Chris Back has joined the staff of the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise as the manager of the development programme.
Steelform Wanganui manager Chris Back is beginning to see the pathway to making rugby his fulltime profession after he has been head hunted for the second time in two years for a major opportunity.
At the end of January, it was officially announced Back had been appointed the manager for the Hurricanes Development Programme, which will see him manage the Super Rugby franchise's Development XV and the Under 20 squad for eight matches over a two month period, with kickoff next Sunday.
He will be responsible for around 23 players with full Hurricanes contracts, plus 15-20 others who will "come and go" from provinces around the Hurricanes catchment to take part in the games.
Back has spent the last several weeks preparing and confirming the itinerary for the teams as it relates to their training camps, travelling to-and-from the Hurricanes home base at Rugby League Park in Vogeltown, and all the other requirements of a professional sports group.
"Obviously it's a great opportunity to work with the Hurricanes organisation, and get in at the ground floor," he said.
"It's a professional development for me.
"It's a bit like a Wanganui season – once the logistics are in place and the players are coming into camp, then it's just [managing] the players that are coming and going."
The elevated level of professionalism still takes some getting used too.
On one hand, Back had to sit down and write out significant financial budget reports for the first time, covering both the Development and Under 20 campaigns.
On the other, he has more time to do so as the more menial tasks he would do in Heartland rugby – like organising everything from the water bottles to nutrition and equipment deliveries – can be directly delegated to specialist staff.
"It's more involved, but it's your key role, you only have to do your bit," he said.
With the main Hurricanes squad currently off to start their Super Rugby campaign with two games in South Africa, he has had a chance to learn about the impressive facilities at Rugby League Park while they are not so packed.
"The big thing is, these boys that come and join our team, they'll be training with the Hurricanes when they're in New Zealand."
Back will travel to Wellington every Wednesday and stay for the rest of the week, including any travelling for the Saturday games, before returning to Whanganui on Sundays.
It is a large commitment – Back had to cancel a planned family holiday to Thailand to take the role, while asking his wife and daughter to become more involved in their Wanganui Steelformers business during his absence.
"It's a big ask of the family as well. [But] they were the first ones to say 'go for it'."
Given the Super Rugby organisation "shoulder tapped" him to do the job, Back sees this as a gateway to possibly entering professional rugby management in a fulltime capacity.
Although nothing is promised with the Hurricanes after these eight weeks, Back will have had opportunity to make connections with all the other New Zealand Super Rugby personnel, while there could also be the prospect of finding a position with a Mitre 10 Cup union.
"If I keep doing what I do and do it well, something may come of it," he said.
"I've always got the family business to fall back on."
Wanganui rugby could also well benefit from his elevation, given Back will be working closely with the likes of Hurricanes recruitment and development manager Darren Larsen, who coaches these teams, as well as Richard Watt, the franchise's technical coach.
He is hopeful of getting them to come to Whanganui to help out later in the year.
"Our [representative] season starts when theirs ends, so it would be silly not to utilise them."
Back earned attention as a very good rugby manager after ten seasons with the Wanganui team, during which they have been the most successful side in the amateur Heartland Championship with six Meads Cup titles and one Lochore Cup.
He served as manager of the New Zealand Heartland XV from 2009 to 2015 alongside multiple coaching staff.
Last year, Back was approached by the NZRFU to manage the Provincial Barbarians for the opening game of the British & Irish Lions tour in Whangarei.
He also managed the NZ Marist XV, which played the New Zealand Heartland XV in Timaru in November.
