When Graham Henry took over as Wales head coach in 1998, one of the first calls he made was to Steve Black, a charismatic Geordie who had worked as a bouncer before making a name for himself in rugby as mentor to Jonny Wilkinson.
Henry arranged a meeting with Welsh rugby's top brass led by Terry Cobner aimed at bringing Black on board.
A year later the New Zealander wrote: “Steve — Blackie to everyone — is 40, looks like Friar Tuck and is into positive reinforcement in massive slices.
