As a spritely 40 years of age my venture to New Zealand is accompanied by the desire to play some sort of rugby so that I could trot out the line “New Zealand, oh yes, I played rugby for a few seasons when I lived there” when the situation presents itself. 

After advice from work colleagues who were younger, heftier and no doubt better players than me and had retired from Auckland Senior Grade Rugby, it was clear that the prospect of a 40 year old, 12st 7lb Welshman surviving long in a 2nd or 3rd XV playing  Senior Grade Rugby without serious injury was unlikely. So, discretion proved the better part of valour and my first year in Auckland saw me playing under 85Kg grade rugby for College Rifle Bullets, one for 3 College Rifle Under 85Kg teams (see related blog post). However, with College Rifles being across town from St Heliers, this arrangement was not proving to be very convenient.

So, after doing some research, I discovered that  Teachers Eastern Rugby Club played a short distance from St Heliers and so I called in to to see what was what.

The conversation went something like this.

Me: Hi, I am new in town and am looking for an under 85kg grade team to play for.

Teachers Easter Secretary: Yeah, we’ve got an under 85Kg team. Are you religious?

Me: No, not especially. Why’s that ?

Teachers Easter Secretary: Ah, the  under 85kg team is mostly [Pacific] Island boys and they are pretty religious.

[Long pause as I process this information and look quizzical]

Teachers Easter Secretary: How old are you ?

Me: 40

Teachers Eastern Secretary: Do you like a drink?

Me: Yeah, I like the social side of rugby.

Teachers Easter Secretary: Ok, you need to join the Seadogs. They’re a President Grade team and they’re big on the social.

And so it was, I signed-up there and then for the Seadogs. President’s Grade rugby is an over 35 yrs old category and has no weight restriction. The rules are the same as normal rugby except each half is  30 mins long and scrums are uncontested. Before each game the captains agree whether or not there is kicking from open play and whether any players under 35 years of age are to be included.

My first game is against College Rifles team. Amongst my new team mates are Dai from Nantymoel and Tucker from Brynaman. I’m one of the lightest so play on the right wing. I have a few runs and we win convincingly 45 – 5. Our Number 8, a big Maori guy called Buba with an interesting set of tattoos was man of the match. And they certainly like their social with a coolie bin full of booze taking pride of place in the changing room for re-hydration immediately after the and beer flowing freely in the club house in the evening.  It’s going to be a fun season.