“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.
