McILraith, Matt

A former editor of the national rugby weekly Rugby News and the author of three previous titles, McIlraith gained his introduction to the game as a child through the exploits of Robbie and his Canterbury team-mates during the province’s record-equalling Ranfurly Shield run in the early 1980s. He subsequently gained a unique insight into Deans the man and his methods during stints working alongside him as media manager for the All Blacks, the Crusaders and then the Wallabies. This has positioned him perfectly both to help tell the story.;