The inspiring story of RTS
From wide-eyed schoolboy to All Blacks debutant . . . code-hopping superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has lifted the lid on the inspiration for his storied journey to the team he first set his sights on after visiting the ‘‘flash’ house on the hill of a Kiwi rugby legend.
Sure, it’s taken a while. TuivasaSheck is 29 now, and has tucked away a decadelong career in the NRL that saw him tote up nearly 200 games for the Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors, as well as
20 tests in the Kiwis jumper.
He won a championship with the Roosters and the Dally-M medal with the Warriors, but, as he revealed in an in-house interview, he was driven to become an All Black while still a young man starting out in the football codes.
Tuivasa-Sheck will make his All Blacks debut off the bench in tomorrow night’s decider against Ireland at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. At some stage, probably in the second half, the message will come down to shed the coldweather gear and get ready for championship minutes in one of the biggest tests in recent history.
It’s a journey that started via his junior rugby for the East Tamaki and College Rifles clubs in Auckland, and Otahuhu College where he was a standout of the first XV, and would go on to play for New Zealand schools alongside fellow future All Blacks in Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, and Ngani Laumape.
Asked if back then he thought he would end up in the All Blacks, Tuivasa-Sheck revealed a captivating origin story.
‘‘No, but I knew I wanted to be here,’’ he said. ‘‘One of my coaches was [sevens icon and nine-test All Black] Eric Rush who was a legend in the rugby space. He had a barbecue at his house. He lived in Manukau Heights and I lived in Otara, and to go to his place you had to drive up the hill.
‘‘He had a really nice house – a lot bigger, a lot cooler than where I was living in Otara. I said, ‘this is what I want for my family’, and tried my best to chase the dream ever since.’’
The Blues midfielder, who made a massive impact in his rookie season of Super Rugby, said Rush had been a huge influence on his sporting career.
‘‘Him, my old man, all the Rushie uncles that were coaching us, they were tough on us. They would drill into us to make sure we were always putting our best foot forward. He [Rush] would tell us he wasn’t the most talented kid out
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on Eric Rush, left
there, but he worked his butt off and got to places he never dreamed of. That’s what stuck with me.’’
Tuivasa-Sheck, who will become All Black No 1204 tomorrow, was also rapt to be thrown in for his debut in such a massive encounter.
‘‘You’ve got to cherish these opportunities,’’ he said. ‘‘This is a dream. As a competitor, an athlete, you want to play on these big stages. If you want to tell yourself, ‘I want to be the best in the world’, these are the stages you get to prove that.
‘‘To get this opportunity, every competitor’s dream.’’
Tuivasa-Sheck revealed his mother, siblings and partner would all be at the match, though not his children because ‘‘it’s too windy and cold in Wellington’’. He it’s
said coach Ian Foster had encouraged him to ‘‘express himself’’ when he got the chance and anticipated the moment it would become
a reality tomorrow.
‘‘You walk into the changingroom, you see your jersey, with your name on top, your All Blacks
number. It will be a bit overwhelming, but I’ve got to zone in as quick as I can.’’