Aussie-based club swoops in on Gisborne’s Bronlund after impressive performances

Former Gisborne Boys’ High School student Dylan Bronlund has a one-year contract with Australian club Southern Districts for 2024. Picture by Paul Rickard

Dylan Bronlund gets the most out of his ability.

The former Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15, Poverty Bay and Hurricanes development camp attendee, who turned out for the University of Western Australia under-19s last season, has signed a one-year contract with Sydney rugby club Southern Districts for 2024.

So impressive was blindside flanker and lineout forward Bronlund that after he turned out for the Western Force u19s in a 32-5 loss at Southern Districts’ Forshaw Park, he was approached by their head of recruitment George Gargoulakis and was offered a one-year contract, which he later signed. The 6ft 3in (1.9m) Bronlund, who works in the roofing trade, has beefed up from the 85kg he weighed in 2022 for the Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15, to 97kg. While with the University of Western Australia and the Force u19s, he learned a lot from their forwards coaches, former Wallaby tighthead prop Greg Holmes and former All Black lock Jeremy Thrush.

Awapuni School and Gisborne Intermediate old boy Bronlund played junior club rugby for the Gisborne High School Old Boys club under Andrew Willock, at GBHS under Duane Hihi and Richard Brown at u14 and u15 level, then in the first 15 under Ryan Tapsell and later Hihi.

“Duane – the things he did for me, the connection he had with the team and the boys coming through — he meant a lot and was a role model to me,” Bronlund said.

He counts growing up close to former Poverty Bay Rugby staff member Dwayne Russell and his sons Kyran and Luka, and playing sports with them, as a treasured memory.

So too was the 2020 first 15’s 17-5 win against 2019 national champions Akina Hastings BHS.

“I’m forever grateful to come from Gisborne,” Bronlund said.

“This is home to me and always will be.

“My first 15 captain, Amos Roddick, was a big role model and mentor for me coming through the grades. He was like a big brother to me, while my teammates Ben Phelps and Braith Ingram were also huge to play with, because both of them were hungry to win.

“I loved putting on the jersey week in, week out. It meant a lot to me, to play for my family and friends — the people who believed in me. We’re a tight community, so when you wear a jersey, you’re playing for all the supporters, like Anzac Concrete.

“These days, I’m on a three-day gym split: push-day, pull-day, and then a leg day. I made it my goal this year to really focus on my rugby and chase the dream.”