Old friends reunited!
Rathdrum RFC welcome the New Zealand Stuffed Hawks to town for some marvellous masters fun!
A marvellous evening was had last Friday at the Clash of the Masters match between Rathdrum RFC and the New Zealand squad known as the ‘Stuffed Hawks’.
Leading the New Zealand squad was a man who is no stranger to the Rathdrum area, Troy Manaena, who was player coach at the Ivy Grounds for two and a half years back in the early 2000s.
A decent crowd turned out to welcome Troy and his colleagues and supporters to Rathdrum and many stories and adventures were recalled and added to over a thoroughly enjoyable evening in Rathdrum.
Rathdrum’s Eamonn Healy, who was then manager of the seconds team in Rathdrum when Troy came as player coach said that the club was in a difficult spot and the arrival of the Kiwi coach helped give the club a real boost.
“Back in end of the 1990s we (Rathdrum RFC) we finding it hard to field a team and a few of us got together and drew up a plan for a few years and we needed a new coach, a player coach, and between the internet and our contacts in New Zealand we came across Troy and he happened to be the right guy at the right time. He had already done some coaching over there and he did the level 2 over here with Rathdrum and played a built a team that won the South East League in 2003 and 2004 so we’re eternally grateful to him,” said Eamonn Healy.
When Troy came we had a lot of guys coming out of under 18s and he really brought them on with his coaching.
Troy looks back very fondly on his time in Rathdrum where he gathered some valuable coaching experience that has stood him in good stead since his return home.
“I’ve had a very good career since leaving here,” said Troy. “At the time I was looking to go overseas and coach but to play as well was brilliant,” he added.
The New Zealand native described a very different Ivy Grounds in the early 200s to the one that stands proudly in Rathdrum today.
“When I came here there were two containers when you came in the gate so there have been big changes. It was a great time; we had a lot of fun, made some great friends. Half the team have been over to see me since. I was in Rathdrum for two and a half years,” said the father of three, including six-week-old twins.
Rathdrum RFC wish to offer thanks to everyone involved in the organisation of this event. Special thanks to Sharon Fox and Ann-Ma- rie Burke for all the great food.
They also send a massive thanks to the Stuffed Hawks for travelling all the way and for the great game and even better night and they hope to see them all again soon.
And they can’t let the moment pass without a mention of Jimmy Burke who played his first ever rugby match last night at 76 years of age. Just proves that you are never too old to give it a try!
Troy Manaena offered his own thanks to the Rathdrum club which he credits with kick-starting his own coaching career which includes numerous titles at home.