Bunce boy set to play in Timaru
One of the famous names in All Blacks rugby will grace Alpine Energy Stadium in Timaru tomorrow.
Chance Bunce, son of All Blacks legend Frank, will line up at fullback for Thames Valley against South Canterbury in the fifth round of the Heartland Championships.
Chance was talked into returning from Australia and playing for the Swamp Foxes by Frank, who is the assistant coach of the team.
Both Bunces joined Thames Valley last year but Chance’s first stint with the team was brief.
He suffered a season-ending broken leg 20 minutes into his debut game last year.
Back with the team in 2015, Chance is loving playing for Thames Valley as a loan player, having turned out for Manukau in the Auckland club competition.
Chance is enjoying his time in Thames.
‘‘The boys down there are awesome, a great bunch.’’
Chance said a number of players had played junior rep rugby together so were a tight bunch.
‘‘Heartland footy is pretty good as well and I am enjoying getting around the country to small places I would not otherwise see.’’
Chance said the side was looking forward to coming to Timaru, after two wins from four games.
‘‘We were touched up by King Country last weekend but the boys will be up for it on Saturday.’’
Chance said being the son of an All Blacks legend didn’t affect him.
‘‘There are positives and negatives but to me, dad is dad, I didn’t know any different.’’
As for his father’s coaching ability, Chance joked he would have to say excellent.
‘‘We don’t see eye to eye on everything but having 50-odds tests for the All Blacks, he has done it.’’
Chance had his own moment of glory when he played for the New Zealand Maori rugby league side in 2008.
Frank said he got involved initially with Thames Valley rugby after working in the area.
‘‘They just asked if I could help a couple of local clubs out and then Hayden Rowe [Thames Valley head coach] wanted to know if I could give him a hand.’’
Frank said he was really enjoying the Heartland experience.
‘‘It is a totally different scene from Auckland club rugby but it is really enjoyable. The intensity is certainly there.
‘‘There are some quality coaches and some very good players.’’
Frank will, however, not be travelling to Timaru as he had a prior commitment overseas.
He originally came to the attention of All Blacks coach Laurie Mains at the 1991 Rugby World Cup when he played for Samoa.
A year later he switched allegiance to the All Blacks, at age 30, and became a regular fixture in the side, playing 55 tests and scoring 96 points.
His combination with Walter Little against the Wallaby pair of Tim Horan and Jason Little was one of the highlights of the international calendar.
Little’s son, Michael, is starting to make a name for himself as a second-five for North Harbour.
South Canterbury last met Thames Valley in 2013, and the ‘green and blacks’ have won nine of their 10 encounters.