Rugby: Willpower key to prop's comeback

TOP COMEBACK: Tim Farrell has defied the odds with his selection in the New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

NZ Schools
Rugby

Wind the clock back to August 3 and Tim Farrell was devastated as he stood among the spectators watching his Napier Boys' High School 1st XV rugby team draw their annual Polson Banner clash against Palmerston North Boys' High School in Napier.

Earlier that week the talented prop was told his season could be over.

"I had a bout of glandular fever. It was a pretty big brick wall as I had got run down from all the stuff I was doing. I had an enlarged liver and spleen and I was told if I came back to contact stuff too early I could rupture my spleen which could lead to liver failure which can lead to death," Farrell recalled.

"It was a big hit when I realised it could potentially be my season ... I was told it could take people six months to recover from this type of setback," Farell said.

The son of former Magpies prop John "Mixer" Farrell did everything right with his rehab, stayed away from the contact stuff and put in the hard yards in the gym and in the swimming pool.

Yesterday he was rewarded with New Zealand Secondary Schools selection.

"I was pretty chuffed but at the same time pretty emotional when I got the news. It was a goal I had worked towards all year and after playing for the New Zealand Barbarians Schools team last year it was a natural step up."

"This selection is for my family who gave me plenty of encouraging words when I was down and all the support I got from my teammates in the 1st XV. Dad is a big legend in my eyes ... I remember when I used to watch him playing club rugby for Tech and he would come off the field with numerous gashes which had been covered up with electrical tape. Dad has given me plenty of old school-type propping tips over the years," 18-year-old Farrell said.

Equally comfortable on either side of the scrum, Farrell, said making the national team was the first goal in his comeback.

The second is to earn a starting berth.

A keen surf lifesaver since the age of 7 during the summer months, Farrell, pointed out his Westshore clubmates have helped push him to achieve his rugby goals.

"Surf lifesaving provides a good release from rugby and it is good socially as well."

Farrell has three options to consider for next year.

One is to remain in the Bay and the others are heading to either Otago or Wellington for tertiary education as he intends to study surveying and geography.

His NBHS 1st XV coach Russell Hewitt praised Farrell's willpower shown during the comeback.

"For a bloke who wasn't expected to play again this season his selection was awesome news. He is one of the best frontrowers I have worked with and he has future All Black written all over him."

While Farrell is the only Hawke's Bay player in the New Zealand side Hastings Boys' High School product, No 8 Ajay Mua, who is in his second year at King's College in Auckland was selected.

He was a New Zealand Barbarians teammate of Farrell's last year.

Four Hastings Boys' High School players, captain and prop Kianu Kereru-Symes, vice-captain and first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, fullback Danny Toala and halfback Folau Fakatava were selected in the New Zealand Barbarians team.

Hastings Boys' High School lock Liam Bauckham and Napier Boys' High School flanker Will Tremain were contenders for both teams but were ruled out with injuries.

Both teams are in camp in Auckland this week.

The New Zealand Secondary Schools play Fiji Schools at Auckland Grammar School on Monday following the curtainraiser between the New Zealand Barbarians and Australia Schools.

On October 8, New Zealand Schools will take on Australian Schools at the same venue after the curtainraiser between the New Zealand Barbarians and Fiji Schools.