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WarhorseMealamu: Always a shining example to others.

The genTleman warrior

Keven Mealamu has earned the respect and admiration of friends, family and peers. As well as being one of the hardest and most competitive of players, he has also devoted his life to his family, community, art and charity. Alexander Bisley spent some time with Mealamu finding out what drives this exceptional player and man.

Sir Graham Henry says Keven Mealamu epitomises everything that’s great about the All Blacks. “He’s got a marvellous relationship with

his wife and kids and the extended family, and people in general because he’s got an incredible amount of respect – because he spends the time with people; spends the time with young rugby players that are coming through the Blues and the All Blacks. He’s a marvellous example-setter, not only in the way he plays the game but in his character. He’s an exceptional man.”

Henry’s been inspired by Mealamu, the second most capped All Black after Richie McCaw. “I’ve been involved with Kevvy for a long, long time; back in 2003 with the Blues, and the All Blacks for eight years, so I know

Ted ‘n’ Kev: Mutual respect.

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the man extremely well. He’s a very humble person, and he never gets ahead of himself, always thinks he can self-improve.”

Mealamu takes a seat next to me on a picnic table outside the Blues’ ice bath. This year, the grounded 36-year-old Samoan New Zealander set the new Super Rugby record for most games, taking over from Wallaby lock Nathan Sharpe’s 162 matches. “No player better qualified to take the Super Rugby record,” Sharpe, three years retired, tweeted, “I can still feel your shoulders in my ribs mate.” Like Colin “Pinetree” Meads, whose record for the most first-class games he surpassed last year, Mealamu’s ear looks like it’s been backed over by a steamroller.

For his 163rd of 175 games in the blue jersey, the 123 Test centurion All Black ran out onto North Harbour stadium surrounded by family, friends, and, on the sideline, a group of formative teammates from when he started playing professional rugby 17 years ago – players including Eroni Clarke, Robin Brooke and Steve Devine. “I didn’t realise they were out there till I ran past them. It was quite emotional.”

Working as an apprentice signwriter, Mealamu got called up to play for Auckland in the NPC in 1999, playing along Samoan Kiwi idols like Michael “Iceman” Jones, who inspired him in scoring the opening try of the

first World Cup. Now Mealamu is encouraging exciting talent, like the Blues’ loosie Akira Ioane, who were aged between two and five when he started making a living out of rugby. “It’s hard case,” he laughs.

Mealamu was one of the leaders of Henry’s All Blacks team that won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Superb on both defence and attack, Mealamu has invigorated the hooker’s position. He has the running athleticism of a loose forward, illustrated by his 12 Test tries. He has body position and upper body strength, unrelenting legs and uncanny offloads.

In 2004, Mealamu didn’t flinch when Wallaby Brendan Cannon landed a nasty right hook square on his jaw. “It was devastating. Devastating in the sense it did absolutely nothing to Keven Mealamu!” Cannon recalled after Mealamu became the All Blacks’ third Test centurion in 2012. “He’s a cage fighter on the footy field, he’s the hardest guy I ever played against, but off the field he’s an absolute gentleman. We’ve always had a fantastic on-field rivalry and an even better friendship off the field; he represents what the All Blacks are about.”

One of the hardest men to ever wear the All Blacks jersey, Mealamu is also an artist. He has illustrated seven books to raise money for Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital, over the last seven years. Mealamu tells me

art is a way for him to balance during the intense lead-up to big rugby games. “It is a destresser. Some people like to go to the gym and release stress that way. I think art’s another good way of releasing that sort of pressure, so I love it.”

In tough times, the father of two draws strength from his art, his Catholic faith and his family. This year, the Blues only won three Super Rugby games. “The people that feel it the most will be our families. Because they hear all their friends, people on the street: ‘Oh that’s Keven’s Dad’ or ‘That’s Keven’s wife.’ And they start getting into them. So we feel for them, and we want to make sure we can do the job, so they don’t have to cop that sort of stuff.” Mealamu laughs again, that good-humoured optimism.

Watching Mealamu help lead the Blues to victory against South Africa’s Springbok-laden Bulls at Eden Park, as through the All Blacks’ 2014 season, his determination was clear. “There’s just nothing better than getting a ‘W’ [win] next to your name. Whether it’s ugly or pretty.”

He still wears the black jersey with that pride what he’s shown in every one of his 100-plus Tests. “There’s no easy game, there’s no week off, so every week is a grind, which is good, especially with the young talent coming through. It’s that constant wanting [to be in the jersey]. Being under pressure, there’s something real special about it. When I finish, it won’t be something you’ll be able to emulate, coming in and competing every day. In the gym, out on the field, you're constantly under that sort of intensity, under that kind of pressure, and it’s something I really enjoy.”

He laughs heartily. “There’s always someone coming through that’s very talented, very skilful and hardworking, so it makes you want to push harder.”

“Laugh often” is one of the seven Mealamu values inscribed on the wall of the Takanini, South Auckland gym, which the man who doesn’t drink, smoke or swear set up to give his community an affordable option for improving their health.

Mealamu debuted for the All Blacks against Wales at Cardiff’s Stadium in 2002 and looks forward to taking the Welsh field in October against Georgia, 13 years on. “You can feel the passion in the way the Welsh sing,” Mealamu raises his muscular arms. “When they say raise the roof, they raise the roof to sing!”

His father Luka, working tough hours at a Tokoroa mill, drove his son a long way for rugby. “My Dad’s words are ingrained in me: ‘always work hard and stay humble. Do your prayers before you go out onto the field’.”

He’s also learnt from Richie McCaw, “That mental toughness. I’ve never seen a man play through what he plays through. The hits

“Laugh often” is one of the seven Mealamu values inscribed on the wall of the Takanini, South Auckland gym, which [he] set up to give his community an affordable option for improving their health.

Then and now: 17 years of hard labour for the warhorse.

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he goes through and injuries he plays with that people don’t know about, you wouldn’t be able to tell when you see him running out there; he always looks like Richie when he’s in the black jersey, you know? And being a good man, a good Kiwi bloke. I sit behind him on the bus, and we have good chats all the time. Skip’s a skip.”

Mealamu says playing alongside senior All Blacks like McCaw and Conrad Smith is almost intuitive now. “With Conrad and Richie, you don’t even have to say anything. You just look and you know. It might be just a nod. You don’t have to go and say anything to them.”

He keeps his edge by trusting his experience. “I think most things that can happen on a rugby field I’ve probably been through... just take a deep breath,” he breathes sharply, “put yourself in the moment, stay in process and control the things you can control.”

The haka versus the Siva Tau (Manu Samoa’s haka) in Apia was unique, Mealamu says. “There’s been a lot of Samoan heritage in the black jersey. I think it’s a beautiful way to not just show respect, but to be able to play a Test match in Samoa as an All Black, I could have never imagined that coming around.”

Mealamu agrees Manu Samoa’s players haven’t been getting a fair deal from the

Samoan Rugby Union for a long time, which is why All Blacks have taken to social media to express solidarity. “We’re [the All Blacks] all right behind the players and we just want to make sure they get a fair say and a fair go.”

For post rugby life, Mealamu would “very much love art to be a part of it”. Art, after all, had been a significant part of his life, from his artist mother Tise’s side of the family, before he ever picked up a rugby ball. “It helps me with rugby; it gives me good balance. A good way to get the mind away, and outside the

rugby realms.” The rose tattoo on Mealamu’s right wrist

captures his biggest inspiration. “That’s my family: my wife and kids. It was my wife’s birthday, and I asked her what she wanted to get and she wanted to get a couple’s tattoo. So she’s got similar,” he looks at his arm. “Red roses is for that passion that I have for them,” he beams.

Mealamu will bring that passion between British white chalk lines in September and October as the All Blacks defend the World Cup.

“He’s a cage fighter on the footy field, he’s the hardest guy I ever played against, but off the field he’s an absolute gentleman” – Wallaby hooker Brendan Cannon

Mealamu: A man of the people.

Mealamu spars with McCaw: The best of mates.