Bill’s in a League of His Own

A lifelong love of rugby league and a penchant for study have led Bill Greenwood to achieve high academic honours in his retirement.

Having already gained a master's degree in history, Bill, 74, is hoping to be awarded a PhD before the end of the year.

His thesis for his Master's degree was on the introduction of rugby league to New Zealand's central provinces. For his PhD he's writing a 100,000-word dissertation on the sport's growth nationwide up to 1920.

He will also contribute a chapter at year's end to a scholarly UK journal, Sport in History, to mark a century of league in New Zealand and wants to write a book based on his research findings.

Why the high output? "It's a character trait of mine – I've got to see things through," he says.

Bill began researching the early years of rugby league in Wanganui in 1994 when he retired from teaching technical drawing at secondary school. While he was waiting for old newspapers at his local library to be made available on microfilm, his wife suggested he take history research papers at Massey University.

Bill was introduced to league as a teenager in his native Lancashire when his father took him to watch Wigan. He later supported Rochdale Hornets.

After working as a draughtsman, Bill became a drafting teacher in Canada at the age of 30, and obtained BEd and BA (history) degrees while teaching.

To escape the harsh Canadian winters, Bill, his wife and three of their four children migrated in 1974 to Wanganui where, two years later, he helped establish the Aotea Rugby League Club (now the Castlecliff Seagulls).

When not researching and writing, Bill enjoys gardening, reading and birdwatching.

His advice to fellow septuagenarians: "This is your one and only chance at life, so enjoy it to the full."