It's a version of rugby where the pace is fast and the players are everyday men, not super athletes who look like they could move mountains just by leaning on them.
The players have the bodies of All Blacks - just not today's All Blacks.
The under-85kg club rugby grade
is the fastest-growing grade in Auckland and now has more than 600 players.
And it's not just about avoiding being hammered by giants.
"It's more about playing a particular style of fast-paced game than avoiding the ugly stuff with players whose thighs are wider than your whole torso," says Caleb Hardie, an 80kg wing who converted from senior level to the under-85kg grade about six years ago.
"But the weight is an equaliser. You're not likely to see big scores in this grade because there's more of a level playing field between teams."
His Varsity Legends teammate Duncan Hawkesby, an 84kg lock, also loves the speed of the game.
"I haven't played senior rugby as I look 20kg too light for a rugby player and I'd get snapped in half. But even if I had the choice, I would choose this grade."
Men in this grade would have dealt to the likes of the late Ponty Reid, who played in the 1950s and was 1.6m tall and weighed less than 63kg.
In 1985, all but one of the All Black backs weighed less than 85kg. But now, the average All Black back weighs in at 93kg, and the average for forwards is 111kg.
The manager of the under-85s grade, Craig Lister, says this trend is why more and more men with a passion for playing rugby are turning to the league.
"There's always been leagues with weight restrictions, but this is the fastest growing and most popular league in the country."
There are 27 teams gearing up to kick off the season this month , seven more teams than five years ago, he says.
"And they're a real diverse bunch of guys. We've got professionals, tradesmen, unemployed, convicts, even chaplains like Caleb [Hardie].
"Senior level guys will lose 20kg just to play in our league. Others will come down and find they can't hack the pace.
"We may not have the luxury of tapping a penalty and giving the ball to Junior, who'll just flop over the line ... but we do have the luxury of moving a guy from centre to lock."
The camaraderie also appeals, according to Mitch Canning, coach of the Auckland under-85s representative team.
"These Varsity Legends guys don't want to play for anyone else. They love the stripe, the jerseys, the supporters.
"It's a balance between a social and a competitive grade. The guys here equally value playing well and gaining friends and having a drink after the game."
And avoiding the rough stuff is a bit of a myth, he says.
"The knocks are still big ... but the social element is as important as the competition."
Caleb Hardie (left) and Duncan Hawkesby welcome the friendships forged after their fast-paced runs in the under-85kg grade. Picture / Greg Bowker
It's a version of rugby where the pace is fast and the players are everyday men, not super athletes who look like they could move mountains just by leaning on them.
The players have the bodies of All Blacks - just not today's All Blacks.
The under-85kg club rugby grade
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