Bay Harbour: February 05, 2020

PAGE 6 Wednesday February 5 2020
BAY HARBOUR
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Razor Robertson giving Sumner
grass roots rugby an edge
• By Gordon Findlater
HE MAY have started his bid for
a fourth straight Super Rugby
title with the Crusaders, but
coach Scott Robertson still has
time for something at the grass
roots which makes him tick.
Robertson might be one of the
biggest names in World Rugby,
but outside of the day-to-day
running of the Crusaders it’s the
progression of his local Sumner
colts side playing on the back of
his mind.
This comes to fruition on
Tuesday and Thursday evenings
when Robertson finishes his day
with the Crusaders at Rugby
Park and heads to colts training
to help the Sumner teenagers as
what he describes as a technical
adviser role for the team.
“I’m just giving back,” said
Robertson.
In the past Sumner have
tried, but failed to establish and
maintain a colts side – which is
crucial for the development of
players out of secondary school
before moving to premier grade.
Robertson had the same pathway
to achieve his dreams as a
teen at the Mt Maunganui club
before moving south. He now
hopes Sumner will be able to
offer the same opportunity for its
local players.
“That’s what I would like, the
opportunity for one of the local
boys from Sumner to have what
I had and be given a pathway to
achieve what they can and play
for Canterbury, Crusaders and
the All Blacks.”
Robertson – a life member at
Sumner – says the emergence of
the Storm colts team this year is
a massive step for the club.
“Colts grade is tough. We
know the participation rates in
rugby is an area that needs attention
and it’s a real challenge
for us.
“Being involved is just what
anyone would do for their club,
just to keep to connected with
the young players because we
know how important they are for
our game,” said Robertson.
It’s easy to see that Sumner has
a special place in Robertson’s
TALENT: Ollie Lewis will steer the Sumner Storm backline after
a standout season at Christchurch Boys’ High School in 2019.
heart. He has lived in the seaside
community for 20 years and
began his coaching career with
the club. He was a player coach
for the club’s top side and after
undefeated division 2 campaigns
in 2008 and 2009 they gained
promotion to the premier
competition for the first time
in 2010. He coached the side to
a debut 6th-place finish, before
concentrating on his role with
Canterbury at the time.
His passion for the colts team
has already rubbed off on some
of its players. First-five Ollie
Lewis played his junior rugby
at Sumner and now after five
years at Christchurch Boys’
High School – which included
playing for New Zealand Schools
last year – is returning to his
boyhood club with the Storm.
“We just had a little gettogether
the other week and he
was really passionate. I think all
the boys thought, hang on this is
something else. It’s pretty cool to
have him come along and show
how much passion he has for the
CLUB MAN:
Robertson has
been helping
coach the
Sumner colts
side on Tuesday
and Thursday
evenings. In
recent years
he has built a
reputation as one
of the globe’s top
rugby coaches
after winning
three straight
Super Rugby
titles with the
Crusaders.
club,” said Lewis.
“I don’t think too many clubs
have a Super Rugby coach
coming down to training.”
The 18-year-old was part of
a very strong junior side also
called the Storm several years
ago.
Lewis says the side spent four
years together and could count
the amount of losses they had
on one hand. The boys then
departed for secondary school
and many eventually played first
XV rugby.
However, five years ago
somewhat of a pact was made to
regroup in 2020 and get a colts
team running.
“We always wanted to come
back and play for Sumner,” said
Lewis.
The side is coached by Gareth
D’Almeida who was a player
under Robertson’s reign with the
club’s premier side.
“It’s been a long time in the
making,” said D’Almeida.
“There’s a good core group of
them that played junior rugby
together for Sumner. They would
have been eight or nine. They’ve
had Storm 2020 gear for the last
three years. That’s always been to
finish school and aim for 2020.
“If you don’t have colts, you
don’t have a pathway. They go
to first XV, but where do they
go from there. If you’re a sharp
half-back or first-five you might
go straight to div one, but ideally
they want to play premier colts
for a year and go from there.”
D’Almeida says that Robertson
has played a key role in establishing
the colts side and believes his
presence at training is a massive
boost for the players.
“Razor’s been involved with
that right through the years as
well. He’s certainly there to help
. . . he’s just keen to see it get off
the ground,” said D’Almeida.
“If you’re a budding young
rugby player and you’ve got the
Crusaders head coach cruising
around, it’s absolutely a big
drawcard and equally he could
have been the All Blacks coach.”
Robertson says his involvement
with Sumner is just one
aspect to his values of wanting
to give back to grass roots rugby
which he fondly remembers
growing up. He also expressed
he has and open door policy for
coaches from club rugby to come
into the Crusaders and up-skill.
“Grass roots rugby is the lifeblood
of communities and the
spirit of our nation, so everyone’s
got their little part to play,” said
Robertson.
“I think it’s key that everyone
has a role in their club. I just see
the role in my club as connecting
people and to get people to
continue their love for rugby.”
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