Rugby: TV show ends two-decade relationship between pair

Will Johnston

Photo: Camera operator Laurie Neville (L) and commentators Morris West and Kevin Gledhill before the 2021 Taranaki club rugby final.

The demise of two grassroots rugby programmes ends Morris West's and Kevin Gledhill's long-standing relationship behind the microphone. 

The pair were the local commentators for Grassroots Rugby, a weekly programme that has shown highlights of club rugby matches from around the country since 1999. Taranaki matches were featured a handful of times during the season, from premier round-robin matches to the final and even games playing for the famous Dean Cup. Gledhill called games in Dunedin and Nelson for a period while he was working as a teacher.

They also called selected matches in Whanganui for Mainfreight Rugby, an equivalent programme for the Heartland competition. 

Graham Veitch Television produced both shows, played on Sky Sport during the winter, and became a staple of the New Zealand sports broadcasting diet. 

But the pay-per-view broadcaster is dropping the two shows, saying "there are some changes to the way we're doing things this year," but are still committed to grassroots rugby. A channel willing to play the show has yet to come forward. 

West and Gledhill were disappointed about the decision after the duo started calling club rugby matches together in 2003 on the region's television station 7 Taranaki. When the channel closed in 2007, Grassroots Rugby producer Denise Bell contacted the pair to be involved.

"Devestated," West said about the end of the show. "Grassroots covered aspects of club rugby that make rugby what it is at the higher levels. We covered kids' rugby, that ladies behind the scenes, club stalwarts, and much more." 

Gledhill echoed similar views and said the show provided everything that is good about the game. 

"I'm sure the producers ensured each club team within a province gained their time on the show, which covered all 27 provincial regions." 

The pair didn't know each other before their roles at 7 Taranaki. West was already commentating local football, starting in 2001, and Taranaki Rugby approached Gledhill to help out.

"I met with Morris at his home, and he put on a rugby match and simply said, "lets commentate," so we did. We kind of just said "yeah, this will work, let's do it." 

They were also involved in a weekly wrap-up of the weekend's matches on the channel.  

Laurie Neville spent 12 of those years providing camera work.  

"We've had a lot of cameramen over the years, but Laurie is the best of the lot," West said. 

Eventually labeled The Blues Brothers by the producers after wearing hats and sunglasses during show introductions, West and Gledhill have many highlights from their two-decade-long stint. 

They remember the 2012 final when Coastal pipped New Plymouth Old Boys to claim its first title.   

West said he had a temporary Coastal tattoo on his forearm as a wind-up because he knew Gledhill would be supporting Old Boys. 

"I told him his school team had collected enough for Kev to get a NPOB tattoo if they won. His comment when the final act led to a Coastal victory, "thank goodness I don't have to get a tattoo."

The two were always well prepared. They would have their team lists and information written down, record pre-match interviews and note down the time of tries to aid the editing. Neville would film the game and capture crowd shots to complement the coverage.

Gledhill recalls the many venues they had called games from, including inside a van, on the deck of a ute, within the stadium's media suites, or at ground level. They contended with wind and rain and competed for prime positions with livestream operations. 

"It's been a lot of fun; I will miss the involvement. 

Meeting people was also a favourite of being involved in the show. 

West had interviewed now New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson, All Black Chris Masoe, former coach Graham Henry, broadcaster Murray Deaker and local hero Beauden Barrett. 

"I've developed life-long friendships," Gledhill added. 

Gledhill, now retired, remains active behind the microphone casually. He calls 1st XV matches for livestream outfits and is active on Bowls New Zealand's coverage of local tournaments. 

West continues his self-employed design work, and is a celebrant, Justice of the Peace and actor.