Rejuvenated Waverley rugby has spinoffs for town

The lads of Waverley are back in club competition. They are focused, keen and living their rugby.    Reporter Lin Ferguson finds out about the new team putting Waverley on the map.
Waverley Rugby coach Derek Brooks is a man with great mana. He has a level stare, impeccable manners and cares about his community.
At the beginning of this year the rules of engagement were changed at the Borders Rugby Club in Waverley, with a unanimous vote to join the Wanganui Rugby Union again. The rules changed, and so too did the lives of more than 30 of Waverley's young males.
Mr Brooks quickly realised that the transition from being affiliated with Taranaki back to Wanganui meant a senior B team was needed again.
So he put the word out around town that he was forming the new team and the boys spread the word among their mates and cousins within hours.
On the first night of training and selection there were 28 keen young men lined up at the rugby ground ready and waiting. Some of them hadn't played rugby for five years - and some of them hadn't played rugby in their lives,  Mr Brooks said.
"I couldn't believe how many boys turned up. That's when I knew we'd done the right thing changing over to Wanganui. I could now see a future for our boys on the rugby field. They had no chance with Taranaki. Taranaki were too strong."
Most of the boys who rolled in to join the new team had been bored for too long and had been spending their time out roaming and finding trouble, he said. Waverley senior Constable Brian Rooks said the new rugby team had meant many of Waverley's young chaps had turned a corner, which was unprecedented in the town.
Over the past three months the crime rate in the small South Taranaki had all but gone, he said.
"They're on the rugby field and the crime rate's gone down - right down."
Mr Rooks says he sees the same young chaps walking home after 10pm and when he pulls over to ask them what they're up to they tell him they're just walking home after the pub.
"They grin at me now and tell me how great their game was. Even if they've lost they're happy. The difference is incredible. Before rugby they used to look at me like 'what do you want?' - not any more. They're happy to be going home and playing rugby. These boys are proud."
Team member Marewa Edwards said the new team was the "best".
"We have a positive attitude, we enjoy it and we all support each other all the time. There's a real sense of belonging, like you know."
Teammate Rodney Tutahione agreed, "Yeah, best thing that's happened for us Waverley boys. We're a team now and a good one too."
 
The small community of Waverley is backing the team to the hilt.
From solid sponsorship from the local pub and other businesses to a huge group of supportive fans,
Waverley has taken up its new rugby team with relish.
At a home game a few weeks ago there were 500 spectators - unheard of in Waverley.
In Wanganui that number would equate to around a crowd of about 15,000, Mr Rooks said.
"It's just fantastic."
And a home game now for the team means a crowd of locals young and old all around the fields and packed into the small grandstand.
Some of Waverley's old stalwart rugby fans who haven't been seen out and about for a while are back "rugged up" and enjoying the action, Mr Brooks says.
"After the match the clubrooms are so packed you can hardly move," Marewa said.
The premier team and senior Bs share the after match catering at the club.
"We all bring in pots and plates of food with our families help and there's always heaps for everyone."
Everyone loves to have a couple of "quiet ones"after the game, the boys say.
"But no drugs, we don't have drugs in this team. Ever."
Rodney grins and says no girls are allowed in the team either.
"It's strictly boys only playing for our team."
Their training nights, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, is still attracting new boys who want to play.
"No one misses training. We have more than 30 boys wanting in,"Mr Brooks says.
Some of players haven't played for about four or more years whereas others haven't played at all but they all just want to be part of the great team, Mr Brooks said.
One 16-year-old who had never played before is now touted as "the machine".
"He's on the field and says, 'What do I do now?'  'Run that way,' we tell him and you want see him go. He's so fast, he's a real machine." 
Whether it's an away game or at home the boys are there, shined up and ready to play.
"We really look forward to Saturdays every week. It's so good always having something to look forward to," the boys say.
Mr Brooks believes that in two to three years and this team will be right up there in terms of skill level.
"This team is the future of rugby for Waverley. These boys are leading the way for those little fellas coming up."
And from the town constable, "This does my heart good. You can't beat getting those boys off the street and on to the rugby field. Works every time."