A teacher aide at Tikipunga Primary School, Neho has been involved with coaching rugby, rugby league and golf for 20 years - long after his own children had passed through the school.
He said it was his passion that kept him involved.
"It's my love for rugby. I do it for the kids. Tikipunga is low decile, so playing rugby could get them a livelihood, make them proud and stand a little taller," he said.
"Being at the school, I see kids going through all the grades and rep teams.
"There is a bit of a struggle though. Some come through, some don't have enough home support."
Going through his own journey, Neho has seen a lot of change in the culture of club rugby.
He said his own experiences in the game and going to the All Blacks match had impacted him greatly.
"When I was growing up, alcohol was huge in the rugby culture," he said. "But now, after meeting a guy like Sonny Bill Williams, shaking his hand and seeing how he and others present themselves as role models, it's changed my perspective on what the culture should be."
With volunteering and coaching for such an extensive period comes knowledge of where rugby is locally.
He said the Northland Rugby Union was doing a stellar job at junior levels, and other sports should follow their lead.
"Over the years the numbers at junior rugby have been going up, but at high school there is quite a drop off," he said.
"If the NRU didn't inspire us the way that they do, there's no way we would be where we are."
Neho, a coach for 20 years, understands what is needed from coaches and his recent trip to Auckland has motivated him further.
"It is up to the coaches to develop the young ones' skill level, and coaches are continuing to get better.
"The lounge, meeting Sonny Bill and all the others, inspired me to stick with rugby and get better at what I can offer."
