The revered prop did it all during his 42 tests, packing down in the front row for the All Blacks, and spent years playing for Otago and the Highlanders.
But after catching the "golf bug" a few years ago, it is putting around the greens that has led him to compete in his first Masters Games this week.
"We’ve got six members playing in the tournament, so it’ll be a bit of fun," Meeuws said.
"When I was playing rugby, I wasn’t really into golf - I didn’t have the patience for it.
"So when I was asked to do the ambassador role I thought, well, I’m pretty much free now, I’ve got no coaching or anything like that to do, so I signed up for the golf."
And how does he think he will get on?
"My golf’s pretty average, but if the handicaps come into play, who knows? We could be in the money.
"But it’s more about just being involved, and meeting some new faces and getting to know a few people from around the country."
Meeuws, who is an ambassador alongside online fitness portal DediKate founder Kate Ivey, has been making his way around the more than 60 Masters Games sports on offer this week.
"I went to the athletics on the Saturday, watched all the throws - I was a shot putter back in the day - and then watched all the big guys do the 100m.
"There were a few hamstrings blowing and I said ‘thank God I didn’t sign up for any of that’.
"I’ve been down to the hub a couple of times meeting people and the opening was fantastic. There were a lot of people there that I got around to have a chat with. I’ve loved it."
Sport and fitness has always been a big part of Meeuws’ life.
After retiring from professional sport - a career which also took him to the Blues and France - he took part in Match Fit, a television show in which former elite players get back into training.
That passion led him to jump at the chance to be an ambassador for the Masters Games.
"I’m a big advocate for movement, especially as you get older, doing TV shows like Match Fit and stuff like that.
"Just trying to get men to know just because you’ve finished playing sport doesn’t mean your sporting career is over.
"Just trying to bring up that awareness that no matter how old you are, there’s always a sport out there that you can get involved with.
"If you do that, you’re going to meet new people, rekindle old friendships and the camaraderie of it all."
