Rugby: Unbelievable season sinks in for Hames

When Kane Hames was lacing up his boots for pre-season training with Tauranga Sports in February, he could never have imagined how his life would change in a few short months.

The 25-year-old earned selection for the Bay of Plenty Steamers squad but was an unlikely starter until a string of injuries thrust him into the deep end where he excelled in the ITM Cup.

He told the Bay of Plenty Times in October he had a dream to play for the Maori All Blacks and to gain a Super rugby contract but was not overly optimistic of making the grade.

Then came two phone calls advising the popular prop that he had achieved both his goals. Firstly he found out he was joining fellow Steamers front rower Joe Royal on the Maori All Blacks tour of North America and then Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph offered him a professional contract.

Hames says it has been hard to take it all in.

"A few months ago I was hoping to be in the Steamers and I just made it in as fifth prop. Then through fate with injuries I got a shot and now I am a Super player and national player.

"I have never put on a black jersey before. It is exciting and Piri Weepu and Joe [Royal] also went to Te Aute College so it is good to have three TA boys in the [Maori All Blacks]. The jersey has a lot of mana and it is awesome to represent my family and my iwi. It is something I really wanted to achieve this year without knowing if I could or would. But you write things down in your book and once it is written down it becomes official."

Tauranga Sports premiers coach and Hames' agent Mike Rogers says it is unusual for a player to make it without going through the normal academies and age group teams.

"If you go through the squads there are only 22 new players and he is certainly the only one that has come through the route he has," Rogers said. "He was just a club player who had played a bit of [Bay] development and he has continued to believe. It is cool that someone locally has managed to come through that pathway that exists less than it ever has."

Other Bay of Plenty players to pick up Super rugby contracts were Phil Burleigh, Willie Ripia (Highlanders), Chris Noakes, Culum Retallick (Blues), Sam Cane, Tanerau Latimer, Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Carl Axtens (Chiefs wider training group) and Mike Kainga (Crusaders wider training group).