Former All Black rugby player and farmer Colin Meads (1936–2017) was for many years the King Country's most famous son. He was born in Cambridge in 1936 and grew up on a farm near Te Kūiti, where he farmed during his adult years. Meads played for the All Blacks from 1957 to 1971 and for King Country during his whole provincial career. After retiring from top-level rugby, he was involved in coaching and administration in the King Country. In 2011, Te Kuiti was unoffically and temporarily re-named 'Meadsville' during the Rugby World Cup, which was held in New Zealand that year.