For the love of grassroots rugby
Roar Rookie By Tumble Hill, 14 Jun 2012 Tumble Hill is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Hurricanes, New Zealand rugby, Rugby Union, Wellington
Easts vs Randwick. Photo via http://www.eastsrugby.com.au/
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I love rugby. I’m sure most people here share that same sentiment. My love for the game goes far deeper than just my national team.
Of course, I love to watch my beloved All Blacks, just as people love to watch the Wallabies, Springboks or Wales.
But I want to talk about the grassroots of the game – the local clubs who play week in, week out.
This is where my love for the game truly lies.
With rugby coming out of our ears, I want to know where your loyalties lie?
Is it with your national team, state, province, franchise, club or even school?
For me, my loyalties lie first and foremost with both my local club and the All Blacks.
A little further back I support my franchise (Hurricanes) and province (Wellington), but it’s also hard to split those two.
My love for grassroots rugby stems from my local club Johnsonville, a community club in Wellington built around a working-class suburb.
They play home games at Helston Park (Hell Park for short), a single field built into the side of a hill.
Steep banks surround the field, creating what you might consider a natural stadium.
Johnsonville is a second-division side made up mainly of ex-local high-school players.
They lack a bit of size, but they more than make up for it with speed and fitness, outlasting the usually bigger teams over the 80 minutes.
They have an outstanding number seven, a mobile forward pack and a pretty good backline.
They have a great chance this year to make the premier division in Wellington.
There is nothing quite like going out on a Saturday afternoon to support the Mighty Blue and Blues wherever they might be playing.
I love club rugby and follow the results of most of the grades in Wellington with great interest.
To me this is the most pure form of the game.
For someone who has only really ever known rugby to be professional it’s great to see these guys out there playing for their local club.
So please tell me, where is your local club?
Do you follow them round every Saturday and cheer from the sideline no matter the weather?
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- Explore:
- All Blacks, Hurricanes, New Zealand rugby, Rugby Union, Wellington
June 14th 2012 @ 1:36am
Johnno said | June 14th 2012 @ 1:36am | Report comment
Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell had a run in subbies rugby for balmain a few years ago.
-And Piri Weepu played some club rugby this year in New Zealand
-We have to make club rugby important or we go national , with a new re-modelled 3rd tier ARC
It’s as simple as that.
June 14th 2012 @ 7:29am
Tumble Hill said | June 14th 2012 @ 7:29am | Report comment
Hey Johnno, Ive seen Piri Weepu play club rugby few times. He plays for the Wainuomata Rugby club. Chris Masoe also played for my club Johnsonville for a couple of seasons. The only ever All Black to play for us.
June 14th 2012 @ 8:31am
Olddantucker said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Drew has tweeted this week that he’s looking to have another run for Balmain this weekend, weather permitting.
June 14th 2012 @ 11:18am
Bakkies said | June 14th 2012 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Club Rugby can only go so far. They don’t have the money or resources to be a sustainable third tier. You also have the problem with teams hoarding contracted pro players pitting them up against other clubs with mostly amateur/semi pros. Throw in the smaller rugby programs, reduced training, coaches that are working their way up, drinking culture it’s not enough for a player with professional aspirations. The ARC was mainly for the players. For instance it was the first time we got to see Kurtley Beale play to his full potential. Club Rugby is great for the diehard supporter and amateur player but no the right environment to be a serious third tier in the pathway to the Wallabies.
June 14th 2012 @ 2:00am
jeznez said | June 14th 2012 @ 2:00am | Report comment
Tumble, one of the better topics on the Roar in a while and well written. Well done.
As a Sydney born bloke now living off shore. The Wallabies are my first side, followed by the Waratahs.
Despite how crap the Tahs have been for a while and I speak predominantly about the way they play rather than how their results have gone. The Tahs are still the rep team from NSW that I aspired to (no matter how far away that was from being a chance).
I played Sydney club footy with Southern Districts and only the fact that playing fourth grade required me to be at Forshaw for training on a Tuesday night at 6.15, while work required me to be in the office in the CBD at 6.30 – meant that I needed to find another outlet.
I discovered the Woolhara Colleagues would let me turn up to training by 7.30 and were closer to where I worked (if not where i lived) and made the switch without looking back. I also saw Sydney Premiership rugby shed their lower grades and the Subbies subsequently swell so although I still love Southo’s – I have greater love for Colleagues.
That said I went to St Joseph’s and play in Singapore for the SCC and played and coached at the HKCC before that.
So my teams are in order the Wallabies, NSW Waratahs, the SCC, Colleagues, Southern Districts, HKCC and finally long in the distant past SJC.
SCC win the lead of the teams I’ve played for by being current, playing a style I enjoy and beingf full of outstanding blokes who I have toured this year alone with to Manila, HK and Argentina. After the rep and current sides Colleagues beats out Southos as my most formative club during a period in which one got rid of lower grade players, while the other grew and grew to at one stage be the Southern Hemisphere’s largest club, Colleagues has the best Ladies Day in Sydney by a mile, won 5 out of 5 premierships last year and just generally rocks the Kazbah.
HKCC come next as a brilliant troupe of lads and some top tourists while school and the lower grades I played are a long time ago.
June 14th 2012 @ 7:22am
Tumble Hill said | June 14th 2012 @ 7:22am | Report comment
Hey Jeznez, Thanks for taking the time to read and reply. Being my 1st article ive ever written for anything I was a bit nervous as to how it would go. Sounds like you have had some fantastic times playing rugby, but thats what its all about isnt it? What does the SCC stand for? Singapore….?
June 14th 2012 @ 8:22am
kingplaymaker said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:22am | Report comment
jeznez I assume you’re a daredevil wing or full-back?
June 14th 2012 @ 11:11am
jeznez said | June 14th 2012 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Cricket Club – some how in both HK and Singapore I’ve wound up playing rugby for cricket clubs.
I think you know the answer to that KPM.
June 14th 2012 @ 5:08pm
Uncle Argyle said | June 14th 2012 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Jez,
Although a Queenslander I did two stints in Sydney and played my rugby with Drummoyne ‘The Dirty Reds’ both in Premier Grade way back when (early 1990′s) and then in 1st Division Subbies (late 1990′s to early 2000′s). I truely find the NSW Suburban Cup a wonderful expression of spirited, passionate rugby. I fondly remember playing at the old Blue Giant Stadium and partaking in numerous cans in the old shed. A real rugby club that one, especially on Ladies Day!
Can I just say I never liked Forest…at all.
I have also donned the boots in NSW & QLD ‘Bush Rugby’ which is as equally as fun with the bus trips being a highlight. Had a stint in Ireland which was a fantastic experience. Now these days you can often find me at Brothers Rugby Club in Brisbane sipping on a XXXX Gold and eating a steak sandwich or three. For anyone ever in Brisbane and looking to watch a game do yourself a favour as it is oen of the most gentle grounds I ve ever been to. Futhermore you will often find ex-Wallabies working the BBQ and bar who just love their club and mix and mingle with all like normal blokes. Great Club!
Tumble, great read mate.
1. Drummoyne
2. Brothers
3. Queensland
4. Australia.
June 14th 2012 @ 5:19pm
Tumble Hill said | June 14th 2012 @ 5:19pm | Report comment
Thanks For the comment UA. Sounds like you have played some good rugby. Cheers!
June 14th 2012 @ 5:24pm
Uncle Argyle said | June 14th 2012 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
with some great people some not to far from where your from, Wiarapa-Bush, Manawatu and Wellington. Great people. I will make a point of getting to a Johnsonville game next time I am over as I really enjoyed the read and sounds like a good rugby club.
June 14th 2012 @ 11:56pm
jeznez said | June 14th 2012 @ 11:56pm | Report comment
Great stuff Unncy Arg – faced the Dirty Reds both in my colts days at Southos and later on for Colleagues – great times indeed – except for that period when Budweiser was trying to buy Sydney Subbies and you couldn’t get a decent beer at your home ground (you certainly weren’t the only club doing that – and you had some great teams back then). Good times.
Ha ha ha, Forest are an interesting lot! One of my current team mates is an ex-Forest bloke and the two of us were laughing just the other day about the pissheads on the hill behind the try-line.
Really miss the old club house at Colleagues, they have a really nice modern joint down there now – and it is good but I still get nostalgic about the old girl.
June 14th 2012 @ 6:08am
llieno said | June 14th 2012 @ 6:08am | Report comment
I grew up playing rugby league in Townsville, but started playing union midway through high school. I’m still a big fan of league but was looking for a bit a change, a few less egos and was offered a tour of the UK and Ireland.
Going to a Christian Brothers school at the time I decided upon Brothers RU Townsville. A very big club for the region, well supported and had been successful over the years. Great bunch of guys from my high school and surrounding area and ended up winning two premierships and playing in many other finals in my time there.
This saw me out until I moved to Sydney after uni where I joined the Beasts of the Eastern Suburbs as I was living and working in the area. I played a lot in the lower grades but that didn’t detract from the fun I had and the top people I met while involved with this club. I only ever played in one final with this club, going down to Manly courtesy of a penalty goal from halfway right on time. Man that guy could kick!
After two injury-interrupted seasons I contemplated the dreaded “R” word, but after moving to Vancouver last year and joining Meralomas Athletic Club, it has reignited my love for the game. I’m a lot less fit and definitely a lot slower but there’s something about playing rugby with a bunch of your mates that nothing compares to. The season has now finished, the body is thanking me for it and now I can just look forward to the test rugby being offered up at the moment.
I’m a Reds fan first, Wallabies second, but I’ll be happy at any club where I get a run!
June 14th 2012 @ 7:54am
Tumble Hill said | June 14th 2012 @ 7:54am | Report comment
Hey llieno cheers for the reply. What are the conditions usually like for rugby in Canada?
June 14th 2012 @ 8:53am
llieno said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Tumble Hill, not too bad. Much better than I expected.
They have a fall season which concludes in the first week of December and then start up a Spring season in the first week of February. First half sees a lot more rain than the second, but generally I thought the pitches held up well and was pretty fast rugby. The clubs invest a small fortune in proper drainage over here with half decent facilities to go with them.
June 14th 2012 @ 6:32am
kingplaymaker said | June 14th 2012 @ 6:32am | Report comment
llieno how big is rugby in Vancouver?
June 14th 2012 @ 6:45am
llieno said | June 14th 2012 @ 6:45am | Report comment
Surprisingly, pretty big and a decent standard too. There’s a BC U23s rep team playing St Andrews this evening in Stanley Park, I’ll be heading down with lots of locals. Some good young Canadian players on show, a few of which are from Meralomas.
There are numerous 7s tournaments throughout the Summer spread across BC and the interior and there is a test here between Canada and Georgia next weekend. They’re expecting a few thousand to this game (tickets are ridiculously overpriced though).
June 14th 2012 @ 8:21am
kingplaymaker said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:21am | Report comment
llieno for me it’s imperative that with its 35 million population and 10th largest economy in the world Canada has a Super team when the competition goes global, based around the national team. Canada is often neglected in talks about spreading the game which normally just go on about the U.S. and Japan, but just because it’s smaller than those doesn’t mean the game might not take off far more quickly as these things are so unpredictable.
Vancouver I hear is the heartland with Toronto another possibility.
June 14th 2012 @ 8:34am
llieno said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:34am | Report comment
KPM, I see what you’re getting at but Rugby Canada is really up against it when you consider how big hockey is here. The recent success of the Canucks coupled with the lack of a professional, domestic rugby environment in Canada is always going to be challenging.
The fact that many of the quality Canadians have to ply their trade in Europe, while the rest of them have to work full-time (as they get no match payments), is testament how far rugby has to go here. I believe the establishment of a semi-pro environment first needs to be the priority before they take the leap to having a Super Rugby franchise.
June 14th 2012 @ 8:41am
DingoBob said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:41am | Report comment
At least Rugby gives the Canadians a chance to beat the USA at something besides Hockey.
June 14th 2012 @ 8:47am
llieno said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:47am | Report comment
True, and they did just that last weekend.
June 14th 2012 @ 2:07pm
kovana said | June 14th 2012 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
On the subject of Canada Rugby.
It seems they have already sold 12000 tickets for their match against Italy this weekend at the 21K capacity BMO field.
They could have a record crowd this weekend in Canada for Rugby.. Hopefully 15K.
June 14th 2012 @ 10:36am
Bobby_JJV said | June 14th 2012 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Nice article Tumble Hill. I think local grassroots rugby is a key thing to support because it’s the true rugby, played by non-professional good sorts. I agree it runs deeper aswell than say the Super 15 franchaise of choice too, I can take or leave it as it’s set up for entertainment purposes mainly with very little local pride, maybe more so the individual superstars being the main attraction. I think Super rugby is really good for Aus rugby because you see alot of local players waiting in the wings that previously may have been playing for a university team, the ladder in NZ rugby is much harder to climb so grassroots is a good way to see the town or areas best. Lets hope the smaller clubs can manage to keep players playing for them on pride rather than other attractions.
Refreshing read.
June 14th 2012 @ 11:42am
Tumble Hill said | June 14th 2012 @ 11:42am | Report comment
Cheers Bobby, Thanks for replying. Great comment aswell.
June 14th 2012 @ 11:25am
pj said | June 14th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
Good read Tumble Hill, i must say as a former new south welshmen stuck living north of the boarder ( you know what they say a happy wife = a happy life) that i am and always will be a massive Waratahs man. Having played all my junior football at Knox Grammar School i have a keen interest in keeping tabs on how they fair and whenever i am down in Sydney i always make an effort to get back to “old boys” corner at Knox Number 1. Other than that i am a staunch Gordon man having spent a number of years at the club prior to my shift to Qld.
There is nothing like a balmy winters afternoon on the Gold Coast heading down to Rugby Park at Helensvale with my young son to watch the Helensvale Hogs do battle in the local comp. Tumble you are absolutely right there is nothing like grass roots rugby on a Saturday afternoon
June 14th 2012 @ 11:44am
Tumble Hill said | June 14th 2012 @ 11:44am | Report comment
Cheers pj and good luck to the hogs!
June 14th 2012 @ 12:05pm
Dean Vincent said | June 14th 2012 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
Nice article Tumble hill. Good to read something different on here aside from Spiro Zavos’ various rants against the Northern Hemisphere, IRB etc
Totally agree with your sentiments about club rugby being the “most pure form of the game”. Had some great afternoons in NZ watching club rugby in Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton.
My loyalties are a bit of a mixed bag really. My local club is Waiheke Island in NZ for whom my son has played for the last 3 years. No senior team at the moment but a thriving and rapidly growing junior section. Away games are sometimes a bit of a mission as we have to travel on the ferry to auckland.
I’ve lived in NZ for 12 years but I’m an expat Welshman so watch all the Welsh games and follow the national side closely.
Super 15 doesn’t really do it for me I must admit. The rugby is great but atmosphere at the games can be quite contrived in my opinion. I much prefer the provincial stuff where there’s a bit of tribalism and passion.
Your club sounds like a great place to watch a game and sounds a bit like some of the clubs I used to play for back in South Wales.
Look forward to reading articles by you in future.
June 14th 2012 @ 12:24pm
Tumble Hill said | June 14th 2012 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Hey Dean thanks for the comment. I Honestly didnt know Waiheke had a rugby club! You learn something new everyday haha.
Luckily for us the ground is quite sheltered from the southerly but really does get battered from the northerly when it comes up through the valley.
June 14th 2012 @ 8:47pm
Dean Vincent said | June 14th 2012 @ 8:47pm | Report comment
Hi Tumble Hill, there’s a lot of people in Auckland who don’t know we exist so you’re not alone!! The club is growing and hopefully in years to come the senior team will be back. There was an Under 85kg and Senior Team until last year so hopefully the lack of a senior team will be temporary.
You seem to have really started something with this article, as Mitch (in Valencia) states below all that’s needed is a bar and beer.
Great to see good rugby people having a yarn. I’ve met some great rugby people in clubs in NZ, Australia, UK and Canada. The spirit of the game is alive and well in these places.
June 14th 2012 @ 1:38pm
wixsy said | June 14th 2012 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
Good to hear all the great experiences! Club rugby becomes even more important when you are a rugby nut living in the rugby waste land of South Australia. Having played both in SA and ACT some of most enjoyable times in my twenties were on the field. Unfortunately or fortunately (however you choose to look at) I have infected my 6 year old with a love of rugby, and hence in SA, a life of the outsider. He currently plays for a team known as the “Short Blacks” ang greets me fully kitted out in headgear and mouth guard 6.30 every Saturday ready to score tries.
June 14th 2012 @ 2:25pm
Bunyip said | June 14th 2012 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
Nice article Tumble Hill – you are right there is nothing like grass roots rugby. I have played for several teams around country NSW and now play for Bendigo in the Victorian country comp. Great little comp of 5 teams (2 army bases have teams), Victoria is AFL mad so it gets a wee bit tough here with attracting sponsorship and making costs, but we manage and we have a great time. I played for St Alberts College up in Armidale, Dubbo Rhinos & Coonabarabran which was once in the NSW Western Plains comp which meant in some cases a 5 hour drive for one game, was worth it though we had some great times on the bus!. There are teams that still travel that far each week for a game in country areas but its a testament to the love of rugby the players and supporters have, the social avenue it provides and the part that rugby plays in a community, there is no sport like it, i love how when you move to a new town all you need to do is joing the local rugby club and you can meet great people so easily. My teams are Bendigo, Coonabarabran, St Alberts College, Dubbo Rhinos, Melbourne Rebels & Australia (naturally) but i must confess i do support Scotland due to family heritage (so wasn’t too upset with the result last week). As you and a few others said there is nothing like having a few beers with friends and family at a local game on a Saturday arvo! Nice article again!!