Brady Rush follows in father's sidesteps

Even from afar it wasn't difficult to spot a bit of his dad in Northcross Intermediate rugby sevens player Brad Rush.

The 12-year-old's dad is former All Black Eric Rush, New Zealand's most capped sevens international who retired from the game in 2004.

The trademark jink, eye for a gap and acceleration was all there, although Northcross's winning run in the AIMS Games tournament at Greerton Park was ended by Whangarei Intermediate, putting their top-eight chances in jeopardy.

Northcross coach Scott Washer said Brady Rush's off-field demeanour was the most pointed reminder who his father, an in-demand after dinner speaker, was.

"Brady's a real character and a good little footie player too when his head's in the right space. There's not much of him, or any of our kids for that matter, but they don't give up and have got through a power of tackling this week."

Rush owns the Browns Bay New World supermarket and has been helpful in preparing the team for this week's competition.

"Rushy brought down Glen Osborne and they helped at our trial to pick this team, and then I asked him to come down again for our last session just to help finetune a few things. He's a pretty good guy to call in to tap into his vast expertise but I didn't want to overdo it and become a pest," Washer said.