Strachan reaches milestone but career nears end
A South Canterbury rugby player who has knocked off another career milestone says this will be the last year he takes to the field.
Celtic captain Nick Strachan, who played his 200th senior game against the Harlequins on Saturday at Ashbury Park, winning the match 42-27, will also play his 100th game for South Canterbury at the Ranfurly Shield match in Napier in June.
Strachan bagged his 100th first class rugby cap in a 43-22 Heartland win over MidCanterbury in Timaru, in November
‘‘I’m proud of me and my family,’’ Strachan said yesterday.
‘‘There’s been a lot of commitment over the years to get to 200 games.’’
The 33-year-old, who works for a Timaru plumbing company, said the most special moment of his 200th senior game was running out on the field with his three kids, followed by the rest of the team.
Talking about retiring from the game, Strachan said it was time to start coaching his two boys, who also play rugby, and spend more time with the family.
Looking back at this career and what kept him going through it all, Strachan said – ‘‘The enjoyment of it and always striving to succeed to win every week or win for the year. That’s why you play’’.
‘‘I enjoy the competition and competing against other people and the camaraderie among team-mates. We have won 10 titles over that [since 2007] time which was pretty special.’’
Strachan made his debut with the Celtic club in 2007 and before that he played for Roncalli College and was also in Celtic’s junior teams, debuting in 1997.
Strachan said out of the 200 games he has played with the Celtic, 96 of them were played with his brother, Hamish, which he really enjoyed.