Parkes chokes up over support after debut for Wales
New Zealand rugby player Hadleigh Parkes was left choked up be messages of support from ‘‘home’’ as he made a stunning two-tries debut for Wales.
The former Manawatu and Auckland midfield back played an influential role in Wales’ 24-22 win over the Springboks in Cardiff on Sunday and was still coming to grips with his new status a day later.
Parkes, who gained his visa clearance to join the Scarlets club in Wales while he was docking sheep on his family 120ha farm in Hunterville in 2014, was left tearyeyed by the support from family and friends.
‘‘Unfortunately mum and dad couldn’t make it over but they’re absolutely stoked. The texts that have come through and the messages from brothers and everyone’s so happy,’’ Parkes told Wales Online.
Parkes was later shown an emotional video message from New Zealand and Australia which added to his dream debut day but left him fight away tears.
‘‘It was awesome. I absolutely loved every moment of it,’’ he said of earning his first cap in the famous red jersey.
‘‘Tough game but the icing on the cake was to get the win. It’s very exciting for me, my family and my fiancee so very happy.
‘‘Walking down the tunnel I was very nervous for a couple of reasons. One was the game but probably more for the anthem. It was just good to get out there and once you start playing rugby you get sucked into it. There was so much excitement and I loved every moment of it.’’
Welsh officials had to triplecheck his availability and the timing for him to take the field against the Boks just crept inside the three-year residency qualifications he had completed ‘‘by a couple of hours’’.
‘‘We were having a few visa problems at the start,’’ Parkes revealed of the process to get to Wales initially.
‘‘It just took a while to come through, which at the time wasn’t a big deal. I was on holiday so I wasn’t complaining too much.
‘‘I am a farm boy from home in New Zealand and I was docking sheep. Hindsight is a beautiful thing and looking back it would have been nice if the visa had come through a couple of weeks earlier. But I’m glad it wasn’t a day later! It has worked out pretty well in the end.’’