LOCAL LOOK, FAMILY FEEL
Campbell Burnes clocks in with a vibrant Otago club ahead of a significant looming milestone.
The Green Island Rugby Club has much to shout about in 2024. It’s not every day a club gets to blow out 140 candles on its birthday cake, especially in this challenging day and age. Furthermore, this club, who give itself ‘The Grizzlies’ moniker, can call on no less than seven senior teams this season, including a women’s side, plus a burgeoning junior section, said to be one of the largest in the lower half of the South Island.
A proactive committee, upgraded clubrooms, dedicated women’s showers… these are some of the many positives found at Green Island RFC, a fixture at Abbotsford’s Miller Park since 1921.
“It’s a family-oriented club. We try and do it right and it’s paying dividends,” says club President Darren Bezett.
His family name is writ large in the club. His late grandfather, Ted Bezett, was a local butcher whose sudden death in 1972 led to the Bezett Memorial Trophy, the annual grudge match with Taieri. That trophy is up for grabs in the June 1 centrepiece match as part of Green Island’s 140th celebrations, as could be the Robb Cup, adding real spice to a grudge match that can draw over 3000-4000 people.
“That Taieri game will be massive. We reciprocated with them last year. There’s always very good banter in the clubrooms afterwards.”
On the Friday night, May 31, there will be a catch-up at the club for those registered.
“That’s usually quite a big night, everyone getting together for the first time,” says Bezett.
The Saturday will see the juniors and most senior teams playing at home, followed by an auction of the premier jerseys, always a good fundraiser.
The auction gets pretty willing too: “Some of the bidding can get a bit ridiculous if they’ve had a few beers on board beforehand. Funnily enough, it’s the reserve jerseys that seem to go for good money,” adds Bezett.
A live band, Thirsty Work, which includes two current senior players, will aid the atmosphere as the evening draws long.
The Sunday will see a “casual Sunday session” with fun and games for the kids. Everyone can recuperate on King’s Birthday Monday, and it sounds like they will need the rest by then.
The club is clear on what the celebrations mean and what they might look like: “This will be the biggest celebration at the club in 15 years since the 125th (in 2009),” says Bezett.
‘When Rugby News spoke with Bezett, he had just taken part in a Sunday working bee that brought a good crew of club members out to prune bushes and give the clubhouse a decent lick of paint.’
And while everyone should live for the present these days while looking to the future, Green Island is very good at acknowledging its past. Premier centurions are among those honoured, as are the five All Blacks out of the club – Merv and Lyn Jaffray, Greg Cooper,
Ben Smith and Jackson Hemopo. Merv Jaffray led Green Island to the first of three Otago premier titles in the 1970s, starting with 1973. Titles followed in 1974 and ’78, making for the golden era of Green Island rugby.
Several current Highlanders and Otago reps are affiliated with Green Island, namely halfback James Arscott, centre Jake Te Hiwi and second five Sam Gilbert.
The Highlanders and Otago assistant coach Ben Smith is a staunch Green Island man, but he may have to content himself with the Sunday session on June 2 as the franchise is playing away in Wellington the day beforehand.
In 2021, Green Island returned to the final, but was edged 21-17 by arch-rival Taieri, despite scoring three tries to one, Cam Millar’s unerring boot sinking hopes.
Those three championship banners were celebrated at the 2023 Heritage Day, with the coaches and many former players returning to tell tall tales, some true.
Prospects for the 2024 premiers look good. They’re under the coaching of former NZ Under 16s fullback Hayden Finch, with help from former Highlander Marty Banks, freshly retired at 34, though the word is he has been “medically timed out”.
“We’d love to win the banner. We’d love that any year,” says Bezett.
His own sense of history is acute. His father and uncles were all still playing when he was in the Under 12s and 13s. Many are in their 70s now and are still active supporters.
when Rugby News spoke with Bezett, he had just taken part in a Sunday working bee that brought a good crew of club members out to prune bushes and give the clubhouse a decent lick of paint. Many clubs would be hard pressed to get anyone turning up to a working bee in this climate, though it was a staple of club culture back in the day. Deane Powers was there, a life member with over 500 games for the club to his credit and still lacing them up for the seniors at 51. That’s club spirit right there.
But this is Green Island, with upwards of 1000 members, a steady flow of information out to its stakeholders and what appears to be a vibrant community club. People love to get involved in that sort of stuff.
“It’ll be a fantastic weekend, always great to catch up with former members. Particularly post-covid, it will be a bloody good celebration,” says Bezett.
There was a lot happening in Otago club rugby back in 1884. Southern and Harbour, the latter via its forerunner Ravensbourne, were also formed. All three are going big on King’s Birthday. But for the green and yellow faithful, all roads lead to Miller Park on that weekend.
For further information on the Green Island club and its 140th jubilee celebrations, please visit www.girugby.co.nz or www.facebook.com/girugby or email greenislandrugby@gmail.com