More than happy on the sidelines

Clayton McMillan is adamant he's played his last game at any level.

The former Bay of Plenty Steamers and New Zealand Divisional captain has recently returned to his home town of Rotorua after three years as a professional rugby player with Coca Cola in Japan.

As a player he is officially retired, although some boots might still be needed for Whakarewarewa's new coach to trudge the sometimes muddy sidelines of Bay of Plenty's Baywide premier club competition.

"When I left New Zealand I was quite happy my career here was over," McMillan, 32, told the Daily Post . "Playing [again] is not part of my long-term plan, especially if I'm not going to play representative football and, also, if there are young guys there."

The former Rotorua policeman and adaptable loose forward believes there is no reason to contemplate a player/coach role for Whakarewarewa - last year's Baywide champions.

"There's more benefit having me on the sideline - if [Whakarewarewa] needed it, playing might be a good thing in the short term but it does nothing long term."

In the short term McMillan's presence on the Whakarewarewa sideline has already been beneficial. Last weekend the red and blacks secured Rotorua's prestigious Banner trophy, winning 28-19 after an absorbing pre-season final with Rotoiti.

The new coach considers himself a pretty critical rugby judge, and said part of his personal challenge was to balance a search for perfection with reality.

McMillan, who had unofficially coached in Japan, believes there is a future for him in rugby in the region and is all about long term.

The former Rotorua Boys' High School prefect has played regularly for Whakarewarewa and Bay of Plenty, notching up 113 games for the Bay. A Steamer from 1995-2003, he is a proud Rotorua and Bay of Plenty rugby man and believes you can't have one without the other.

He was also an active member of Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao Kapa Haka Group, performing at regional and national competitions.

Throughout his sporting career McMillan has proved to be an outstanding leader. He will be working in that role at Rotorua Boys' High School. McMillan will be the director of the school's new Leadership Programmes and establishment of a Leadership Centre.

McMillan will oversee leadership and development opportunities for students as the school looks for other leadership opportunities other than traditional prefects and captains.

RBHS principal Chris Grinter said they want to establish a more formal set of programmes that provided all students with the opportunity to explore and develop leadership capability.

It is believed that perhaps only one or two schools in New Zealand have taken this proactive stance relative to developing leadership in young people.