New Zealand celebrities with Te Awamutu connections, James McOnie (left) and Ian Foster. Photo / Jesse Wood
New Zealand celebrities with Te Awamutu connections, James McOnie (left) and Ian Foster. Photo / Jesse Wood
You could sense the excitement in the air at Te Awamutu Sports on Sunday night as coach Ian Foster brought the All Blacks’ first squad naming of the year to his former rugby club.
Foster said that they want the All Blacks to have a link with grassroots rugby and they realise how important club rugby is.
“Often when we name the All Blacks it’s been done in studios or in bigger cities. I really felt that it’s important for this All Black team to connect to the communities throughout the wider area of New Zealand,” he said.
“I thought the club was phenomenal with how they managed the evening and the support we had, it’s a credit to the club, they had a lot of sponsors come along and a lot of supporters.
“That’s the very reason why we wanted to do a naming out in the provinces, it was a chance to link in with the support that there is, and sometimes perhaps that support doesn’t get heard all the time, but it is very much there for this All Black team. I felt it needed to be repaid.”
The clubrooms were packed with locals, players and club sponsors grasping the opportunity to see the bigwigs of New Zealand rugby - Foster, Jason Ryan, Joe Schmidt and Sam Cane - up close.
Local MC and The Crowd Goes Wild reporter James McOnie did his best to control the excitement of the crowd and keep them quiet for the cameras.
“It was just fantastic for the club and town, to have something like that brought into your town live on TV - it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity we’ll have,” said Te Awamutu Sports president Mark McNaughten.
“With Fozzie, having the thoughts to bring it back to his home club where he’s played so much rugby and supported over the years, it was awesome.
“Ian’s always been a great supporter of the club, even while he’s been under All Black duties and coaching. He’s always called me, he’s been there and watched games, he’s come to training and he spoke at our last sponsors’ night.”
Te Awamutu locals gathered for the first All Blacks squad naming of 2023. Photo / Dean Taylor
Announced on live TV by former Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy, the 36-man Rugby Championship squad contained five official new caps.
Gallagher Chiefs representatives, Samipeni Finau and Emoni Narawa, earned their first call-ups, along with St Peter’s School Cambridge alumnus Cam Roigard (Hurricanes) and Crusaders players Dallas McLeod and Tamaiti Williams.
“This is a very special day for them and their families, who I’m sure will be extremely proud of their achievements,” said Foster.
“We have a new group of exciting players who will be keen to make a difference in the All Black[s] jersey.”
Chiefs outside back Shaun Stevenson was a surprising omission but has been added as injury cover for Mark Telea, making it six new players overall named by Foster, while Chiefs centurion Damian McKenzie makes a welcome return to the squad.
Foster admitted the performances in the Super Rugby Pacific semifinals did change the squad, but was pleased with the variety of his 36 players selected.
“One [player] went in and one went out,” Foster said.
“I love the blend. We’ve got a lot of experienced players who know what it is to get ready for a World Cup and get ready for test matches. We’ve got a group that’s been through some adversity and built a lot of character last year, and we’ve got a really nice blend of some young players, who I think have played their way in through this year’s Super Rugby campaign.
Joe Schmidt (from left), Ian Foster (head coach) and Jason Ryan during the first All Blacks squad naming of 2023, at Te Awamutu Sports. Photo / Jesse Wood
“They bring a different ingredient into the group. A bit of excitement. A challenge. And the Rugby Championship’s going to be vital for us to see where they’re at and see how that looks when we narrow that down to 33.”
Foster also confirmed Sam Cane will continue as All Blacks captain.
“Sam has proven himself as a great leader of our team despite having had a disrupted couple of seasons leading into this one,” said Foster.
“We have total belief that he is the right man to lead us.”
The second-string All Blacks XV squad includes nine players who have previously played for the All Blacks, with Aidan Ross, Asafo Aumua, Pita Gus Sowakula, Folau Fakatava, Stephen Perofeta, Brett Cameron, Jack Goodhue, Akira Ioane and Brad Weber in the squad that will play in Japan next month.
Blues loose forward Hoskins Sotutu and Moana Pasifika’s Levi Aumua are notable omissions from the squads.
Ten players were unavailable for selection because of injury - Angus Ta’avao, Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, David Havili, Joe Moody, George Bower, Patrick Tuipulotu, Quinn Tupaea, Sevu Reece and TJ Perenara.
Ian Foster (left) was awarded a framed Te Awamutu Sports jersey by Te Awamutu Sports president Mark McNaughten for 100 premier games for Te Awamutu (Old Boys and Sports) and in appreciation for services to Te Awamutu Sports rugby. Photo / Katie McNaughten
During the event, Foster was awarded a framed Te Awamutu Sports jersey by McNaughten for 100 premier games for Te Awamutu (Old Boys and Sports combined) and in appreciation for services to Te Awamutu Sports rugby.
“That was a surprise. It was quite touching to receive [the framed jersey] from the club. I’ve got a lot of respect for Travis and the group there at the moment with what they’re doing,” said Foster.
“They’re getting great results, but it’s more about the extent of the activities that the club is doing, the number of people that are now involved and the way they’re trying to reach into the community. I’m proud of the club and it was nice to get some recognition for my length of service in that great club, it was pretty special.”
Among the crowd were former Te Awamutu Sports reps Chris and Jono Gibbes, as well as Waikato centurion and CEO of Sport Waikato, Matthew Cooper.
Both senior and junior Sports squads who, like the All Blacks, head to France this year for their respective world tournaments, were involved in the evening. The senior players were given the task of feeding the crowd.
