Whitebait, and a punch in the head
A swinging fist to the head was an unexpected homecoming gift for Corey Flynn in Ruatoria last Saturday.
Despite the primitive welcomeback message, the former All Blacks hooker didn’t seem too bothered by what unfolded at Whakarua Park.
The puncher was an East Coast forward who took umbrage to being obstructed during the match against the visiting West Coast side and Flynn, who played 15 tests for the All Blacks, 150 games for the Crusaders and spent three seasons in France and Scotland, could understand why his adversary wanted to make a point.
‘‘I had to apologise to him afterwards because I was holding on to him in a ruck, and he sort of lashed out and got sinbinned,’’ Flynn explained.
‘‘It was all good fun afterwards. Lots of smiles and laughter - he was pretty cruisy about it. It was just a cool day. Pretty much grassroots, with a haka, the wee grandstand and the utes surrounding the field. Absolutely brilliant.’’
For the record, West Coast won the Heartland Championship match 32-19. For Flynn, 36, this is the beginning of the end of a rugby career that took off when he left Southland in late 2001 to join the Crusaders for pre-season training.
Having returned to Christchurch with his family from Scotland six weeks ago, he wanted to honour a deal he made with West Coast chief executive Mike Connors.
‘‘I’m just fulfilling a handshake agreement I made with Mike before I left New Zealand [in 2014]. I amaware of the fact I ampast my best playing days, so I will do this and then that will be it.’’
In return for giving it one last burst prior to chucking his boots into the furnace, Flynn asked the Coasters to contribute some local delicacies for the freezer.
‘‘I sort of said ‘well, if there is whitebait and lamb on the cards I will be in’. I am yet to receive any whitebait, but I am sure it is coming. The rivers are a little bit high at the moment, so we will wait and see. I am sure they will keep their end of the bargain.’’
Flynn isn’t the only former All Black playing in the lower-tier competition. Piri Weepu (Wairarapa Bush), Alby Mathewson (King Country) and Regan King (Mid Canterbury) are all doing their bit for smaller provinces.
For Flynn the routine is simple: Drive from Christchurch to Greymouth on a Friday, train and play the next day.
Given he had a year left on his contract with Glasgow, he was expected to remain up north and work under former Chiefs coach Dave Rennie.
The decision to part ways and return to New Zealand six weeks ago was a ‘‘mutual thing’’. ‘‘They wanted to go in a different direction and wanted a younger hooker,’’ Flynn stated. ‘‘There were three older guys, they wanted to offload one and that was me.’’