Scott Wards has had some pretty cool moments on a rugby field but none topped the moment when he pulled on the boots alongside his son Kylan Wards.
The 52-year-old Tauranga Sports player lined up alongside his son, 18, in the club’s Under-85kg side last year, an experience he says will be hard to top.
The father-and-son pairing have again been named in Tauranga Sports’ squad for this year’s national knockout competition, which gets underway later this month.
The club is also looking for local players interested in joining the weight-restricted grade.
While Scott Wards enjoyed his return to rugby last season, he’s not desperate for another run if there are enough players available.
“I’m trying not to – I’ve been vigorously trying to put on weight so I’m over the limit,” he said.
Wards told the team he was happy to help out if the team were short on players.
“I broke a finger last year and dislocated another and the body took a while to come right, but I’ve been keeping fit just in case, so that if I need to come on, I won’t go out and get folded.”
A former Waikato Premier halfback, Wards found himself in unfamiliar territory when he returned to the field as a prop last season in the New Zealand Rugby weight-graded tournament.
“That was a real shift for me because I’d spent so much time on the field giving the forwards constructive feedback and all of a sudden I was thrust in there,” Wards said.
“My very first scrum, I just wasn’t paying attention and ended up a metre off the ground.”
The Under-85kg competition appealed to Wards because of its inclusive nature, with players from a wide range of ages and backgrounds able to take part.
The father-and-son pairing have again been named in Tauranga Sports’ squad for this year’s national knockout competition.
Teams from around New Zealand compete and players do not need to be registered club members.
Tauranga Sports reached the third round in its debut campaign last year and are hoping to go further this season under coaches Kyle McLean, Jason Henry and Sam Neilson.
Neilson and Wards also coach the Tauranga Sports Colts, in which Kylan Wards plays, with Scott Wards having coached many of the team through from younger age groups.
“A lot of fathers dream about playing sport with their kids, but rugby is a little different because your body has to be willing too,” Wards said.
“I couldn’t have been prouder that Kylan and his mates were open to me playing and it was special to pull on the boots alongside young men that I’ve coached over the years.”
Rugby players interested in joining the Tauranga Sports Under-85kg team can contact [email protected].