"[I] shook his hand so hard he couldn't play golf for two days," Mr Bors said through an interpreter.
The former police colonel had an opportunity to use that famous handshake - and even planted a kiss on the cheek of Superintendent Bob Burns - when he and some Romanian players visited Dunedin Central Police Station yesterday morning.
Mr Bors told the Otago Daily Times he had fond memories of New Zealand. He made his international debut for Romania against the Junior All Blacks, when he was aged 19.
At the end of the tour, he had the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, and spend time with the Romanian community in New Zealand.
"I could have been a New Zealander, because the family I went to had a daughter and they wanted me to get married."
In 1981, when the All Blacks visited his country, the hulking No 8 marked Murray Mexted as Romania lost 14-6, having two tries disallowed.
Mr Bors, who played 15 internationals including 10 as captain, talked to Dunedin police representatives about police matters in Romania, including drug and human trafficking.
