135 and counting: A number that's unlikely to be matched again
“At the moment I’m just going out and playing game by game and treating it as if it is my last game."
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One hundred and forty-three. It is a special number within Southland rugby’s history books.
It’s the number of appearances Jason Rutledge made in the maroon jersey through a provincial career that stretched from 2000 to 2020.
It’s the most games played in the union’s 137-year existence and following Rutledge is Josh Bekhuis - who is still playing - on 135 caps.
With nine games to play in the 2024 NPC season, those who’ve just done a bit of math in their head would have worked out there is the possibility of Bekhuis joining Rutledge as Southland’s most capped player. Or even going past him.
Bekhuis needs to play eight of the nine games to equal Rutledge on 143 games, while the full nine games would see the veteran lock surpass the legendary Southland hooker.
“[The record] is definitely not a driver of mine but it is in the back of my mind,” Bekhuis said.
“At the moment I’m just going out and playing game by game and treating it as if it is my last game.
“I don’t know when I’m going to call it but at the moment, I’m just going out and enjoying it with a good team with a great culture.”
Whatever number 38-year-old Bekhuis ends up on his longevity is something that will go down in folklore.
Bekhuis made his Stags debut in 2006 against North Otago and has continued to play professionally ever since.
On top of 135 games for Southland he played a further 112 Super Rugby games in New Zealand, and over 50 more playing in France and Japan.
Given most provincial teams only play 10 games in a season now, it’s hard to think the sort of numbers that Rutledge and Bekhuis amassed will ever be rivalled again in Southland.
One of Bekhuis’ inspirations through his lengthy career has been Rutledge himself.
“I always looked up to Cabbage, he was always a leader to me. And also, just the way he looked after himself, he’s still in great nick now.
“Being a Southland-born lad and playing at such a high level he really drove me and was a great mentor throughout my career.”
Bekhuis and Rutledge were both key figures through one of Southland rugby’s golden eras which included Ranfurly Shield wins over Canterbury in 2009 and 2011.
Thirteen years on from that last win Bekhuis, at 38-years-old, will on Saturday get an opportunity to bring the Ranfurly Shield back to Southland for a third time.
Southland will challenge Hawke’s Bay in Napier.
It follows an encouraging round one win over Otago last Saturday as Southland lifted the Donald Stuart Memorial Shield for the first time since 2020.
“Belief definitely came from that game, but we are also aware we are playing a really strong [Hawke’s Bay] team. Big forward pack and a really well-drilled team.
“We are just thinking about the process this week, making sure we are doing everything right, and learning what we need to improve on from last game and hopefully that will put us in a good position to give them a good run.”
Saturday’s Ranfurly Shield challenge will kick-off at 4.30pm.
SBS Bank Southland Stags team to play Hawke’s Bay:
1.Jack Sexton
2.Jack Taylor
3.Morgan Mitchell
4.Mitch Dunshea
5.Josh Bekhuis
6.Blair Ryall
7.Sean Withy ©
8.Dylan Nel
9.Connor Collins
10.Byron Smith
11.Charlie Powell
12.Faletoi Peni
13.Isaac Te Tamaki
14.Viliami Fine
15.Rory van Vugt
Reserves:
16.Nic Souchon
17.Hunter Fahey
18.Hamdahn Tuipulotu
19.Shneil Singh
20.Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa
21.Lachie Albert
22.Jason Robertson
23.Jake Stachan*
*Debut for Southland
Not considered due to injury: Leroy Ferguson, Hayden Michaels, Kaea Nikora-Balloch, Joe Walsh, Matt Whaanga and Michael Manson.