Player ‘poaching’ concerns a bit rich
I read Liam Napier’s article on the concerns about young rugby players being enticed to play rugby league (Weekend Herald, May 25).
How things have changed. I am a former rugby league player who came through a school system that almost seemed intent on eliminating junior rugby league. My story goes back to the beginning of my rugby league days as a 4-year-old at the club my father, who represented the Kiwis, had played at. I played in all the grades in the North Shore competition and then the Auckland competition until I reached secondary school at Takapuna Grammar.
Auckland league had a very strong schoolboy competition through the years. I was also selected in Auckland schoolboy teams through this time and we would play rep games against other provinces. One player who was in this team was Bryan Williams, until he was “encouraged” to play for his school’s First XV side, as were most of the other players when they went to college. I was determined to carry on with league through these years but, as most of the North Shore boys were encouraged to play rugby at school, North Shore did not then have a league team for me to play in. I had to find another club and Pt Chevalier had a team that I could join. It was difficult, as for training I would get the bus home from school, walk down to the ferry, get a bus to Pt Chevalier, train, a parent would drive me back to the ferry and I walked home and arrived back at about 9.30pm.
I was selected in the Under-15 Auckland team to go to the national provincial competition and had to go to the principal to ask for some time off school. He told me “we don’t usually let kids off for professional sports” and then deliberated a bit before agreeing. I was fortunate enough to have great parents who supported me through these times, which made it possible for me to also end up playing for the Kiwis.