Former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith will speak during a Rotorua Boys' High School rugby fundraiser on November 9. Photo / File
Former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith will speak during a Rotorua Boys' High School rugby fundraiser on November 9. Photo / File
When it comes to rugby experience, you would be hard pressed to find a duo more knowledgeable than Mike Delany and Wayne Smith.
On November 9, Rotorua rugby fanatics will have an exclusive opportunity to pick the brains of the two veterans during a fundraising dinner at the Rotorua Boys'High School Millenium Centre.
Raukura old boy Delany, who just finished his final season with the Bay of Plenty Steamers, has played Super Rugby for the Highlanders, Chiefs and Crusaders - who he won the competition with this year - and made a single appearance for the All Blacks in 2009. He also spent time playing in Japan and England.
Smith played 17 tests for the All Blacks as a player before becoming one of the masterminds behind the scenes. He was assistant coach of the All Blacks for 16 years and is widely considered their tactical genius, having helped engineer Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015. He also helped the Chiefs win 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby titles.
Smith and Delany will take part in a question and answer session during the event, which is being held to help the school's first XV, as well as some development players, tour Europe next year.
Rotorua Boys' co-director of rugby Deon Muir said the first XV along with some promising under-15 players were set to travel and play in France, Italy and Spain in April next year. The team will play five or six games during the tour.
Mike Delany in action for the Bay of Plenty Steamers during this year's Mitre 10 Cup. Photo / Getty Images
"We had a young team this year and we probably didn't hit the expectations we wanted to.
"We only lose three players this year, so expectations will be quite high for us to perform next year. This tour at the start of the year will really help set up our team culture," Muir said.
"It's life experience as well, the chance to travel Europe and experience different cultures. It will be a great experience on and off the field. We're trying to build better human beings, not just rugby players, and we can really build character on a trip like that."
Muir said the trip came with a big cost and the players were all involved in fundraising to help make it happen.
"We host the Tai Mitchell Tournament during the holidays and were fundraising with barbecues and things during that.
"We're very lucky to get Wayne Smith and Mike Delany coming to the dinner, they both have a wealth of experience. They both have illustrious careers."
There will also be an auction held during the dinner, with some unique items up for sale including an Oklahoma City Thunder singlet signed by Steve Adams, signed All Blacks jerseys, a Hunting and Fishing package and a North Queensland Cowboys jersey signed by Johnathan Thurston.
Tickets are $100 per head or $1000 for a corporate table (10 per table). To buy a ticket or for more information call the school on 07 348 6169 or email Deon Muir at dmuir@rbhs.school.nz.
