Forbes takes high road to Super Rugby
Cole Forbes’ international rugby future is still wide open.
The Blues utility returned to New Zealand last year after three seasons with the Glasgow Warriors, where he earned a call-up to the Scottish national side.
Forbes never played for the Scots, something you would expect to bring an element of disappointment, but he is happy still being a free agent.
“I was lucky enough to make a few squads and few training camps but never got capped which was sort of a blessing, being able to come back here and not be an international player.”
Now qualified to play for Scotland or the All Blacks, he said he was yet to pledge his international allegiance.
“I haven’t thought too much about that at the moment. Just worried about getting game time for the Blues, that stuff sort of takes care of itself once you play good rugby.”
He said the move back home had been refreshing, and he had no immediate plans to return to the Lowlands.
“I’m enjoying my time back here and I’d love to stay here for family and friends ”
Forbes said rubbing shoulders with the likes of Scotland superstars Finn Russell and Duhan van der Merwe was an invaluable learning experience but he was delighted to be back playing the Kiwi brand of code.
“It’s just a different style of rugby here, nicer weather and playing with people who like to run and throw the ball around.
“Up there it is a lot slower-paced, bigger bodies, a lot of contestable kicks, scrumming for penalties. It’s been enjoyable coming back to Super Rugby, the ruck speed is high, there’s not as much kicking and the boys are having a go from everywhere.”
He said the decision to move to Europe was a bit of a spur of the moment call.
“I had just come off an NPC season, probably hadn’t had as much game time as I would have hoped for. And then one of the boys who had been over in Glasgow figured out that I had a grandparent born in Scotland, so I got on the phone, and they offered me a trial.
“I went out there for a few weeks, and then ended up just staying for a couple of years.
“I enjoyed every moment of it and obviously it helped my rugby career. I was keen to do it. I got plenty of games on and learnt a lot. You just back yourself and go and do it.”
Schooled at Tauranga Boys’ College before starting his club rugby at Te Puke, Forbes said he was a proud Bay of Plenty man.
He relished any chance to wear the blue and gold, and hoped this season he would get to play alongside his younger brother, Grady.
“It’s always cool to play for the team you grew up watching and obviously my little brother got a run at the end of the season, but I was injured so hopefully, this season coming up, I can get a run with them.”
Forbes has again been named on the bench for the Blues’ highly anticipated clash with the struggling Crusaders (tomorrow, 7.05pm at Eden Park) and he said they were desperate to avenge their loss to the eventual champions last year.
“After that semifinal loss last year, the boys are wanting to put their best foot forward. We spoke about it preseason, it’s been hurting ever since, this is our chance to make it right.”
Despite their horror start to the season, Forbes said they would not underestimate their southern rivals,
“At the end of the day, it’s the Crusaders.
“They have been the form team for the last few years and they’re gonna turn up on their day and do the things that they’ve done well for last few years, so we can’t take them lightly at all.”