THE NEW ZELAND BARBARIANS OF KENILWORTH
In May 2007 an email was received from Dave Smith, a Kenilworth stalwart now resident in New Zealand. Two young members of his local club had been seriously injured with strokes whilst playing rugby, one being the son of the former All Blacks centre Graham Thorne. Dave decided that something had to be done to help. To this end he organised a match involving a Kenilworth Barbarians against an Orange County Select XV at Riwaka RFC on 26th June.
The Kenilworth Ba Ba’s team was to contain a lot of the Antipodeans who had played for Kenilworth over the past fifteen years or so and to augment the team Dave persuaded Todd Blackadder (24 All Black games, 14 as captain) to play as captain and also a cameo appearance from Graham Thorne. Other notable locals filled the team and Dave himself played scrum half. There was even an appearance from one of our current first XV, winger Elliott Brown, who just happened to be in the area at that time.
Dave had shirts made up in the colours of Kenilworth when he first played for them and raffled two of them to help cover his costs. Speights Brewery gave him five kegs of beer, the local Napua Tavern gave $300 and two pigs were provided for a spit roast and entertainment. Terry Crafar, father of the Crafar brothers from Wellington, donated $200. To top it all Emmerson Press in Kenilworth, UK and major sponsors of Kenilworth RFC and printers of this fine publication agreed to prepare and print and dispatch the programme for the event. Dave’s own company, ‘Rosie’s Grove’ also sponsored the event and Fund Raising will be completed in the new season when Kenilworth RFC raise some money when the players and supporters return. To date an incredible 10000 dollars has been raised by Dave and all of this will go to assist the two young lads.
For the record Kenilworth Ba Ba’s won 27-19 and were down 19-17 until the last 10 minutes. To quote Dave
“ we sat in the changing rooms one minute before the match in total silence and just looked around at each other, and after the match the same happened, nothing needed to be said, and then Toddy stood up and said well that’s about as good as it gets, and we all stood up and congratulated each other, it was about the most emotional moment I've ever experienced. Ex Kenilworth players Jeff (Head), Roly (Dane Rowlett), Tony (Munro), Tak (Norton), both Marks (Crafar and Crosbie) were magnificent and played like gladiators. It was a privilege to be in their company.”
MEMORIES OF KENILWORTH ANTIPODEANS
It was the early to mid 1990’s when Kenilworth RFC first got seriously involved with Antipodeans, the first settlers being Jim Ware and Jeff Head, both of whom returned to Australia with local lassies. Jeff and Jim (with Steve Brain) were a major part of the foundations for the re-birth of Kenilworth RFC and our dramatic rise through the leagues, culminating in Midlands 1 status in 1997. Thereafter guys came, played and returned home with many a tale to tell and there are far too many to mention here. The biggest characters by far have been Messrs Ware and Head (deemed good enough for the Warwickshire County side despite being ineligible for Kenilworth’s league games!), the non-kicking No10 ‘Shaggy’ Bourne, the legendary Dane Rowlett (Roly), who turned up with his two mates Tony Munro and Dave Farrell, ‘Donk’ McBride (to whom we paid a vastly inflated fee to only to be told by the RFU that he could not play!), Huki Wilson (he could down a beer or two!), the Crafar brothers (Lee, Mark and Scott), Mark Crosbie, Mark Hill and, during the season before last, Takerei Norton (arguably the best). Our latest two recruits last season (06/07) were Peter Erueti and Mark Hill, and they played superb roles in helping KRFC second XV lift their cup last season, as well as cameo roles in the first XV. If you are not mentioned here, it is not that we don’t remember you, we do. On behalf of Kenilworth RFC, I would like to thank Dave for organising such a superb occasion with the Kenilworth Ba Ba’s. I do not believe that there is another club at our level who would even think of this, never mind do it. It is also for a very good cause and all the members and players of Kenilworth RFC wish the two young lads well in their road to recovery.
We hope to continue the trend of Antipodeans to Kenilworth this season. One thing for sure, you will enjoy it and have many memories to take back home, if not a wife!
Ps: Season 2008/2009 has seen prop Tristan Wati and back row forward Andrew ‘Griz’ McGuire join the club.
TAKEREI LEE NORTON: KENILWORTH RFC 2005/2006
During Season 2005/2006 Kenilworth were honoured to have a truly superb player in our ranks in Tak (call me Takerei please) Norton.
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In New Zealand Tak played for Linwood, a suburb of Christchurch and was heavily into the Canterbury Crusaders. Tak was set to join another club in the UK but they let him down and in desperation he surfed the web and came up with that superb web site, www.kenilworthrugby.co.uk. He contacted the site and, by chance, we informed him that our scouts had already been despatched to New Zealand to entice anyone who could handle a rugby ball to Kenilworth RFC for the forthcoming 05/06 season. A few days later the trusty scouts (Messrs Dick, Collett, Riley, Rawlings and Brain) rather impressively arrived in Christchurch in the ‘lowest slung camper van’ (as described by Eddie Butler in the Observer) and the bond was made at Tak’s local club, aided by a rather lot of beer. I do not think that Tak has quite twigged yet that it was sure coincidence and they were actually there for the first Lions test!
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Once his details and CV had been wired back home enquiries were made with former
Kenilworth stalwarts now resident in New Zealand. The legend Roly had heard of
Tak but suggested that he may be a wee bit too good for us. That was good enough
for us and Tak was advised that he would be most welcome in Kenilworth and, if
lucky, we could even sort him out with a bride to take home, as per previous
Antipodeans. In the middle of August the young Tak appeared in Kenilworth ready
for action and pre season training. His first appearance was a truly shocking
pre season game at home against Melton Mowbray where we took a right stuffing
but the class of Tak was evident and everyone got rather excited about him and
what he had to offer. One problem though was the position to play him as he had
come as a scrum half but we needed a fly half. The other problem was his desire
to work with pigeons, which made finding the employment he wanted rather
awkward, to say the least. He then announced himself in the first league game at
Stafford and was promptly awarded the man of the match by Stafford.
I think the rest is history and Tak turned out to be truly awesome and much feared by opposing sides. His 150% commitment to the cause saw him endure some horrendous injuries with numerous bangs to the head and he missed a number of games though concussion. Following an injury at Old Laurentians he called a halt to his season but bravely returned for the Warwickshire Cup Final (his appearance as a second half sub promptly resulting in the introduction of Mick Curtis into the Broadstreet ranks) and then the play off at Peterborough where he played the second half with a patch over his eye following an injury. The eye patch did not stop him weaving his way through their ranks for a try.
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He was a bit of a showman, but who could blame him. His ‘swallow-dive’ try at Barkers Butts (so magnificently caught by the photographer) was great if you were Kenilworth but not if you were Barker Butts, and this was typical of the man. He was also much admired by other clubs, notably Coventry and Nottingham.
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He never ceased to amaze people by his observations on life and rugby. When watching his beloved All Blacks play Wales in the clubhouse he remarked, much to the amazement of all around him in the club, “that guy Dan Carter had improved since the last time I played with him”. When watching Italy nearly beat England in the Six Nations he said that he had taken over at his club from the guy with the funny hair who was the Italian scrum half. When asked if he was related to the great former All Black Captain, Tane Norton he said oh yes, he is my uncle. He also pointed out that his coach back home was the former Wales Fitness Coach, Andrew Hoare. The stories go on. He held a full bar in Italy in awe with his version of the Haka during the recent sevens tournament our guys entered and he has performed it on a number of occasions in the clubhouse.
He enjoyed his nights out with the lads, even joining in on occasions and I think it is safe to say he left Kenilworth with a larger girth than when he arrived. He did show some amazing restraint on occasions, notably his leaving BBQ when no alcohol past his lips all day. One night he let his hair down (sorry, it was let down for him I think) was the Club Dinner, where he was on a table with Dom Carrick, Reg Varney et al. Rounds of drinks were brought to the table consisting of seven waters and one vodka and guess who had the vodka. As Dom started to feel sorry for Tak he asked him to go to the bar for seven waters and one vodka and when Tak came back with his round he was told to hand them out – “who is the vodka for?” the innocent Tak asked”.
In all Tak played twenty three games for Kenilworth first XV scoring nineteen tries and in the league he trailed his buddy Andy Whitehall by one in the race to be the top league try scorer. He was a breath of fresh air and here is hoping we will see him again. If anyone knows of someone who can get him a job with pigeons then let me know and he may come back, his personal taxi driver is missing him.
W J Whitesmith
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During August 97 an air mail letter had arrived at the club. It was from a Dane Rowlatt asking about the possibilities of playing with Kenilworth whilst he was over in the UK for a couple of years. Believe it or not Kenilworth were the only club to respond to the numerous letters which Dane had sent to other clubs in the Midlands. Communications were set up and Dane was picked up at Coventry Station in Sept 98 and brought down to the club. He was not alone and had brought two mates, Tony Munro and Dave Farrell. They joined in a training session and had Brainy rather excited at their considerable skills. The club put them up in Balti Towers for their first week and then Casa Ashworth thereafter and the Kenilworth Kiwis had truly arrived. Unfortunately they arrived just at the time the RFU made their decision on Dave Bourne and neither of the trio could play in the first XV, although we later found an Irish granny for Dave Farrell to allow him to play league and cup rugby. Tony played for the twos and in the 97/98 season scored some 40 tries, 36 for the seconds, helping them, with Shaggy, to win the Second XV cup. Roly decided to try his luck at Coventry and played for their extras before coming back to us late in the 97/98 season. Illness in his family caused Dave Farrell to return home early in 1998, never to return.
During the mid season break Dane also had to return home due to the death of his father but he courageously returned for the start of the 98/99 season.
At the start of the 98/99 season we were given very good news that our, and indeed other clubs in similar positions, approaches to MPs, the RFU, etc etc had resulted in a change of rules, and that Professional clubs, like Kenilworth, could now play foreigners without the need for a work permit and as long as they signed Amateur forms. We had four unfortunately (Tony, Roly, Shaggy and Jeff) which was later reduced to three when Jeff was given home status due to the time he had spent in the UK. Only two could play and unfortunately Tony was generally the odd man out and generally had to turn out for the two's. This was a tragic loss as anyone who saw Roly and Tony play in tandem could not help but notice their telepathic understanding. Rules were rules however.
The results and performances of last season mostly spoke for themselves, with the odd lapse, and Kenilworth attained their highest ever league placing when finishing sixth in Midlands 1. Roly, Shaggy and Jeff were immense and had other teams enthusing about their skills. Roly was made player of the year and Tony got serious with Claire. All four had truly become an integral part of Kenilworth RFC and mixed with old and young alike encouraging and coaching and learning the art of a good night out at Elkharts.
All good things come to an end however and Roly, Tony and Jeff announced that they would be returning home in the summer of 99. Dave Bourne announced that his contract at Warwick University was not to be renewed and he would also be leaving (for Norway) in November. A 'Maori BBQ' was held in their honour down at the club and this was attended by over 200 people from all over the UK - those who had befriended our intrepid Antipodeans throughout their stay. Wonderful food was eaten (although we are still wondering how they did it) and Willie even managed to organise South Africa v New Zealand on the telly. Good music was laid on well into the night and club record bar takings were recorded. KRFC had said good-bye to their Antipodeans but there was only one problem - no one had actually left yet !
The festivities were repeated some two weeks later when another very large crowd turned out for Tony and Roly's 'final' leaving do, the night before they left. A similar crowd returned (well I think they went home) for the 'final final' farewell to Tony (and Claire) and Roly on the Sunday - someone remarked that they had more farewells than Frank Sinatra but we did not care. Gifts were exchanged which had Lynne and Willie in tears. The final departure was rather anticlimactic but they were gone. Kenilworth RFC was a sad place that Sunday afternoon. You will be hard pressed to find two finer ambassadors of New Zealand, two real nice guys who could never be replaced. We wish them all well for the future and hope that Tony and Claire spend a long and happy life together down under. Please return some day.
This left Jeff and Dave. We never really thought that Jeff would go but he did, taking the lovely Sophie with him. Leaving do's were held at the Boat Club, the Rugby Club and Legs Eleven. His final game was, rather fittingly, our 75th Anniversary match versus Lichfield, and in true Jeff fashion he left the stage early to tumultuous applause. Speeches and farewells were made at the club and checks were made all night that the Five Nations Trophy was still in the hands of the man from the SRU. An extra container was laid on by the club to allow Jeff to take all his Kenilworth jerseys home. Jeff and Sophie departed - Jeff delighted with his final gifts, the new IGES training top and the new Kenilworth change strip which he had coveted so long. Jeff - we thank you for your significant contribution to the Kenilworth revival in the 90's and ask you to look after Sophie - we wish you a long and happy life together.
In the summer of 2000 three more have landed!
- Lee Crafar a second row/flanker from Wellington - Johnsonville
- Huki WIlson - a prop from the same club
- Brett Plumb - a no 8/second rower from Newcastle, Australia
Watch this space!
Willie Whitesmith |
