Shane Haskell's partial blindness doesn't slow him down on the rugby field. Picture/Walt Dickson
They say you should always watch the ball into your hands.
That doesn't always work with Shane Haskell. He would probably drop it cold if he faced the ball front-on.
Haskell has just 30 percent vision, but still loves getting out and playing rugby for the Milhillians Golden Oldies team in Wairarapa-Bush. His nickname is 'Look Away.'
That's because he looks away when passed the ball.
"I've got better peripheral vision than central vision," said the 44-year-old blindside, no pun intended, flanker.
"That's probably why I'm on the side of the scrum. They tried me in the backline for my first game. The first ball bounced off my chest, the second off my head."
So the Milhillians adapted, slotting him onto the side of the scrum and let Haskell go to work in the close quarters. No need to worry about high balls and jumping in the lineout. The referees ping him at the breakdown on occasion, as he rips into the collision areas and his tackling like a fox terrier.
Haskell first played rugby at junior level, but at 16, he suddenly started to go blind. The condition stays the same and he has no more risk of injury than any other full sighted player, though he does wear headgear in case he gets too knocked about.
"I love it, the social atmosphere and the team environment. We haven't got the skills we once had, but it's good times," says Haskell.
The final fixture of the season comes this Saturday at Masterton's Memorial Park on the newish and highly regarded artificial turf. The Milhillians are facing their Golden Oldies counterparts from Wanganui, the Bohemians. The match will be curtainraiser to the Heartland Championship clash between Wairarapa-Bush and Wanganui.
The Milhillians travel around the region for games, but Haskell would love to one day get to a Golden Oldies World Festival, renowned for accentuating the social side of rugby along with the game itself.
Haskell himself, who only got back into rugby 5-6 years ago, is making up for lost time, so he plans to play for many years yet. He already keeps himself fit through biking and kayaking (driving is not an option).
Don't think he doesn't score tries, either. He says he once sidestepped through several players en route to a memorable five-pointer.
Players will call out in warning to him if an opposition player in purple shorts is in range. It is forbidden to tackle those gents, often in their 70s or even 80s.
Milhillians treasurer/secretary/player Russell Morgan says Haskell is just one of the boys.
"A lot of people don't even know of his disability. We don't advertise it unless he does something dumb! Shane gets stuck in, gets around the park and takes it up the guts. He never uses (his blindness) as an excuse," says Morgan.
Haskell loves the game and consumes plenty of it. He enjoys the radio commentaries, as they are more descriptive, but if watching rugby on TV, you will find him right up close to the box.
He works for Wairarapa Stars Trust in Masterton, helping others with disabilities, though he has been a baker in the past. Now he is set up with a specially modified computer with a larger keyboard. He has software which enlarges the print on his emails. For that he is grateful to the Blind Foundation.
"I joined them soon after (the onset of his partial blindness). I saw hope for myself then. I could have been down and depressed. They offered an Outward Bound course and that was great. The course providers had patience and treated us with respect. From that I really developed my attitude to go out and achieve," says Haskell.
*The Blind Foundation's annual street appeal will take place on Friday and Saturday October 30-31.
Volunteers will be out in force collecting on behalf of the foundation, or you can donate online at www.blindweek.org.nz or by texting 'DONATE' to 305 to make an instant $3 donation.
Your support means New Zealanders living with blindness and low vision can live a life without limits.