Passion returns for blind rugby

Ivan Tomo relaxed with his daughters Tapairu (left) and Maioha before the games. Picture supplied

THE body is sore but Ivan Te Momo, back home after playing in a lost test series for Blind New Zealand against the Blind Lions, says his passion for rugby is back.

The casual player for OBM’s senior 1 side said he was likely to be back at the club next season.

“I’m passionate to play club rugby again, but my body is old and I need to get fit. I will play for OBM again. My passion is back.”

That is despite a 3-0 clean sweep by the Blind Lions, who won the first test 31-0 and the second 17-7.

Ivan is not sure of the third test score, but said it was something like 20-5.

The Lions were too good at a sport that is brand new to New Zealand.

“We got spanked. They have been playing the game for two years and many of the players train together weekly,” Ivan said.

“We had five days together and some of our players had not previously played any form of rugby.’’

The New Zealand side also practised and performed Ka Po e Au, the haka of the Blind Caps cricket side.

The rugby series, played in Auckland, featured blind players and others like Ivan who are sight-impaired.

Ivan said he was uncertain about the state of vision of the Blind Lions.

‘‘We threw short passes to each other. They were throwing really long passes.”

Ivan said the British charity, The Change Foundation, has plans for a Blind Rugby World Cup and New Zealand might play Australia next year.

The prop said he would be available to help coach the New Zealand side.

“It is good to get disabled people playing sport again. I had to learn new rules and teach basic skills to others who had no experience of playing rugby.

“I won’t play for them — I’m just an old man. But if they’re short, I might put my hand up.”