Polo: South African 'prop' ready for physical stuff

Brent Chubb (on horse) and his South African teammates will play two games at Elwood Park during the next week. Photo / Paul Taylor

Check out the profiles of the South African polo players who will take on Hawke's Bay in Hastings tomorrow ... Brett Chubb's in particular.

It reads: "Prop physique, over 100kgs. Plays and behaves like a prop."

"Yes I don't mind the physical stuff. It's part of the game," Chubb said before he and fellow members of the six-goal side, Andrew Gilson, Don McHardy and Lionel Foster, had some training chukkas at Elwood Park, Hastings yesterday.

A sugar cane farmer from the midlands, KwaZulu Natal, Chubb has been playing polo for 30 years. The Central Districts tour, which began yesterday and ends on March 5, will be his first taste of playing in New Zealand.

"I know nothing about the players we will be taking on in the Hawke's Bay, Wanstead, Rangitikei and Central Districts teams. But I've heard the standard of play is very similar to what we are used to back home.

"It's out of season for us as we stopped back in September and don't start up again until the end of March. We'll be using borrowed horses too ... but we like a challenge. The advantage of this tour is that we will be humming when our season starts back home," Chubb, who played prop at rugby during his university and secondary school days, said.

Normally a No 2 player, Chubb will have the No 1 role on this tour. He pointed out the trip is a reponse to an invitation from Hawke's Bay Polo Club personality George Wood.

"George supplies the mallets to my son, Cameron, who sells all kinds of polo equipment back home. I thought I've got to go and meet George."

The four South Africans are among 150 polo players in their country and are playing together for the first time on this tour. Chubb played in the United States five years ago and he said he regards that trip and playing alongside his two sons, 22-year-old Cameron and 19-year-old Blake, as the highlights of his time in the code.

"Going to the Argentinian Open is next on my bucket list. Facundo Pieres is my favourite player and it would be good to watch him live," he said referring to the Argentinian professional who is polo's equivalent of rugby's All Black star Beauden Barrett.

Hawke's Bay will field a four-goal side against the South Africans in tomorrow's 1pm clash. It will consist of No 1 Pete Hyslop, No 2 Bill Glazebrook, No 3 Ollie Jones and No 4 Cody Jones.

Wanstead will also put a four-goal team out against the tourists. Simon McDonald, Lucas Simcox, Woody Kuru and John Reisma will pull on the Wanstead colours.

Wood has heard the Rangitikei club has named a star-studded side to take on the South Africans but they may change the line-up once they hear the results of the two games in the Bay.

"I've heard it might be a bit strong but we don't mind a challenge," Chubb said.

After the Rangitikei match a Central Districts side containing players from Hawke's Bay, Rangitikei and Wanstead will be selected to play the South Africans in their final outing at Elwood Park at 1pm on March 3.

Like Chubb, No 2 Gilson plays off a 1-goal handicap. Gilson, 46, weighs in around the 70kg mark and Chubb described him "as a scrumhalf like George Gregan and that's the way he plays his polo".

No 2 and captain McHardy, 47, plays off a two-goal handicap. Tall and lean, McHardy weighs 82kgs and played first five-eighth and fullback during his rugby days.

No 4 Foster, 54, also boasts a two-goal handicap. A member of a keen polo family, Foster has played in the United Kingdon, France, United States, Zambia and Ghana.

In addition to the four matches the tourists will fit in a variety of other activities including clay bird shooting and water skiing during their trip.