At the moment life consists of late night studying, early morning nappy changes, lectures and study periods, trainings, work and no sleep. But keeping my eye on the goal and bettering my family’s’ future is what’s keeping me going.

I’ve found that using free time between classes as my study periods have helped so that I am not cutting into family time at home although, when the kids are down I’m finding I am pulling out the laptop again. The tutors are amazing and are always a message away.

For rugby, I played my 100th Premier game for my club – Hastings Rugby and Sport earlier this month (May) and received my blazer which I found quite special. I have been working with the Lindisfarne School 1st XV as a forwards technical advisor and also took a few Flaxmere College students during the school holidays for a several training drills and mentoring. Helping the younger ones in rugby particularly is one of my passions and for me it is very rewarding.

I have made the decision to donate a kidney to a relative. This means I will be giving up rugby completely. I have been in and out of hospital undergoing numerous tests to make the operation an easy and successful one. Given that hypothetically this will be my last year of rugby, I have set myself a goal and I am back in the gym to try and make Hawkes Bay 7s one last time and do my province proud.

With all this, I am also working full time at Hohepa as a Wake over Residential Supervisor  3-4 nights a week, and I’m also a proud father to my 3 beautiful kids whom I adore and give all my free time and energy to. I am blessed to have such a supportive family who are all understanding of my situation and help, where need be, without hesitation. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do what I am doing.

I’d like to acknowledge Sport Hawkes Bay for granting me the EIT Sports Scholarship. I feel it’s been a great motivation and it’s helped in so many ways and for that I am grateful.

It is a bitter sweet feeling knowing that my rugby career is coming to an end but having started on another career is just as exciting. Becoming a Teacher and giving back to the community is what’s in line and I am more than ready to take on any challenges.

Lastly and most importantly I want to thank God for giving me the strength and courage to live the life I live.