NZ’s loss proved to be Italy’s gain
Dean Budd blooming in blue after struggling to make it to the top at home
North Auckland rugby legend Mike Budd dreamed of donning the All Black jersey during his career in the 1980s.
So too did his son, Dean, who has played for Auckland, Northland and the Blues.
But Dean Budd is not starring in the black jersey. The Whangā rei-born lock has become a top performer at the Rugby World Cup for his adopted Italy.
Had it not been for Typhoon Hagibis, the 33-year-old would have faced the All Blacks at the City of Toyota Stadium tonight.
Dean’s journey to the Rugby World Cup is one which has seen him conquer the pain of missing higher honours in his birth country.
He proudly wore the silver fern with the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2004 and then the New Zealand Under-19 team the following year. He was rated rated as being one of the country’s “five most promising players” in the 2009 New Zealand Rugby Almanack.
But in 2011, at the age of 25, Dean made the tough call to head overseas after struggling to get opportunities in Super Rugby.
“He told me he wanted to be the best he could be in his job. And because he couldn’t break into the New Zealand environment, he had to go overseas to further his career,” his father said.
“It wasn’t a choice he took lightly and it wasn’t a choice he wanted to make. But he wanted to play rugby and play at the highest level he could.”
First stop was Japan, where he played for the NEC Green Rockets.
He then moved to Italian club Benetton, and has turned out more than 100 times for them. Since 2017, when he fulfilled residency rules, he has played for the Italian national team.
It wasn’t a choice he took lightly and it wasn’t a choice he wanted to make. But he wanted to play rugby and play at the highest level he could.
Mike Budd on son Dean’s choice to leave NZ
“We are very proud,” Mike said. “He captained his team against Canada [at the Rugby World Cup] and scored a try . . . it is so cool.”
Mike Budd said he wanted to wear the silver fern, but accepted his rivals were better.
“I wasn’t chosen. I wasn’t good enough. That doesn’t hurt me; they were realisms that to be an All Black you have to know the game in and out and be great at everything you did. Perhaps I was okay at being good at what I did, but good wasn’t good enough.
“That is why I am so proud of Dean. He wasn’t going to accept good, he wanted to be better.”
Dean played against the All Blacks in Rome last year where the Kieran Read-captained team triumphed 66-3.
In the crowd were Mike, his other son Lloyd, Dean’s mother Jan Walters-Gleeson and her late husband and Dean’s step-father Peter Gleeson.
Lining up against him in the All Blacks that day was Dean’s former NZ under-19 team-mate Dane Coles.
While he believed his son had some “mixed emotions” when he played against his country of birth, he stressed Dean remained “very focused” on the job he had to do for Italy.
Budd’s family have made their presence felt at the Rugby World Cup.
Mike — an independent director on the board of the Blues’ Super Rugby team from 2005-13 — has juggled business commitments in Asia by travelling to Japan for all of Italy’s pool-play matches. Jan and Lloyd have travelled from New Zealand.
Budd is chuffed his son has become a test star with Italy.
“He took on a challenge to stay in the game he loves and the New Zealand door had closed. He didn’t give up...
“To play in a Rugby World Cup, captain your side to a 48-7 win, and score a try to boot [against Canada], it just doesn’t get any better.”