KEY POINTS:
Kurtis Haiu, the promising Auckland lock or blindside flanker, has already experienced one knockback in his short first-class career, so is determined to make the most of his recall for the Blues for the 2008 Super 14.
After being blooded with eight appearances in 2006, mostly from the
bench, Haiu missed the cut for this year, making only the wider squad.
Until then Haiu had had a pretty meteoric rise in national rugby after starring in the Sacred Heart College first XV. He made the national secondary schools side, locking in 2002 with Napier Boys High product and 2007 Hawke's Bay representative Bryn Evans, who'll be a Blues team-mate next year. He won selection for the national under-19s in 2003, the colts in 2004 and has been an Auckland team regular in the past three seasons.
His re-selection also comes after the Blues lost All Black lock Ali Williams in a much-publicised episode last season. Next year, the Blues' locking stakes will be divided between Haiu, Evans, North Harbour's Anthony Boric and All Black Troy Flavell.
"After missing out this year, getting my place back for next year was always my goal," said Haiu.
"I was pretty gutted to miss, but knew that I'd had an up-and-down season in 2006 and had to be more consistent."
His return to form and favour may have coincided with a removal of his trademark mop of hair in favour of a conservative, almost old-fashioned short back and sides. There was a pragmatic reason for the change; it made him less of an on-field target.
"Opposition players used to pull my hair all the time," he said.
At just 23, Haiu learned not to be downcast by his Blues omission. He realised he was competing for spots with a wide range of talented players, both as locks and in his favourite blindside flank position, and he had an extensive season in club rugby with Marist.
Haiu is 1.96m and weighs 110kg, which in terms of a modern, international lock is not overly big. Most are at least 1.98m and several, even in New Zealand, are more than 2m tall.
Haiu, however, makes up for his relative lack of size by being extremely athletic with a natural spring, which comes from a basketball background.
In fact, a little like Michael Jones about 20 years ago, Haiu as a teenager was torn between playing either rugby or basketball. He played in an under-14 representative basketball side and confesses that even now it probably remains his favourite sport.
But at Sacred Heart, one of Auckland college rugby's strongholds, he found rugby taking over. He had four years in the first XV and among his team-mates was the Tonga captain at this year's World Cup, Nili Latu, and Bay of Plenty representative first five-eighths Murray Williams.
Haiu's Polynesian family background is one with a difference. He is not, like so many other Auckland players, of Samoan, Tongan or Fijian heritage. His father hails from Wallis and Futana, between Samoa and Fiji and, as it's French territory, means Haiu might even qualify to play for France.
But he classes himself very much a New Zealander, as his mother's a Kiwi and he was born in Whangarei.
While he'd like to play at number six at some stage, Haiu will settle for locking in the meantime. Pointing out that over the past three years he has been up against the likes of Jerome Kaino and Angus Macdonald for a starting place, he says: "I'm just happy to be in the team."
