Under 85s raise the curtain on a NZ Rugby success story

Auckland University Debt Collectors with some of the All Blacks.
Photo: Supplied

“A bit of cold steel doesn’t bend, doesn’t fold. Two sledgehammers. Go on the field, boys go to work. Cold stuff, Steely Dan … it’s just built from that.”

Before the All Blacks take on the Pumas at FMG Stadium tonight, these somewhat bizarre words will be ringing around the changing rooms of one of the teams playing in a rare curtain-raiser match. The Auckland University Debt Collectors are taking on defending National Under-85kg Club Cup champions the Southern Bush Pigs, with the game kicking off at 4.15pm.

Debt Collectors player Cory Larsen, who also acts as his club’s game development officer, provided the aforementioned team mantra at an NZ Rugby event to promote the final on Friday. He said the game was an “experience of a lifetime”.

“The road to get here’s been hard, we’ve played seven games in the last 28 days. We’re excited and we’ve got one more bit of silverware to collect. Getting to play before the All Blacks is going to be the highlights of a lot of the boys’ careers, so cheers to NZ Rugby for chucking it on for us.”

Debt Collectors player and game development officer Cory Larsen.
Photo: Supplied

The final is the culmination of three months of competition play between 49 teams from across the country, which was on top of their own local grade play and often involved midweek fixtures.

NZR Participation Development Manager Mike Hester, who has driven the National Cup idea for the last three seasons, said that getting the final held as a test curtain raiser showed the potential the grade had going forward.

“It’s really special to think that we’ve grown it to a point where it is recognised as a national competition and given the eminence to share the same stage as the All Blacks, it’s remarkable. To think we’ve been able to achieve it in only three years shows how much support there is for this grade and the opportunities that it has.”

A couple of All Blacks stopped by to rub shoulders with the players, with Dane Coles saying: “I’ve been keeping a close eye on the under-85 grade and it’s great to see it grow – they throw their bodies into it and they have a great social scene after the games. They’re a good bunch of lads and I’m looking forward to having a bit of a watch before our game.”

While the game against the Bush Pigs is shaping up to be an epic encounter, one of the traditions afterwards promises to be just as hard fought.

Boat races are an integral part of the Under-85kg tradition, with the Auckland competition competing for a Ranfurly Shield-style trophy known as the Shooey Vuitton.

Larsen is keen to get the All Blacks involved.

“The Shooey Vuitton will be coming down on the bus with us, so if the All Blacks want to put their best eight out for us we’ll be keen to compete.”