Performance matters more than age – Slade
‘‘I know New Zealand has a bit of a stigma that when you are 30 to 32 you are a little bit over the hill but physically I have never felt better.’’
Colin Slade
The plan for ex-All Black Colin Slade is to join his new club in Japan for training in midAugust. He knows the Covid-19 pandemic could disrupt those plans but Slade, currently back in Christchurch, is keen to extend his professional rugby career with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars squad that’s coached by former All Black Greg Cooper.
First five-eighth Slade says this isn’t a case of him wringing the last out of his 32-year old body; he reckons he’s in excellent shape, despite constantly putting himself in the firing line since his first-class debut for Canterbury in 2008.
In the intervening years he has represented the Crusaders (for two different stints), the Highlanders, the All Blacks and French club Pau.
Next stop is Japan for two seasons. Whenever that may be. The flights and visas are sorted.
Now it’s just a waiting game because of the pandemic.
‘‘There’s nothing you can do,’’ Slade says. ‘‘I am still training here and I will be ready. Obviously my Japanese club understands.
‘‘There are a few of us here who need to get over there. It’s a common sense approach, that is the right way to describe it.’’
While stationed in the Garden City Slade, who played 21 tests between 2010 and 2015 and was selected in two World Cup squads, has been joining a number of former Crusaders and Canterbury team-mates for training sessions a couple of weeks.
There’s no chance of representing Canterbury during the Mitre 10 Cup due to his obligations to the Dynaboars, but he watched with interest as former All Blacks great Dan Carter elected to restart his New Zealand career with the Blues.
While Carter, 38, is nearing the end of a highly successful tenure as a professional rugby player, there’s optimism he will make an appearance for the Blues in the truncated Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
Many expected Carter, who finished up playing in Japan when the pandemic forced the Top League to be cancelled, to wind down his career but Slade said his old Crusaders and All Blacks team-mate’s durability was testament
to his willingness to keep himself in shape.
‘‘He has, I suppose, adjusted his game over the years and been able to keep going. He’s looked after himself,’’ Slade said.
‘‘I think we are all the same. Professionalism has come a long way and guys are pretty well educated in how to look after themselves.
‘‘Ou will find, generally, guys can play until they are a lot older.’’
Being based in the northern hemisphere, where the calendar is busy and players can make more than 30 appearances a season, gave Slade the opportunity to watch players in their mid-30s perform to a high standard.
Maybe there is a lesson for the New Zealand market in that. Advances in sports science and nutrition no doubt help, as does players’ attitudes.
Because if they look after their bodies, they will still be able to perform to a high standard.
‘‘I know New Zealand has a bit of a stigma that when you are 30 to 32 you are a little bit over the hill but physically I have never felt better,’’ Slade says.
‘‘In the northern hemisphere they play until they are a lot older. I just think it is a New Zealand mentality.
‘‘There are always a lot of young guys coming through and I suppose as soon as you have an age associated with you, you tend to go overseas. I think nowadays guys are looking after themselves better and able to play until they are older.’’
Slade had no regrets about his time in Pau.
The seasons were long, he acknowledged, but he noted the club rotated players to try and keep them fresh and he loved the lifestyle: ‘‘It’s more the mental thing that can be challenging but in terms of workload they do manage you quite well over there.’’
In New Zealand it’s recognised that professional players perform best when encouraged to unwind.
When young men feel burnt out they struggle to retain their edge, and if they lose enthusiasm a drop in form is almost inevitable.
Slade believes New Zealand has got the balance right.
‘‘You control what you can control. At the end of the day you are a footy player and doing what you love. It’s not a chore and you just make sure you look after yourself.’’