Rugby runs deep in the Ross family

People talk about the rugby family, and most of us shrug. But today it happens.
Wanganui rugby centre Logan Vaughan has an uncle called Jock Ross.
Yes, big Jock, former All Black lock, icon of Mid Canterbury rugby. We're not sure whether he'll be at Cooks Gardens today, but two of Vaughan's cousins will ? Mid Canterbury lock Adam Ross and standby prop Jarrod Ross, both sons of Jock.
Vaughan says he and Adam Ross were in the New Zealand Army team last year ? so yes, rugby does indeed cross boundaries and islands with its closeness.
But no family togetherness at Cooks Gardens today, promises Vaughan. The tough 29-year-old Army captain from Waiouru has been a stand-out for Wanganui this year for his tough mental attitude, his organisation and his resourcefulness when things go wrong.
He's the "Mr Fixit" of the Steelform Wanganui backline, the man who has been able ? consistently ? to pick up a dropped ball in midfield and get his side going again.
It's been a priceless asset. Vaughan is modest:
"It's good to have a bit of responsibility," was his reply.
So he's going to be a major loss next week when Wanganui has to travel to Oamaru to play the dangerous North Otago side next Saturday.
"A good friend of mine is getting married in Taupo ? it's not something I could miss," Vaughan said. And that's a shame. Because I know quite a few of the North Otago boys."
Vaughan, of course, has played senior club rugby for Christchurch's Burnside Club before transferring to Waiouru this season. Outside of the New Zealand Army team, he had never made a representative side ? so he's thriving on his late start.
But back to today, and the Ross connection. "Jock (Ross) is my uncle, Adam and Jarrod are my cousins. They're right into their footie.
"I've already had a couple of texts from Jarrod about the game ? mind you, they're not talking it up much, but I do know from other mates that they (Mid Canterbury) are quite confident.
"And they'll be all right."
Vaughan was one of a chastened Wanganui crew who watched midweek their video of the 41-30 win against Poverty Bay and came away knowing it probably wasn't as good an effort as they thought.
"We probably weren't talking enough, we were pretty quiet, a bit flat ? and we didn't have the ball. It's always better when we're attacking, as opposed to just defending.
"Once we had the ball, we were all right."
On today's game?
"If we cut out our mistakes, we'll be okay."