagher ended up playing for the All Blacks while living and working in New Zealand. After emergency classes in the famous Haka war dance, Gallagher became a key member of the Kiwi team which won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in Auckland in 1987. He tells his story to Ian Williams.
Photo: John Gallagher powers past the Welsh defence in the 1987 World Cup semi-final (Colorsport/Shutterstock)