Rugby: Eskview to host six All Blacks visitors

Doug Somerville.

Eskview Rugby Club stalwart Doug Somerville has described the scheduled visit of six All Blacks to the Eskview Rugby Club on Sunday as "a shot in the arm".

"It came as a surprise to us," says Somerville after All Blacks to the Nation, in association with long-term sponsors Air New Zealand, revealed this week that Charlie Faumuina, George Moala, Jerome Kaino, Malakai Fekitoa, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Patrick Tuipulotu would visit the club based at Petane Domain in Napier.

It is a closed event for invited guests only.

The club's senior second division men's team, who won only one game in their competition last year, bounced back against the odds to lift the silverware this year. It was their first victory in 50 years.

"For New Zealand Rugby Union to see fit to promote a small community-based club like us is fantastic," says Somerville, adding the youngsters will be thrilled to get up close with the ABs.

While Eskview has been financially sound, it has grappled with its "human resources" demons.

"We're still struggling for voluntary support, so we'll just have to work on something this year and hope people will want to be involved," he says, adding the senior team will be back to defend their crown next season.

Somerville says uncles and fathers of members of the club had responded with aplomb last year when they heard the club was in strife and, "with some lady luck this year", things went their way.

"Everyone loves a winner, I guess, and it turned the team around."

He applauded Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union for allocating Super Rugby forward Ross Filipo, even though his appearances for Eskview will be limited.

The club intends to build another team next year in the hope of gaining promotion to the premier grade, although they felt they weren't ready for it this year.

"Things like this happen and turn things around so maybe we'll make the grade some day," says the father of former ABs prop Greg Somerville.

Overcoming dwindling numbers among the young in rugby is imperative, he says.