Former Bay of Plenty rugby star Jeff Ierome is back on familiar turf, coaching his sons' St Peter's College rugby sevens team at the Zespri Aims Games in Tauranga this week. Photo / Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media
Former Bay of Plenty rugby star Jeff Ierome is back on familiar turf, coaching his sons' St Peter's College rugby sevens team at the Zespri Aims Games in Tauranga this week. Photo / Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media
It’s a big week for the Ierome clan.
While dad and former provincial rugby player Jeff Ierome has a whimsical eye on the past, his identical twin boys Liam and Coby have their eyes fixed firmly on the future.
Liam and Coby Ierome weren’t even born when their father had a short but important cameo in Bay of Plenty’s greatest rugby moment, the 2004 Ranfurly Shield victory over Auckland at Eden Park.
And while the twins are being coached by their dad, playing for the St Peter’s College (Auckland) rugby sevens team at this year’s Zespri Aims Games, Jeff is also catching up with some illustrious former teammates this weekend for a 20-year reunion of the famous Shield win.
Jeff Ierome and his twin sons Coby (left) and Liam, ahead of a 20-year Ranfurly Shield-winning reunion with his former Bay of Plenty teammates. Photo / Dscribe Media.
“I remember lots from the game - I remember the celebrations more than anything and that was my NPC debut for Bay of Plenty, so I remember that,” he recalled. “I was an Auckland boy so it was also good to get one over my mates.”
His jubilation that day was shared by thousands around Bay of Plenty, amid celebrations that continued for weeks to come.
Bay of Plenty had never won the Ranfurly Shield, although the side had come agonisingly close on a number of occasions in 18 previous attempts, before the famous victory on August 15, 2004.
Current Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt was the attack coach in 2004, working with current Blues head coach Vern Cotter. They had the honour of helping Bay of Plenty finally lift the much-cherished Log o’ Wood.
Those “big dogs” will be back together, says Ierome, as both Cotter and Schmidt attend the weekend celebrations, which start tomorrow night, followed by a golf event on Saturday, followed by watching the Bay of Plenty Steamers take on Taranaki at Tauranga Domain.
Others attending include Steamers talismans like Wayne Ormond, Glen Jackson, Adrian Cashmore and Anthony Tahana.
All this history, however, flies serenely over the heads of Ierome’s quiet identical twins. They’re the only Year 7 players in their team and they only have eyes for the title.
“We’re here to win,” they said together, confidently, but aware of the challenge in the coming days.
Bay of Plenty Steamers captain Wayne Ormond lifts the Ranfurly Shield high at Eden Park in 2004. Photo / File
Keen oval ball competitors, they also play touch and tag - “Anything with a rugby ball.”
Ierome, meanwhile, played professional rugby in Japan after his three-year career with the Steamers.
He’s since taken up coaching, with senior teams like Waitematā and Ponsonby, and Auckland NPC level.
He’s now head coach of the Aims Games team, while juggling his rugby director role at the school.
“Grassroots and community level is great - I enjoy watching kids do what they love. This is my first Aims Games and we’ve heard heaps about it but it’s huge. It’s huge for the kids and huge for the schools.”
Coby and Liam grin cheekily when asked what their dad teaches them on the rugby field, and then there’s an equally cheeky shake of the head from both the twins; skill development has taken a back seat this week. They’re far more focused on hanging out with their mates, having a week off school, and playing the sport they love.
