Tim Burcher loves the Barbarians and what the club stands for as he reflects on over 30 years as a member.
Now 70, the sole practitioner solicitor played halfback for NZ Universities, Otago, Auckland and Counties, renowned as a sharp runner and swift passer.
He played one first-class match for the club, a 20-all draw at Eden Park against a strong NZ Maori Invitational XV combination in 1981.
“I always loved the ethos of the Barbarians. Back in the day, you often had top provincial reps and All Blacks playing for or against the Baabaas or against school teams. It was always a thrill,” he says.
Burcher served on the club committee during the crucial mid-2000s period.
“I feel very privileged to have been on the Barbarians committee when we were full-on negotiating with the Eden Park Trust Board to get into our present clubrooms. They absolutely had to take our building (The House that Jack Built) and we had to have a decent return for that. What we’ve ended up with is really special,” Burcher says.
“I don’t get there often enough these days, but I did get to see Coldplay and Ed Sheeran, which was a bonus!
“I always feel totally at home when I’m there. There’s always someone whom I know that I can swap a few lies with about how good we thought we were!”
Of the 1981 Baabaas team, skippered by Graham Mourie and including the likes of AJ Whetton, Stu Wilson, Brad Johnstone, Andy Haden and Andy Dalton, Burcher recalls “a free-flowing, entertaining game with a fair result. I enjoyed playing in the mighty red jersey.”
Burcher had a fascinating career, playing 46 games for Otago from 1975-78 while doing his LLB in Dunedin, 11 games for Counties in 1980 when he was surplus to Auckland coach Bryan Craies’ requirements, and 44 games for Auckland from 1981-85. He effectively retired after the epic 1985 NZU tour of Europe, just as David Kirk arrived in the City of Sails.
But easily the high water mark of Burcher’s career was the 1984 season, in which he was the No 9, inside Grant Fox, for the peerless Auckland side which won the NPC and dispatched the Ranfurly Shield-holding Canterbury 32-3 on Eden Park. He was also alongside Fox as Varsity won the Gallaher Shield in decisive fashion.
“Varsity was on top of its game, so as an old halfback it was a dream ride,” he says, of a team which includes 8-9 Barbarians today.
He played behind some great No 8s in his time, too, namely Merv Jaffray, Alan Dawson, ‘Buck’ Shelford, Glenn Rich, Glen Young and John McDermott and, other than Fox, he fed the ball to some top 10s, notably including the late, great Nicky Allen.
Burcher liked to employ the dive pass on occasion. Alas, we rarely see it any more.
“The dive pass still has its place but, as my career went on, I realised you’re no use to anyone on the ground. Sometimes, though, a dive pass was the only way to get it cleared.”
He was not an especially robust defender, but then he didn’t have to make as many tackles as halfbacks of today: “Our loosies would say ‘Step aside, so we can smash them.’ So men like Grant Dickson and John Hunt were marvellous tacklers on my behalf.”
These days, other than work and seeing the grandkids, Burcher enjoys his golf (off a 20-handicap) and keeping tabs on Varsity, Auckland, the Blues and the All Blacks.
He’s a fan of Cam Roigard, though they are very different halfbacks.
“He’s going to be outstanding. He has speed, which I had, but also strength, which I didn’t have.”
