Brotherhood kept alive with trophy
In one single award Corrigan Millar was bestowed with both a ‘‘great honour’’ and ‘‘huge responsibility’’.
At a school awards dinner on Sunday night, the Year-13 New Plymouth Boys’ High School (NPBHS) student was presented a trophy for being the ‘‘most popular’’ player in the school’s first XV.
The rugby ball shaped memento was awarded to him by NPBHS old boy Alan Luxton, who played fiveeighth for the school’s first XV team in 1949.
The 86-year-old crafted the trophy and gave it to the school in 2008 with the condition that its recipients were to carry on a tradition his team had established 70 years ago.
The practice was to keep the game’s camaraderie alive with an annual reunion of the team’s players.
‘‘The award is for the most popular boy in the first XV, not the best player or the captain but the most popular with a smile on his face all the time,’’ Luxton said.
‘‘And who will hopefully perpetrate that tradition.’’
Millar, who aspires to play representative rugby, said like any school tradition keeping the boys connected was a great responsibility.
‘‘It’s a pretty big honour, it’s such a tradition that these guys have started and it’s on our shoulders now to start off our own and continue it on for the next 70 years.’’
It was tough to fathom that would take him to 2087, he said.
‘‘I’m looking forward to growing a good bond like these guys who are all still cracking jokes.’’
The 17-year-old, who plays prop, said being part of a high school rugby team created lifelong friendships.
‘‘Those situations that you’re put in with each other when you’re putting your body on the line week in and week out creates a strong brotherly bond.’’
He was already planning the lads’ first reunion for next year.
Seven of the nine players still alive from Luxton’s year gathered at NPBHS yesterday for their annual catch up and to walk their old halls.
Luxton said the friendships between the men remained the same and he always looked forward to catching up with his rugby mates.
‘‘We all still call each other by our nicknames; it’s one of the great things about being part of a team.’’
Luxton, who was known as either Chick or Lucky, feared this reunion could be the men’s last.
‘‘But hopefully we’ll all be together again next year.’’