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New Zealand Wayne Shelford, known as 'Buck', is a decorated former All Black captain and rugby player who transitioned into coaching and public advocacy, particularly for men's health, after his illustrious playing career.
Shelford Rugby Club offers partners a unique opportunity to combine visibility, hospitality and fulfilment of corporate social responsibility.
MasterCard teamed up with Wayne 'Buck' Shelford for a campaign running through October 23, a collaboration with R/GA, its digital agency of record, for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Cheffins is the principal club sponsor of Shelford Rugby Club and has a prominent presence, including on playing jerseys, having signed a a three-year sponsorship deal.
Wayne Shelford maintained a high public profile with television commercials for the Accident Compensation Corporation.
Born on December 13, 1957, in Rotorua, New Zealand, Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford attended Western Heights High School where he played in the First XV during 1973 and 1974. He later represented Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools and Auckland age grade sides. Shelford debuted for Auckland in 1982. He joined the Royal New Zealand Navy, serving for nearly 12 years and rising to the rank of petty officer and physical training instructor. His rugby career continued alongside his naval service, and he moved to North Harbour when the union was formed in 1985. In 1985, he was first selected for New Zealand for the tour of South Africa, which was subsequently cancelled, and then played in four matches during the replacement tour of Argentina.
Shelford participated in the unauthorised Cavaliers tour of South Africa in 1986. Following this, he was chosen for the second test against Australia but withdrew due to injury. He toured France at the end of 1986, participating in both tests. He was a key player in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, appearing in five of the six matches and contributing to the All Blacks’ victory. Shelford took over the captaincy from David Kirk for the tour of Japan in 1987. From 1987 to 1990, under his leadership, the All Blacks remained undefeated, with one drawn test against Australia in 1988 being the only imperfection in their record. He also played a crucial role in revitalizing the traditional ‘Ka Mate’ haka, ensuring its correct performance by the team.
In 1990, Shelford was controversially dropped from the All Blacks after two tests against Scotland, leading to public protests. Despite public outcry and a period where fans demanded his return, he was not reinstated. After retiring from playing in 1991, Shelford coached in Britain, including at Saracens and Rugby Lions. He returned to New Zealand, serving as assistant coach for North Harbour in 1997 and head coach in 1998. He actively maintained a public profile through television commercials and public speaking engagements focused on men’s health. In 2020, he became the host, assistant coach, and emergency player for the ‘Match Fit’ reality television series, which aimed to return retired All Blacks to fitness.
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