The Catlins lad, through and through, returned to his old haunts at the Owaka Rugby Clubrooms on Sunday as guest of honour for the launch of his memoirs, penned by daughter Shirley Deuchrass, of Dunedin.
More than 50 people, including family and friends and rugby officials gathered for the launch of Owaka Jack - the Jack McNab Story, which recounts McNab's rise through the rugby ranks from the Owaka seniors to the All Blacks.
Mrs Deuchrass said her father's diaries revealed many secrets of the 1949 tour of South Africa by the All Blacks - an unsuccessful tour for the New Zealanders, few details of which have emerged over the last 59 years.
The 117-page book has been a labour of love for Mrs Deuchrass, who said her father, now 84, was not getting any younger and the time was right to tell his story.
Nicknamed "Owaka Jack" because of his fondness for promoting the Owaka district on his rugby travels, Mr McNab was an All Black in 1949 and 1950, playing as flanker.
He resigned from making himself available for future teams in 1953, because of commitments on the family farm.
His wife, Norine, was the unsung hero of the book, Mrs Deuchrass said.
"She was the one who kept all the newspaper clippings about Jack.
She had all his diaries, too."
Mrs Deuchrass is far from a rugby fan herself.
"I know very little about rugby.
I hardly know how many players make up a team," she quipped.
But she had enjoyed piecing together her father's memoirs over the last 18 months.
The book covers other highlights of his playing career, including Otago's Ranfurly Shield-winning team of 1947.
Mr McNab, the last South Island-based member of the 1949 touring party was left almost speechless by all the tributes that flowed at yesterday's launch.
"It's nice to have a record of all it.
But all this fuss is a bit much," he said.
The book is available at the Owaka Museum and University Bookshop in Dunedin and will be at selected bookstores soon.
