12 Oct 2011

1987 team happy to relinquish title

1:00 pm on 12 October 2011

The 1987 All Blacks, reunited for the first time since their historic win in the first Rugby World Cup, say they're ready to relinquish the title of the only New Zealand side to hold the Webb Ellis Cup.

Gathered in Auckland, the players have been honouring the only teammate to have died, prop John Drake.

On Tuesday night they attended a dinner to raise funds for a memorial scholarship in his name at Auckland University; earlier they met the current crop of All Blacks.

Former All Black fullback John Gallagher - who these days is headmaster of a prep school in London - says the current side is on track to win the Cup.

Members of the team also met up with the 2011 squad and "Kipper" says it was wonderful to meet the young boys, as the former players want to do all they can to help them win.

Gallagher says the current team just has to carry on with what they're doing - and as far as fullback Israel Dagg is concerned, he should keep it simple.