McKee plays 350th game for Waikaia
Having a beer in the changing rooms after a game of rugby for his club is the best half-hour of the week, James McKee reckons.
And he’s had plenty of those, bringing up his 350th game for his beloved Waikaia Rugby Club at the weekend.
It’s no mean feat to play that many games – although he’s playing down the number the club says he’s achieved.
‘‘I don’t think it’s 350. Three hundred maybe, but not 350.
‘‘It just means I’ve hung around for a while, I’m a bit boring and don’t have anything else to do on Saturdays,’’ he said.
Club spokesman Alistair McKee said that while the club did not have an official statistician, it was believed James McKee had played 350 games.
‘‘He’s been playing for 25 seasons. And if he’s played 15 a season, then that’s 375 games potentially,’’ he said.
‘‘Has he had 25 games off? He’s there every week, and there’s finals and pre-season games to include. We’re running with 350 and Rugby Southland was pretty happy with that.’’
Waikaia, a tiny northern Southland rugby club, only fields one team each season.
This year it’s playing in the Southland-wide Presidents Cup competition, and McKee has become somewhat of a stalwart, lacing up his boots each year since 1997 to play for the seniors.
Since then, he’s dutifully turned out for the blue and golds, and the last game he missed was for his wedding day.
‘‘There’s been the odd one missed here and there with injuries, but it has been a wee while, I guess,’’ he said. Now in his 40s, he’s still ‘‘hanging in there’’.
‘‘There’s bits hanging everywhere,’’ he said, laughing, after his team beat Mataura 55-0 in its home game on Saturday.
‘‘I don’t go as hard out now. I’m getting cleverer in my old age, and I’m not putting myself in positions so often where I’m going to get hurt. I used to make myself a booking at the physio a couple of times a week for a whole rugby season, but I haven’t had to do that for a few years now. I’m getting smart and lazy.’’
McKee paid tribute to his wife, Jess, for ‘‘putting up with rugby in winter and cricket in summer’’.
During the past 24 seasons McKee, who farms in the Waikaia valley, has scored the opening try of the season on nine occasions, and has played in every position on the paddock for his team.
He played his first game for Waikaia as a ‘‘wee kid’’. He has coached the club’s women’s team, served as club president for many years, and was made a life member in 2018.
He won’t be drawn on whether he’ll retire or reach the milestone of 400 games. ‘‘I’m just enjoying it for what it is. It’s a good run around with the boys, and we’re doing all right, so we’ll just have to see what happens.’’