Rugby is very much part of the New Zealand way of life, its culture, its psyche. It’s the one topic that runs through the core of New Zealanders from Prime Minister to pauper, from boardroom to barrack room. Rugby is the topic that everyone discusses with some knowledge.

No one had a more impassioned opinion on any, and all, of the many facets of the game than Bill Mathewson.

Like all of us, Bill could pick a forward pass from the other end of the field when watching a game and would let the ref know. But for him rugby didn’t end with the full-time whistle - he looked forward to sharing views, reliving the game, and any other game for that matter, afterwards in the dressing room or the clubrooms after the game.

The greatest kick Bill got from rugby was watching little kids run around on frosty, muddy, or sloppy parks early on wintry Saturday mornings in and around Hastings, when most of us would rather be sleeping in (that’s before Saturday shopping started). Bill and his good mate Jim O’Connor, with Jim’s wife Isla, organised Saturday morning rugby in Hastings and gave it the momentum that took it to where it is today - producing representative teams at the forefront of Ross Shield rugby.

Bill didn’t do it because he had to; he did it because he wanted to. He loved it with a passion. It gave him enormous pleasure and satisfaction. After watching the kids, he’d go and see a secondary school game - usually St John’s College playing - and after that onto the senior club game of the day or the rep fixture. Then it was all discussed well into the night and usually through to Monday morning.

Anything Bill was involved with he took control of; not because he wanted the kudos that went with leadership, but because he wanted to make sure everything went to its best possible end. That meant Bill organised - the press, the sponsorship, the grounds, the referees, the sub-union and its rooms, the committee meetings, the corner flags at the ground, and the oranges at half-time. That was Bill - all or nothing. And you loved him for it.

He did the same for the National Party, but they never appreciated it; and in the end he gave them the heave-ho - it was never the same after Rob left.

He had boundless energy that seemed to drive the sawdust from his crinkly grey hair, and a sparkle in his eyes that kept shining even in adversity. He exhausted many fellow committee members. To many he was an inspiration, to others he could be a bloody nuisance - but he always got the job done.

This was probably epitomised in his drive to gain sponsorship from Wattie’s for the tournament.

Bill persisted with the giant company, through his contacts with Sir James Wattie and his family and his pride in the tournament as the best showpiece in Hawke’s Bay for children’s sport at primary school level. Once he gained the sponsorship, he didn’t abandon the company as many did in the early days of some sponsorship deals. Bill made sure Wattie’s were kept informed of tournament details, were included in all the functions involved in the week-long tournament, and were given a place of importance. He kept contact and the company appreciated his efforts by coming back year after year with increased support.

It was probably the single greatest quality of Bill Mathewson that he appeared to have time for everyone, no matter how large or small the request of his time. His energy was boundless.

I think the big thing about Bill that stays in my mind is that he never asked anything for himself. He gave years of service for Ross Shield rugby and for the kids. In his last weeks he asked me to write some letters for him - to Hastings Ross Shield players of just a few years back who had got top marks in School Certificate, or who had performed well in athletics meetings or cricket matches.

Bill Mathewson was there for the kids - and for rugby.

Written by Frank Long