• Significant milestone for Central rugby loosie

Significant milestone for Central rugby loosie

Central Rugby and Sports loosie Tomo Fogarty will play his 100th premier match for the club tomorrow.

Reaching 100 games is something I've always wanted to do and to tick it off when I'm reasonably young ... well I couldn't be happier," Fogarty, 26, said in the countdown to Central's Maddison Trophy fifth round match against Tamatea Rugby and Sports at Bill Mathewson Park.

The Service Equipment mechanic is keen to have a crack at matching fellow loosie Warwick Slingsby's feat of 250 premier games for the club.

"If the body allows me to I want to play as long as possible. There are so many injuries these days and you are always hoping you don't get hurt," Fogarty (pictured above) explained.

He is expecting a tough encounter tomorrow.

"Tamatea are always stronger at home and it's going to take a good 80-minute effort to beat them," Fogarty said.

He pointed out Central are enjoying the services of New Zealand under-20s squad first five-eighth Harry Godfrey and Magpies wider training group lock Frank Lochore.

"We're very lucky to have Harry. He has been the difference in the games we have won and hopefully, he hangs around."

Fogarty made his premier debut in 2015 and has represented the Hawke's Bay Sevens and Hawke's Bay Saracens. He hopes to play for the Saracens again this season.

"I don't chase Sevens selection anymore as I enjoy fishing and diving in the summer so I can provide food for the family," Fogarty said.

He ranked two wins against Havelock North at Anderson Park and playing alongside All Black lock Brodie Retallick in 2019 as the highlights of his premier career.

"It's not every day you can play with an All Black," Fogarty added.  

While Fogarty will play his 100th match the Napier Technical Old Boys club will be in belated Centennial celebrations mode this weekend. The club turned 100 last year but the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the celebrations from taking place.

More than 400 people are expected to participate in the celebrations which begin with the opening get together at the Whitmore Park clubrooms tonight.
At least 15 games will be played at the venue tomorrow. The Texans will host defending champions Hastings Rugby and Sports in their round five Maddison  Trophy match.

Tomorrow night's Centennial Dinner will be staged at Taradale's Pettigrew-Green Arena. Former All Black and Texans loosie Richard Turner will be the MC and former All Black lock Ian Jones will be the guest speaker.

A feature of the function will be the auctioning of 15 commemorative jerseys produced for the centennial.

Other fifth-round encounters will see Napier Old Boys Marist host MAC at Tremain Field and Clive Rugby and Sports host Taradale Rugby and Sports at Farndon Park.