NBHS rugby captain benefits from grassroots upbringing
Put Napier Boys' High School 1st XV rugby captain and hooker William Robinson's successful comeback from ACL knee surgery down to his shearing and crutching background and you get a quick response.
"The fitness I get from shearing and crutching certainly helped," Robinson said in the countdown to his team's Super 8 opener against Gisborne Boys' High School at home on Saturday.
Year 13 student Robinson, 17, missed all of the 2019 season following surgery after collecting the injury while playing for the Hawke's Bay under-16s against Wellington in 2018. His first game back was three weeks ago against Lindisfarne College one of three pre-season fixtures for his side.
Dannevirke born-and-raised Robinson who is no stranger to shearing 100 sheep in a day and to regular work in a crutching gang has been in the NBHS hostel since his Year 9 days. The deputy head of hostel has watched most of the Sky Blues 1st XV home games since then and believes this season's forward pack is just as good as the one in the 2018 team which reached the National Top Four tournament.
With no National Top Four tournament this season in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic semifinals have been introduced to the Super 8 competition for the first time.
"Our goal is to reach the semifinals and go from there," Robinson said.
"Personally I want to lead the team as well as I can," Robinson said.
The Hereworth School product captained his school's under-15 team in 2016 and the Hawke's Bay under-14s in 2014. While Robinson hopes to be a professional player in the future he also intends to study in Otago or Canterbury with the aim of securing a sports science-related career.
He is expecting GBHS to arrive in Napier with a big frontrow, a talented loose forward trio and a handy midfield combination in a backline which boasts plenty of touch skills.
"It will be a typical Gisborne team which will stay in the fight for long periods," he added.
NBHS coach Brendon Ratcliffe agreed his forward pack had plenty of grunt but pointed out it is the most balanced squad he has had during his three seasons at the helm.
"We only lost eight of last year's squad and we've got three players from last year's under-15 team," Ratcliffe explained.
"We know we have the talent, ability and power. The challenge is how well that comes together and how well we respond when the heat comes on. Helping everyone understand the importance of staying clear under pressure and staying together under pressure is the key," Ratcliffe added.
The NBHS 1st XV squad's Super 8 draw for the season is:
Saturday v Gisborne Boys' High School at home 12noon;
Saturday, August 1 v Hastings Boys' High School away at 12noon;
Saturday, August 8 v Tauranga Boys College at home 12noon;
Saturday, August 15 v Hamilton Boys' High School away at 12noon;
Saturday, August 22 v Rotorua Boys' High School away at 12noon;
Thursday, August 27 v Palmerston North Boys' High School at home 12noon;
Saturday, September 5 v New Plymouth Boys' High School away at 12noon.
The NBHS 1st XV squad for the season is:
Wesley Akeripa, Kaitiaki Broughton, Gus Brown, William Carter, Jake Christian-Goss, Mitchell Curran, Nicholas Ennor, Nathan Fialip, Max Gerber, Rakai Henare, Reece Henderson, Carlos Kemp, Jock Kilmister, Bethel Leutele Malasia, Gilgal Leutele Malasia, Iafeta Maa, Ethyn Martin, Tipene Maxwell, Lochi Mead, Afa Moleli, Kaleb Pirie, Max Ratcliffe, William Robinson, Ezekiel Stewart, Jayden Stok, Hugh Taylor.
Tomorrow we will check out the Hastings Boys' High School team in the buildup to their away match against Palmerston North Boys' High School on Saturday.
