A jack-of-all-trades for club
One of Waimate rugby’s best behind-the-scenes workers John Bryce has been awarded life membership to the club.
President Chris Medlicott said Bryce was always in the background organising things and had made a huge contribution to the club – on and off the field.
‘‘He’s a great contributor – happy painting a changing shed, refurbishing the ladies’ toilets or putting the rubbish bins out,’’ Medlicott said.
‘‘John was on the jubilee organising committee. He was also quite moved to see what the capping ceremonies did for our club this season.
‘‘He’s just a bloody passionate guy about his club.’’
Bryce has spent the best part of 55 years helping the Waimate Rugby Club in one way or another after his brother Bill took him down to Manchester Park for his first game aged 5. He has ‘‘pretty much stayed around since’’.
Bryce’s teenage years at Waimate High School saw him move into the front row and at 22 joined the senior side where he became an essential element.
The tighthead prop went on to play 191 senior games and only missed out on the 200 when he missed a full season in 1991 after being injury in the preseason.
Bryce was also part of a legendary Waimate group that won Skinner Cup senior rugby titles in 1990, 1994 and 1995.
He retired from playing at the end of 1995 to coach his sons Brad and Henry through the age groups and made a successful combination with fellow coach Barry Caird, taking out a number of age-group titles.
As is often the way with small country clubs, playing did not exclude anyone from being on committees or contributing in other ways, including a stint as the grounds’ convenor.
Bryce also served on the committee from the early 1980s until 1995, when he switched his attention to coaching. In 2010 he was again involved in the administration of the club.
Bryce said he had enjoyed his involvement throughout the years.
‘‘It’s about the camaraderie and there are a lot of good people here, it is a pretty special club.’’
Known for his dry front row wit, Bryce admitted he could be a bit sharp at times.
‘‘That’s how I work.’’ Bryce joked he also played for South Canterbury but only once as a very, very late call-up.
‘‘Barry Matthews rang me at midnight to tell me Russell Morgan had the ‘flu and I was in that day.
‘‘It was a stinking hot day, but we did beat Mid Canterbury, so I have a perfect record.’’
As for his toughest opponent in the front row, he admitted there had been a few.
‘‘[Temuka’s] Gerard Coughlan was a guy that never gave you a break.’’
Bryce did also play several seasons with the South Canterbury Ma¯ori side, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
‘‘There have been plenty of good moments.’’
That included Skinner Cup wins, coaching Waimate sides to age-group and watching his son Henry debut in the South Canterbury Heartland side this year.
The good news for the Waimate Rugby Club is Bryce will continue to give the club he loves a hand for the foreseeable future.