Bluff back reaches 300 games
Bluff Rugby Club’s Shay Te Awhe isn’t one for the accolades.
The club stalwart and fan favourite reached his 300th game for the club in last weekend’s 52-24 victory over the Marist development side.
He was given a guard of honour from the teams for his achievement, something which caught the 39-year-old by surprise.
“I definitely didn’t expect anything like that. It totally caught me off guard,” Te Awhe said.
“To me, it was just another game. It was an awesome day and a bloody good bunch of blokes to reach the 300 game milestone with. It was awesome seeing everyone congratulate me on making it.
“I’ve played for this club since 1989, when I was a youngster and the seniors since 1999. It’s a family club they have been involved with it since my grandparents moved down here in the 1960s.”
“Nan was always part of the admin, like junior convenor, manage of the women’s and my aunty Makere Te Awhe was part of them too.”
Someone Te Awhe looked up to throughout his time at the club was his uncle, Andrew Te Awhe, who was part of the successful Bluff teams in the late 80s and early 90s.
“He played four or five games for Southland and was just a real good club man.”
Being based in Bluff for most of his life, playing for the Bluff club made logical sense.
“It’s a club I have always loved.” While 400 is unlikely, he hasn’t ruled it out.
“If I can get to 350 I’d be bloody happy. That’s about another four years or so. I will be 43 or so by then and we will see what happens.”
“It has taken a while. It was a struggle to get to 300. It has taken a while as we are only getting about 12 games a season compared to about 20 back in the day. “I was just happy to make it to 300.” He had a season for Star in 2007, otherwise he’s been a Bluff man.
“We have a real good bunch of young boys here at the club and I want to play alongside these guys. Jayleel and Javaan Fa’amoe Ioane have been great. They’ve carried on from what Jason Harrison instilled. We’re playing good rugby and it’s a great vibe.
“They’ve grown so much and Javaan, our coach, has bought in some structure and it’s really lifted our game.
“I still get a bit of stick from the boys about playing but it’s good, light-hearted fun. I love the game and the club.”
Throughout the 300 games, he’s lined up in every position in the backline and these days is residing at fullback.
“At the moment, I just park at the back, yell at the lads and watch the younger boys do all the damage.”
He’s won six titles with Bluff during his time and said the 2005 season stands out. “We hadn’t won the title in about a decade. It was my first one for Bluff and choice to be part of and I got player of the day for Bluff in the game so that topped it off nicely.”
Te Awhe feels like there is possibly a few of the older players, who have reached the mark or gone close, but records weren’t kept until more recently.