East Coast sign Zac Guildford

GAME-BREAKER: Zac Guildford looks to offload in a game for Hawke’s Bay against Northland at McLean Park, Napier, in 2013. Hawke’s Bay Today picture by Paul Taylor

Yes, that’s correct.

Ten-test wing, All Black No.1097 Zac Guildford, will play for Ngati Porou East Coast in the Heartland Championship this year.

Thirty-year-old Guildford — who made his test debut at the Millennium Stadium in Wales a decade ago and scored six tries for New Zealand — is set to debut for the Coast against Bay of Plenty Maori Development in a pre-season game at Rotorua on August 10.

“This is the place for me to learn more about my Maori heritage — East Coast being the smallest union in the country — put my best foot forward, and give a bit back to rugby,” Guildford said.

Ngati Porou East Coast head coach Wayne Ensor is elated.

“It’s a real positive for us,” he said.

“We’re stoked to have a quality player; we just want him to give what he can and not just enjoy his rugby but enjoy everything that the East Coast has to offer. There’s absolutely no pressure from us.”

Guildford, who will turn out for NPEC as a loan player, has family ties to the area.

His rugby memories of the Sky Blues include watching Coast legends such as Wirihana Raihania, Horace Lewis and his cousin first five-eighth Mano Flutey.

Guildford has been based in Hamilton for the past two years while working at St Paul’s Collegiate School in a learning support role. He will commute from Hamilton to join NPEC in the lead-up to games.

Loose forward Jack Richardson (who figures in Ensor’s back-row calculations, along with Coast captain Hone Haerewa and Taranaki loan player Mitchell Crosswell) first met Guildford during his Hawke’s Bay Magpies playing days and made the initial approach to him about playing for the Coast.

NPEC manager Lorne Goldsmith followed that up.

Ensor’s 37-man squad will train this evening, ahead of this Saturday’s 2pm pre-season game against Eastern Bay of Plenty at Rugby Park, Whakatane.

Haerewa, who led Tokararangi in the East Coast club competition this season, has Ensor’s respect as a captain who leads by example and is highly regarded for his loyalty.

The availability of Guildford for the Sky Blues’ Heartland campaign this season will provide the Coast with a massive boost in experience, and all concerned are abuzz with the prospect of quality rugby . . . even a new beginning.