Golden Oldies stalwart nurses dream after Napier Port work accident

Nick Te Hau on the sideline at Golden Oldies yesterday. Photo / Doug Laing

A veteran of more than 30 Golden Oldies rugby days in Hawke's Bay, Nick Te Hau was "gutted" not to be playing as the first of the new season's events was held at Whitmore Park in Napier yesterday.

But he promises he'll be back, just as soon as he gets used to the prosthetic limb for which he gets sized-up today in Wellington, the next step on the comeback trail after losing his lower left leg as a result of a workplace mishap at Napier Port seven weeks ago.

Ever thankful he's "still here", the 43-year-old former Eskview and Napier Tech senior rugby prop says he can't wait to be out on the field again, which, if everything goes right could be by the end of the season. He hopes that even sooner he could back at work.

"I've been playing Golden Oldies since I was 35," he said. "I've been to every one for about the last 10 years."

Supported by workmates and partner Meredith it's almost as if he hasn't missed a beat since being struck by logs about to be unloaded from the rail about two hours after a 6am start.

He was in hospital for about three weeks, joined workmates at the Workers' Memorial Day commemoration in Napier on April 27, flies to Wellington for today's appointment and will be back at the Artificial Limb Centre in Newtown, Wellington, in a few weeks to be fitted and to start getting used to the new leg.

He was in the right place for a bit of therapy yesterday in the Golden Oldies environment which Rick Brown, organiser for more than 30 years, says is all about men's health, from physical health, to family wellbeing, and the collegiality.

There were more than 120 players from nine clubs, teams mixing together for their 20-minutes-each-way romps. Havelock North and Maraenui make a novel pairing, and it's a big-day for former Maraenui Premier player and now aspiring Golden Oldie Mark Huata, who says: "I've been waiting for this day all my life."

Scrums and lineouts are uncontested, and there's no tackling, no rucking, not many tries, and, essentially no winners, other than the game of the rugby, the spirit of Golden Oldies, and the welfare of its stalwarts.

The rules are adaptable, even after the start of the game,. "Make it 17-a-side," says Brown just after kick-off. "Put two more on."

There's an aftermatch, with emphasis on "responsible" drinking and ensuring everyone's well-fed before they depart, the menu being a source of particular pride for those hosting the games.

The only prizes are for indiscretions during the day (Dick of the Day Awards) and a few others with a range of sponsors, electricity supplier Unison, which displays its interest across all grades of rugby.

The players from the Havelock North, Maraenui, Napier Tech, Eskview, Tamatea, Takapau, Taradale, Napier Old Boys Marist and Napier Pirates are expected to gather for 2018 Golden Oldies 2 at Takapau on June 24 and Napier Pirates' based at Tamatea Park on July 15, with Havelock North hosting the last gathering of the season in August.