Fans meet one of NZ rugby legends

Western Bay rugby fans got to meet one of New Zealand's rugby legends, Sir Graham Henry, in Tauranga today.

The former All Blacks World Cup winning coach was in town promoting his new book, Final Word.

Henry flew down to Tauranga this morning and spent about an hour in Te Puke Paper Plus, meeting fans, taking photographs and signing his book.

His schedule saw him spend half an hour in Tauranga Paper Plus and more than an hour in Bayfair Whitcoulls.
 

At lunch time today at the central Tauranga store, 23-year-old Tom Weir said it was "a real honour" to meet Henry in the flesh.

"I've always liked him and admired what he's done and I think he's a fantastic coach."

"The All Blacks have got some really good players coming through and unless you've got the right man at the top, it's not going to succeed but [when he was the coach] Graham Henry got everyone to work together and the style of rugby he taught was brilliant. He's set a high standard and a real legacy for Steve Hansen.

"He's a legend."

Since the books release on July 30, more than 40,500 copies have been sold.

At the bookstore, Henry told the Bay of Plenty Times he was impressed with how well the book had been selling.

"A lot of people have been a part of my success and the big thing was that I didn't want to miss anyone out of the book. A lot of people made this possible and I don't play [rugby] but this was an opportunity to acknowledge their contribution.

"It's a very factual, black and white book about my 40 years involved in rugby and it's upset a few people but I wanted it to be a good book. It's not a soft book, it's a punchy book," he said.

Henry said even though he had retired as the All Blacks coach, he had been "busier than ever".

"You've got to keep busy. When you're not busy, if you stop, you die."