Of his upcoming move to England in August to play semi-professional rugby for a club near London, Pukenui's Trent Nattrass has no reservations.
"I'm pumped!"
Based in Hamilton, where he plays premier rugby for Fraser Tech, Nattrass accepted an offer from Westcombe Park RFC last month. The 23-year-old builder said the UK move came after talking to club team-mate and Fraser Tech captain, Tyrone Child, who has been playing rugby in Northern and Southern Hemispheres in alternative seasons.
The former Kaitaia College student was offered a package where he gets paid for each appearance while the club will provide building work to supplement his income.
A British passport through his father's side of the family will provide plenty of freedom and allow him to play at higher levels if he turns the right heads.
The son of Robert and Joanne of Pukenui, Trent grew up playing Mangonui JMB rugby with Te Aupouri from under-7s to 11s, and Waipapakauri in the under-13s. From there, he gained selection into the Mangonui Culhams primary schools team (now the Taniwha Shield) and subsequently made the Northland Roller Mills side, his first representative appearance.
He went on to play IMB rugby for Te Rarawa, Pirates and Kaitaia, then 1st XV rugby for Kaitaia College, featuring in the side which shared the Northland secondary schools championships with Kamo in 2005.
He left Kaitaia at age 18 and moved to Hamilton to take up a scholarship with St Paul's Collegiate, a strong rugby college in east Hamilton. For the past three years, Nattrass has been playing for the Fraser Tech seniors in the Waikato Premier competition - alongside another Far North talent Jimmy Horsford - and has also made the Waikato development team.
Throughout his sporting career, Trent has developed his play at centre and first or second-five.
While he plays centre for Fraser Tech, his favourite jersey is the No.10 (first-five).
"You get your hands on the ball more, you get to run the team a bit more."
Nattrass believed the confidence at any of the three pivotal midfield back roles was developed by influential coaches from his younger playing days, Johnny Everitt at Te Kao, and Sammy Smith at Ahipara.
Not surprisingly, his favourite player was All Black and Crusaders first-five Dan Carter, who many consider the best rugby player in the world. He also admired relative newcomer, Hurricanes first-five Beauden Barrett, for his style of play: "He's awesome, just takes it to the line."
Before he leaves, Nattrass will be keenly monitoring the progress of Fraser Tech as the side attempts to defend the Waikato Breweries Shield it's held aloft for the past two seasons.
Currently sitting at the top of the table Fraser Tech were again expected to feature strongly in the playoffs but Nattrass was no longer part of the equation after a late tackle left him with a broken jaw while playing against Te Awamutu last month.
"We were doing a move and I just got smashed."
On the positive side, the injury was less likely to be a potentially career-ending injury, like a shorn knee ligament for example, and doctors believe his jaw, once healed, will be stronger than before.
Fraser Tech coach and former All Black winger Roger Randall has expressed hopes Nattrass will be fully recovered in time to play in the final if the team progresses that far.
The focus was on the upcoming English sojourn.
Nattrass, who expects to be playing a similar standard of club football to the Waikato, said he will be doing his best to help the long-standing club regain promotion following last season's heart-wrenching relegation to championship three competition in its final game.