A Bloody Good Cause Sir Graham's Benchmark

THE RUGBY GIANT TAKES ON HIS MOST IMPORTANT ROLE YET.

- Kelly Bertrand

Sir Graham Henry is keen to stay out of trouble. Not that he’s ever really been in any, but retirement has always been something of a dirty word for the former All Blacks coach. So, in between enjoying the little slice of paradise he’s carved out on Waiheke Island with his wife Lady Raewyn, Graham’s always been happy to lend himself to different projects and causes.

“Keeps me off the streets and gives me something to do!” he says down the phone to the Weekly with a chuckle. He’s currently enjoying a glorious, cloudless sky in Queenstown, just days before jetting off to Japan for the Rugby World Cup.

And it’s what else but rugby that’s led Graham (73) to front his latest charitable campaign. He’s teamed up with the New Zealand Blood Service to create the World’s Biggest Reserve Bench – a role he’s calling “the most important” of his distinguished career.

“When I found out so few Kiwis donate blood, I was shocked. I’ve been a blood donor for a number of years, so when I was asked to front this, I said, ‘Fine!’ It’s been a bit of fun, actually. But we’re short of blood donors throughout the whole country, and if you can help, why wouldn’t you?”