Rugby: Pirate's stint with Chiefs big deal

Hawke’s Bay’s Brynn Uriarau ponders the next chapter in his rugby career.

Christmas has come early for Hawke's Bay rugby player Brynn Uriarau.

Despite not being ranked among the top six wingers in the province this year or in the buildup to the 2015 Magpies ITM Cup season, Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports outside back Uriarau, 26, has secured a Chiefs Development squad contract as well as a Bay of Plenty Steamers contract for next year. However Uriarau, who scored 16 tries, including back-to-back hattricks, during the Bay's premier club season, said he won't be leaving the province with any bad feelings early in the New Year.

"It's a shame I wasn't given the opportunity to play for the Magpies. But I don't burn bridges, I love Hawke's Bay and the Magpies and was thrilled with how they retained the Ranfurly Shield for the summer," Uriarau said.

"You never know, I could come home and play for the Magpies one day. But right now it's time for a new chapter in my life."

A former Hawke's Bay age group rep and Napier Boys' High School 1st XV player for two years, Uriarau, had the opportunity to play for a French Top 14 club also.

"I wanted to stay in New Zealand. Nobody turns down a contract with the Chiefs ... they are one of the better Super Rugby franchises," Uriarau said.

He believed a four minute, 15 second You Tube highlights clip from his Heartland Championship games for Poverty Bay this year caught the attention of the French outfit. Uriarau scored eight tries as Poverty Bay finished third in the Championship after two losses, one against Mid Canterbury and another against North Otago.

"I can't speak highly enough of Rico," Uriarau said referring to Poverty Bay assistant coach and former All Black winger Rico Gear.

"Rico is a role model for me. Because we play similar positions and he's an All Black legend it was perfect timing to play under him this year. We still keep in contact and he has selected me to play for the Asia Pacific Barbarians against the Western Force in Perth at the end of January," Uriarau said.

A former business account manager for NOW, Uriarau, will get an early opportunity to impress the Steamers coaching staff when he plays for the Peter Woods-coached Bay of Plenty team at the national Sevens in Rotorua on January 17 and 18. He is buzzing about Sevens after a recent stint with the All Black Sevens squad.

"Gordon Tietjens [the All Black Sevens coach] invited me to their camp before they went to Dubai. It was good to be involved with the likes of Gillies Kaka, DJ Forbes and Frank Halai and I did pretty well. Mentally, that boosts your confidence and the fitness is always beneficial," Uriarau explained.

A Victoria University graduate with a degree in Information Management Systems, Uriarau, was equally as positive after his first training stint with the Chiefs last week.

"To be training with the fully contracted Chiefs in the same kit was like a dream come true. I'm good mates with Hika [Elliot] and Michael [Allardice] and they looked after me," Uriarau said.

"I had one-on-ones with the likes of Dave Rennie, Wayne Smith and Tom Coventry. I got my work-ons and you will be surprised at how basic they are ... just passing and catching. It's all about passing and catching accurately at pace and when you think about how many games are won and lost through a dropped ball that makes sense."

While Uriarau has played centre, fullback and wing at club level he will focus on fullback and right wing during the 2015 club season. He has still to finalise a club in Bay of Plenty as well as a job.

"I've just been concentrating on rugby at the moment," he added.

Had Uriarau remained in the Bay, next year he would have ranked behind Highlanders Richard Buckman and Ryan Tongia, the Havelock North pair of Shannan Chase and Mikey Vuicakau and contracted youngsters Jonah Lowe and Mason Emerson in the battle for a berth in the Magpies squad.