Rugby: Magpies recruit turns down Rio

NEW TUNE: Magpies strength-and-conditioning coach Luke Stephenson puts Jason Long through a weights test yesterday. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's new strength-and-conditioning coach, Luke Stephenson, can appreciate the irony.

Athletes from a variety of codes, including Hawke's Bay middle distance runner Eric Speakman, are going all out to record qualifying times for the Rio Olympics. Others like Kiwi sailors Sara Winther and Natalia Kosinska are considering appeals after being snubbed by selectors.

In Stephenson's case he turned down an opportunity to go to Rio with the Samoan Sevens team.

"It was a really tough decision because we had a good group of boys who had made some big gains over the past 12 months. Samoan Rugby did everything to keep me and came back with a counter offer but the opportunity to come home, be closer to my family, including my partner who will be moving to the Bay soon, and the chance to work for my No1 province of choice, Hawke's Bay, was too good to turn down," Stephenson said.

Stephenson, 26, will complete his first week on the job this morning. He replaced Grant Dearns who had the role for 12 years before leaving the Bay last month to start a similar job with Japanese Top 14 competition side NEC Green Rockets.

"I know I've got big shoes to fill. I'll utilise all the good things Grant did and add my personal touch as we go along. I heard Grant got a bit grumpy at times ... there are different ways of doing things and I'm sure the union won't mind variation as long as I help the Magpies get the right results," Stephenson said.

Before his Samoan stint he worked under one of Dearns former assistants, Karl "Blocker" Bloxham, for three years as the Otago ITM Cup team's assistant strength and conditioning coach.

"I've got a lot of respect for Blocker and his opinion and that was another reason why I came to the Bay. He spoke highly of the union here," Stephenson said.

His first impressions have backed up Bloxham's recommendations.

"It's great the Magpies have their own gym. Down in Otago we shared facilities with the Highlanders and several High Performance Sport organisations. Having your own gym is a big asset because it gives players freedom to do their training when it suits if they have other commitments," Stephenson explained.

This week the former Manawatu under-16 rep and Dannevirke age group rep through the grades before attending Palmerston North Boys' High School has observed the Magpies wider training group and Hawke's Bay Academy squad's training sessions.

"You forget how young these players are. Most of them are in their early 20s or younger. I've been impressed with Pouri Rakete-Stones work in the gym and out on the field Jonah Lowe and Mason Emerson have been doing good work," Stephenson said.

A cousin of former Magpies fullback Jearrad Stephenson, Stephenson, got to know MAC utility back Tom Iosefo during his time with the Samoan Sevens team and he pointed out Iosefo is only an injury or two away from making the Olympics squad. Because of his association with Iosefo, Stephenson, a halfback or first five-eighth, will more than likely play for MAC if he decides to play club rugby later in the season.

"It's important I get set up in my work first and if I do decide to play it will only be at reserve grade level."

Stephenson is impressed with the work Magpies head coach Craig Philpott and his assistant Danny Lee are doing.

"I've looked at the list of Magpies players. There are 17 who are playing Super Rugby, a couple who made the NZ under-20s and several who just missed out. There's no reason why we can't make the top four in the Premiership."

Should the Magpies achieve this goal it will be another indication his decision to sacrifice a trip to the Olympics was the right one.