Sevens skills run in Rush family after son of Eric picked for ABs
ERIC Rush’s tales of gut-busting training sessions with Sir Gordon Tietjens would be enough to put most people off the game of sevens.
For his son, though, it proved an inspiration.
And so, 16 years after his famous father retired from the sport, Brady Rush is now looking to carry on the family legacy, and even add to it, after earning a full-time professional deal with the All Blacks Sevens.
The 21-year-old was announced on Friday as one of two (along with Moses Leo) new contracted players for 2021, and he’s crediting his old man’s hardedged training methods for his swift elevation into the national ranks.
The second-youngest of five (four boys) in the family, Brady told Sunday News that his father had spent plenty of time teaching him the ropes, particularly the importance of fitness, with a few gnarly stories from years gone by.
‘‘It sounded pretty hard out. Nah it probably excited me, to be honest,’’ Rush said.
‘‘He’s always trained me and my brothers. He’s kind of ingrained in us the work ethic to train at this level and I’m pretty grateful for that. But he’s just dad, and I guess any dad would push their kids to be the best they can.’’
Rush was informed of his callup soon before Christmas, and the news quickly got even better for him, with Eric – who owns New World Regent in Whanga¯ rei – then opting not to call on him for annual supermarket duty at the shop’s busiest time of year, as dad knew the importance of his boy immediately hitting the roads.
‘‘It’s probably the first summer he’s given us off to actually train,’’ Rush said. ‘‘He usually has us there stacking some shelves or pushing some trolleys.
‘‘So I was pretty stoked actually, it was probably a double present, got the contract and got the summer off.’’
So, while spending time with family in Kaeo and Tauranga Bay, Rush got to work with brother Rob – who is training with the Blues – for plenty of running and gym work in order to hit his first day of camp in decent shape, as he still comes to grips with his call-up.
‘‘I’m still up in cloud nine at the moment, it’s a pretty special feeling, obviously with the old man being in the team a few years ago. But to be playing alongside some greats of the game and getting to train with them every day is pretty awesome.’’
While Rush has only seen bits and pieces of the old man in action during his career via the old videos stored at home, he’s had plenty of great advice from a proud parent.
‘‘He said just to make the most if, to be honest, and just to train hard, and if the opportunity comes, take it with both hands.
‘‘The job’s not done yet, I guess, I’ve still got to wear the black jersey. There’s a little bit of pressure, but I’m not too fazed about it, I’m just here to do my thing, and hopefully live up to the name, maybe add a bit
extra.’’
After playing for Northland in national tournaments, then also featuring for the Taniwha in the Mitre 10 Cup last year, Rush then shone at last month’s Red Bull Ignite7, named tournament MVP.
And All Blacks Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw, who played against Eric during his career representing Scotland, could see the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.
‘‘At Red Bull that week you could straight away that he knew how to play sevens,’’ Laidlaw told Stuff.
‘‘I think the biggest thing is that he has a real competitive edge. He’s nice and relaxed off the field, he’s a Northland boy that knows how to switch off and switch on, but when we see him train and then play, there’s a real competitive instinct there that is real difficult to coach.
‘‘We probably see him playing as a first or second receiver. He played on the wing in 15s so he has got the leg speed there, and he’ll develop a really good fitness engine in the middle of the field. He’s got a really nice long passing game, he’s got good footwork that can take people on. And because of his competitiveness he’s got a real willingness to find a linebreak and go.’’
Rush’s first chance to impress in the black jersey is a month away, with the All Blacks Sevens preparing to play matches against Tonga in Mt Maunganui on February 19-20.
Plans are in the works for an Oceania tournament to be held in either Australia or New Zealand in late March/early April, then, Covid-19 once more permitting, the World Series is scheduled to resume with legs in London and Paris in May/June.
‘I was pretty stoked actually, it was probably a double present, got the contract and got the summer off.’ BRADY RUSH