Bubbling with enthusiasm
Hurricanes crowd favourite Ben Lam steamrolls defenders or runs around them for fun.
In the past seven weeks, the heaviest physical contact he’s had is a tumble off his skateboard trying to teach himself a new move.
Today, Lam’s bubble of one in his Wellington home since level four lockdown began on March 26 will extend to Hurricanes teammates and coaching staff when they finally reassemble for training at a heavily fortified Rugby League Park.
Players and staff will be greeted by daily temperature checks and told to stay home if they or their families show any flulike symptoms.
Physical distancing will be encouraged, even at training, apart from contact sessions, which will be necessary to re-familiarise idle bodies with top-level rugby ahead of Super Rugby Aotearoa’s opening weekend on June 13.
‘‘I’ve been locked down by myself since this all started, trying to keep myself busy, doing heaps of reading and lots of exercise and a bit of rest,’’ Lam said.
‘‘The first few weeks I was trying to learn how to kick flip on my skateboard and came off a few times, so I gave that up.
‘‘I’ve been trying to find whatever I can do around the house. It’s always clean; I just wake up and clean.
‘‘Now I’m kind of excited; it’s
been six or seven weeks of no proper human contact so it’ll be nice to hang out with a few of the boys and get out of my little bubble. I’m pretty sure they’re looking forward to getting back together and sharing a few stories.’’
The most fizzed up team-mate, Lam reckons, will be Hurricanes skipper TJ Perenara.
‘‘TJ is probably going to be the guy who’s most looking forward to this. He’s always the competitive one in the group.’’
While there might be excitement among the country’s professional rugby players getting back to work, freedom will be minimal as a degree of lockdown continues until mid-August when the competition ends. Outside training, players will be encouraged to remain in their bubbles and limit contact with others, avoiding restaurants, malls and the like.
On match days, they will catch
‘‘It’s been six or seven weeks of no proper human contact.’’
Ben Lam
chartered flights in and out of the host city and play in eerie, empty stadiums, with the Hurricanes facing the Blues and former teammate Beauden Barrett in Auckland on June 14 at 3pm.
‘‘I always enjoy going back home. My parents are still split on supporting the Blues and Hurricanes. I’m excited; an awesome way to start this tournament.’’
Way back in mid-February, Lam could never have seen this new world on the horizon. Fresh from carving up South Africa’s Sharks at Sky Stadium, he confirmed he was leaving the Hurricanes at season’s end to join
French club Bordeaux. As far as
28-year-old Lam knows, that plan still stands with the French Top-14 targeting September to open their new season.
So these eight New Zealand derbies spread over 10 weeks remain the blockbusting 194cm,
104kg wing’s farewell tour.
‘‘It will depend on international travel restrictions and what their government will allow in, and if flights will even be going. That’s all a waiting game and will sort itself out over the next few months.
‘‘I enjoy playing the New Zealand teams – it’s a good chance to leave a mark before I leave.’’