Rugby: Eaton to wear two hats

Hawke's Bay Magpies teammates Chris Eaton (front) Ellery Wilson (left) and Jason Long have taken on Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's rugby development officer roles. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby centurion Chris Eaton knows his remaining playing days are limited.

But halfback Eaton, 31, who has played 102 first class games for the Magpies since 2005, is thrilled to have scored roles which will allow him to pass on knowledge he has gained over the years. In addition to his Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's academy trainer's job Eaton will join fellow Magpies, prop Jason Long and halfback Ellery Wilson, as additional rugby development officers (RDOs) alongside prop Jarvy Aoake.

Former Hurricane Eaton has taken a pathway many of the youngsters he will be assisting will hope to follow.

"When I came through I had my ups and downs. I will be able to guide the youngsters along and show them what I have done ... right or wrong."

Long also has a split role, as development officer and club rugby administrator.

"I've recently finished four years at EIT where I completed a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation course and a Bachelor of Business Studies course. It's going to be able to put some of the theory I learnt into practice. I'm pretty excited about it all and hopefully it will lead to long-term employment," Long said.

A former fitness trainer and teacher's aide, Wilson, said he had always enjoyed coaching.

"It's good to get out there and share that knowledge I have gained over the years."

Increased community funding from the New Zealand Rugby Union has allowed the Hawke's Bay union to add more resources to its junior rugby development programme from this year.

"The NZRU has boosted its funding of community rugby across the country which is a great initiative to help grow the community game and we are grateful that it will allow us to spread the rugby message much wider than we've been able to in the past," HBRU CEO Mike Bishop said.

Aoake said the joint initiative which would see greater promotion of the code to more youngsters, would have a particular focus on low decile areas including Maraenui and Flaxmere.

"Some of the schools in Flaxmere and Maraenui don't have access to many resources, so it will be great to go out to these schools regularly and put a rugby ball in the hands of the kids," he said.

"It's great that the expanded RDO team is made up of Magpie players but more importantly they have the knowledge and attitude to make it fun and perhaps unearth future Magpie talent. It's all about participation at this age and it's good to have more development officers reaching across the community through schools and junior clubs. The kids get a buzz from it and schools in particular can look forward to receiving visits from their Magpie heroes on a much more regular basis," Aoake added.

The school section of the programme, which is supported by New Zealand Rugby, Sport Hawke's Bay, the Jarrod Cunningham Youth Support Trust and John Holt Trust, will start later this term and at the beginning of term two.