#5. Frank Oliver (New Zealand)
Oliver, born on January 27, 1948, was a formidable New Zealand rugby player and coach. Known for his tenacity as a lock, Oliver earned 43 caps for the All Blacks from 1971 to 1978. Post-retirement, he transitioned to coaching, contributing significantly to New Zealand’s rugby development.
#4. Colin Meads (New Zealand)
Price says: “The best out and out player in my selection, a legendary second row, but another who took no nonsense.”
#3. Alain Esteve (France)
Price says: “Legend has it that Esteve once caught another man with his wife and threw him out of the first floor bedroom window.”
#2. Michel Palmie (France)
Price says: “He seemed to be frequently banned for dirty play – which was extra dirty even by French standards of the time. In one match he whacked me so hard on the head I had a four inch gash.”
#1. Gerard Cholley (France)
Price says: “Cholley was a loosehead so I directly came up against him several times, able to vouch first hand for his hardness.
“He used to be heavyweight boxing champion in the French services, the Paras I think, and there’s a great story about how he started in rugby that says everything.”
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