Is Singh NZ’s ‘first Indian All Black’?
New Zealand’s first Indian ‘All Black in the making’ couldn’t be more Kiwi after growing up on a farm in Waikato.
Shneil Singh was one of eight Waikato juniors called into Craig Philpott’s first New Zealand under-20s squad, the Baby Blacks.
International recognition comes as no surprise to Singh’s club and school coaches, who tip the 19-year-old for the very top.
Singh’s family are as Kiwi can be, though, says Andrew Gibbs, first XV head coach at St Paul’s in Hamilton, who switched Singh from a midfield back to lock ‘because he was growing into a big lump’.
It’s at lock where Singh has flourished, playing for Morrinsville Sports premier club rugby, and for Waikato’s talented juniors, who are national champions after winning the Jock Hobbs Memorial tournament in Taupo in August.
Singh was playing senior club rugby year straight out of school for Morrinsville, who’ve struggled desperately in 2016 and have been relegated from Waikato’s premier competition.
But Morrinsville’s team manager, Brett Johnstone, said that hasn’t stopped Singh from shining week in, week out.
‘‘Someone said this young Shneil Singh is an All Black in the making,’’ said Johnstone.
‘‘He’s very shy and doesn’t push his own barrel. When I first looked at him, I said to him ‘you’re going to be the first Indian All Black’.’’
Singh has also worked on the farm of Morrinsville’s Bs coach, Josh Janmaat, but he’s now finished up there to focus on the New Zealand under-20s, who hold a training camp in Palmerston North from December 1-7.
Waikato’s premier clubs have Singh on their radar, but his school coach Gibbs believes he is destined for bigger and better things.
New Zealand has had three Indian-born All Blacks - Sir Henry Braddon, Maurice Herrold and Barney O’Dowda.
‘‘One of things I’ve always said to Shneil, is that I feel like he’s going to be the first Super Rugby player of Indian descent,’’ said Gibbs, who adds that he could be an All Black some day.
Singh isn’t thinking that far ahead, though.
‘‘I just want to go as far as I can and make a career in rugby and All Blacks is obviously top of the chain.’’