Forbes takes rugby high road
Former Te Puke Sports player 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 was named on the bench for the Blues’ highly anticipated clash with the struggling Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday. He entered the fray just before half time following an injury to Zarn Sullivan.
With the likes of Mark Telea, Sullivan and Caleb Clarke in the ranks, Forbes has plenty of competition to lock down a starting spot, but ahead of the game he said he was content with his place.
“This is such a good squad especially in the back three that I’m just happy to be in the in the 23 and bring that energy when I come on.”
He said the deep stocks in the backline drives both himself and his teammates.
“We’re a close group, it’s not really like a competition. we are all on the same team and even the boys that aren’t playing each week, they’re obviously going up against the 15 every Tuesday, Thursday. it’s everyone’s grind.”
Chasing a first title since 2003, Forbes believed they had the talent to finally break the two decade long drought.
“We have just got to play our style of rugby. When we’re firing we’re definitely one of the best teams in the comp.”