Tom Burns described his job at Hastings Boys' High School as a "gofer role" in the physical education department.
"Basically I do a bit of relief teaching and anything else the others in the department want me to do including some rugby coaching," Burns said before another coaching stint with his E grade side yesterday.
The 20-year-old Irishman agreed he has a similar "gofer-type role" with the IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports premier rugby side. On Saturday Burns did what he was told, went for everything in the battle for the loose ball and produced a player-of-the-match performance as Hastings upset the previously unbeaten Progressive Meats Havelock North side 22-19 in their Maddison Trophy fifth round encounter at Anderson Park to capture the Challenge Shield.
This saw Burns, a product of the Ulster Rugby Academy, become the 14th winner in the Tui-Hawke's Bay Today Club Player of the Year award.
"That win was what we needed to keep our season alive. We now have a chance of making the semifinals. Everyone was hungry for it ... we just have to keep that belief. Now we need a few five-pointers starting with Central on Saturday," Burns said, referring to this weekend's sixth round clash at Elwood Park.
While attending Foyle Londonderry College in Northern Ireland Burns was coached by former Magpies assistant coach and former Hastings Boys High School teacher Trevor Will who steered him in the direction of Hastings Boys' High School when Burns quizzed him about the chances of scoring a rugby-playing working holiday in New Zealand.
"The plan was to be here for one season but I'm enjoying it so much I might stay longer. The standard of play here is a lot better and faster than back home ... it's a great opportunity to be playing against Super Rugby players in the club scene," Burns said.
Burns original goal for this season was to try and make the Ireland under-20 team which played in last month's Junior World Championship in France. However a knee injury early in the selection process ruined his hopes. However it made his decision to come to New Zealand an easier one.
While he prefers the blindside flanker role which he had against the villagers Burns can also play the openside role.
He ranked Napier Old Boys loosie-lock Mark Abbott and Clive openside flanker James Tango as the toughest players he has marked in the Bay competition.
"The competition at the breakdown is so fierce here compared with back home ... it took me a few weeks to get up to speed," Burns said.
He pointed out his Hastings Boys' High School E grade team is having an "up and down season" and have recorded three wins and three losses to date.
"We got a hiding against Tamatea High School at the weekend but the boys are enjoying it. If we can improve and keep improving I'll be happy."
In addition to his rugby and teaching roles Burns does part-time bar work at the Rose and Shamrock Village Inn in Havelock North. Several of his customers on Saturday night were members of the Havelock side his Hastings team had beaten earlier in the day.
"They were okay," Burns said.
Burns will be hoping for a few more victories like the weekend's for his next emails back home. Needless to say a Maddison Trophy final will be an ideal form of consolation for missing out on the Junior World Championship.
Best & fairestBest & fairest
Hastings Rugby and Sports v Havelock North:
3, Tom Burns (Hastings); 2, Brendon Edmonds (Havelock); 1, Dennis Tapusua (Hastings).
MAC v NOBM:
3, Lote Fonua (MAC); 2, Api Sione (MAC); 1, Johnny Lauano (NOBM).
Taradale v Tamatea:
3, Kaleb Sweet (Taradale); 2, Iakopo Lemalu (Tamatea); 1, Uta Tupuola (Taradale).
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports v Clive:
3, Hamish Willis (Pirate); 2, Mark Atkins (Clive); 1, Michael Allardice (Pirate).
Tech v Central:
3, Trent Boswell-Wakefield (Tech); 2, Hugh Reed (Tech); 1, Scott Mogford (Tech).
Leaderboard
16 points: Hugh Reed (Tech).
11 points: Mark Atkins (Clive).
10 points: Mark Braidwood (Tech).
9 points: Brendon Edmonds (Havelock).