RWC All Black 2007 : Luke Mc Alistair
Luke McAlister was born in the small Taranaki town of Waitara on the 28th of August 1983. His All Black debut came in 2005 when he took to the field against the Lions filling the Number 10 jersey after an injury to Dan Carter. In his relatively short All Black career of 18 tests, McAlister has scored 103 test points and has displayed athleticism and skill wearing the number 10, 12 or 13 jersey.
What’s your favourite place in New Zealand?
My favourite place is the place I call home, the North Shore in Auckland. It has a lot of great beaches and the atmosphere there is really cool, it's a lot more relaxed than the main city in Auckland.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I spend most of my spare time with my little girl. We go to the parks and the lovely beaches that we have over there (Auckland's North Shore) and to the zoo.
Why does New Zealand produce such good rugby players?
The nation as a whole lives, eats and breathes rugby, so it's only natural that we produce quality rugby players. I also think coaching is a big thing. From a young age you get a lot of fathers that want to help the kids, so I think that's a big thing.
I know for myself I came back from England when I was 13 and I wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps. He was a Maori All Black and as a kid growing up I'd always had the All Blacks sort of up here and something I'd chase.
When you perform the haka, what's going through your mind?
The haka is about tradition; the people that have gone before me in the jersey. Personally it's a big thing representing my family, my teammates - most of all my teammates. I take a lot of pride in the haka and always do it full out; really passionately! I guess people outside looking in from overseas don't realise the tradition that comes with it and what it means to us, so it's hard for them to understand or relate to the haka.
What is your favourite food?
It has to be a 'boil-up'. That is puha, which is watercress and pork bones all chucked in a pot, with spuds and 'dough boys'. When I go back to my family, Nana and Granddad always put on a pot for us, which is always good. Also whitebait fritters. My Maori side does the boil up and my European side does the whitebait fritters. So it's always a special time going back home.
Where in New Zealand would you go for a special occasion?
Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island. They've got little chateaus that look out over the water. I like going to Waiheke because of the friendly people, vineyards, beaches, it's all really relaxed. We call it Waiheke time. It's a good place to chill out.
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