Manawatu charg g
THEY breed them tough in Manawatu. It sounds somewhat cliche, but the union’s eclectic population coupled with its two centralised hubs are key reasons why Manawatu is punching above its weight when it comes to producing top-level rugby players.
The All Blacks featured five Manawatu-educated players against the British and Irish Lions earlier this month – Aaron Smith, Aaron Cruden, Ngani Laumape, Codie Taylor and Sam Whitelock. And that does not include injured Palmerston North Boys’ High School old boy Liam Squire and Nehe MilnerSkudder.
There is a similarly healthy flock of Manawatu-raised players throughout Super Rugby.
It is an impressive contribution from a union, that based on registered players, is the second smallest in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Manawatu Rugby Union chief executive John Knowles put much of their success down to positive organisation from the bottom up.
‘‘We just pluck the plums,’’ he said. ‘‘Everybody at every level takes the credit for players who are successful. The reality is that as long as you have your systems from your junior rugby to your secondary schools rugby and then senior and rep rugby well organised then these players have continuing opportunities to come on.’’
Manawatu Turbos coach Jeremy Cotter paid tribute to the work of the province’s two major rugby schools, Feilding High School and Palmerston North Boys’ High School, whose development and talent identification play a major role.
But many regions have good coaching set-ups without the same success.
Cotter suggested the make-up of Manawatu’s population was also a factor.
‘‘Demographically we are a little bit different to the main centres,’’ he said. ‘‘There is a massive area that . . . draws on big farming communities. You get some good kids coming out of there who are brought up pretty tough. You have a widespread GRANT MATTHEW/FAIRFAX NZ demographic and different occupations that lend themselves to being good rugby players and good characters.
‘‘A lot of the catchment that we are drawing on don’t have the [other sporting] facilities so they are indoctrinated into rugby at an early age. Rural areas, rugby is still first and foremost, whereas in urban communities there are so many choices.’’
Despite the large rural area Manawatu draw on, the region’s two main hubs – Feilding and Palmerston North – being within 20 minutes drive from each other made it much easier for coaches to work with young players.
‘‘I think that it is the condensed nature of the region that helps [players] push on,’’ Cotter said. ‘‘Once you draw that talent they are in a very concentrated small area to develop their skills. It is really conducive to bringing talent through.’’
But retention of players is an on-going issue.
Knowles said the success of past Turbos players had aided that process along with the greater chance to be recognised in a smaller playing pool.
‘‘We have put that in front of school-aged kids, saying that if you want to be an Aaron Cruden or an Aaron Smith, there is more opportunity staying here in this province than anywhere else,’’ he said.