Rugby: Ex-Waikato player stars for Wasps

Hamilton's Mark Van Gisbergen never started an NPC rugby match for Waikato but is poised to play for England next year at fullback.

Scarcely known in New Zealand outside of Hamilton Marist Rugby Club, Van Gisbergen is in London preparing for his third season with European champions Wasps.

A nominee two months ago for the Professional Rugby Players Association players' player of the year in England -- an award won by another Waikato player Bruce Reihana (Northampton) -- he played a key part in Wasps' twin-title success for 2003-04.

Van Gisbergen, 27, scored 17 points in the Heineken (European) Cup final victory over Toulouse in May and a conversion from near the touchline in a 10-6 win over Bath in the Zurich Premiership final after kicking seven conversions against Northampton in the semifinal.

His coach at Wasps -- former Waikato hooker Warren Gatland -- is convinced Van Gisbergen, contracted to Wasps for two more seasons, will be selected by England when he becomes eligible next year unless he is lured back to New Zealand on a promise of All Black prospects.

"We got him over as a first five-eighth and he played there but he has turned out to be a better fullback than most around and I think he will play for England next year, although I think (All Black selector) Wayne Smith is keen to get him back here," Gatland said during a recent visit home.

Van Gisbergen has a Dutch passport, which allowed him to immediately start playing for Wasps in 2002 as a non-foreigner, and in just over 12 months he will have completed the residential qualification for England.

"It has been an amazing two years for me. Things have gone really well," Van Gisbergen said from London.

When he left New Zealand during the 2002 season, he had just nine appearances for Waikato (all in 2001) behind him, including five off the bench in NPC.

A more than useful goal-kicking five-eighth for Marist, he missed out on NPC squad selection in 2002 and decided to try his luck overseas. He was snapped up by Wasps, who were looking for a back-up to their incumbent pivot Alex King.

After filling in for King promisingly as first-five and goal-kicker, he made such an impact on Wasps backline and defensive coach Sean Edwards that he was tried at fullback when King was fit, with England's No 15 custodian Josh Lewsey moving to the wing. He took over goal-kicking from King when the latter's form fell away late in the season.

"I pretty much never played fullback back in New Zealand, playing mostly 10 or 12, so it's pretty new to me but it's been enjoyable and I think I prefer 15 now because it seems to suit me," Van Gisbergen said.

At the time he left he had to get out of a Waikato contract but felt his career had stalled.

"I didn't know what to expect, although Wasps was one of the few clubs over here that I had heard of and while I didn't think I would enjoy London it has been brilliant.

"I have no regrets at all. It is the best thing I've done really.

"I was always able to kick goals but never got much of a chance to prove it before at this level.

So will he take the opportunity to represent England if it comes along?

"It's too far to look down the track. There's been a lot of chat here about me getting picked for England but at the end of the day if it comes along we'll see.

"Everyone wants to reach the highest level but if I heard from New Zealand that there was interest in me there I would definitely think about it because you always want to have a crack at representing your own country if you can."

- NZPA