Rugby: Late learner works his way to top

By Chris Rattue

He's a new boy from the old school.

Waikato prop David Briggs has emerged as the latest powerhouse in the Waikato front row, a place which has housed some famous and strong characters over the years.

The rise of the 29-year-old loosehead prop was reconfirmed this week when he was again selected ahead of Chiefs captain Michael Collins, to face the strong Canterbury front row in tonight's third round NPC clash at Christchurch.

Collins has been working his way back from a collarbone injury but Mooloo coach Kiwi Searancke said Briggs was now being chosen on form, and Collins would have to grab whatever chance he had to force his way back in to the starting lineup.

Briggs hardly fits the pattern of the modern day rugby representative. There's no list of junior achievements, no spells in academies, no anointment from national coaches.

He did appear from virtual obscurity to captain Tonga on their European tour two years ago, which included defeat against Wales in Swansea.

But apart from that, there's been 20-odd games for Waikato and three from the bench for the Chiefs this year- although he appears set to take more of the limelight than he's been used to.

"I think it's great that a player like David can still emerge in New Zealand rugby," says Searancke, himself a fine Waikato prop from the past.

"It says a lot for the game in this country that his type of player can still make it.

"David has a great attitude. He is mobile and incredibly strong. His (propping) technique was not very good and he'd just survived on his sheer strength. But we've worked hard on it over the last year and a half.

"I believe he could really have gone a lot higher in the game if he'd come under more coaching a few years ago."

Briggs hails from the tiny town of Taharoa (70 km west of Otorohanga), a place which exists to export ironsand. He moved with his parents - his father is Tongan and his mother Maori - to Hamilton when he was 19 where he first played club football as a lock.

But a decade on, the lanky 1.9m, 108kg Briggs is a prop revelling in a late opportunity in rugby life.

"I got a personal trainer for the first time this year and I did a lot of thinking about my rugby, which seems to have paid off," said Briggs yesterday.

"It has been an amazing year for me - a big surprise. I'm absolutely loving it.

"I just wish I had a bit more time left in my career. It would be great if I'd got to this point when I was a bit younger."

Briggs is the current Ranfurly Shield custodian, and his team mates nicknamed him the King of Tonga after his stint as his country's captain.

His World Cup hopes, though, are up in the air.

He hasn't played for Tonga since 1997 and turned down the chance to re-join them this year so he could concentrate on his professional career.

Another call from Tonga though is unlikely to be turned down again, even though Briggs admits he wants to press his professional claims in the NPC.

"I haven't had too much contact with Tonga recently but if they wanted me to play in the World Cup, it would be pretty hard to say no."