From U19 hooker to starting NPC prop in a year
“I’ve been a loyal supporter for a fair few years so it definitely means a lot to run out in the Southland jersey. Especially to put the No 1 jersey on and start."
Hawke’s Bay 33 (Tyrone Thompson, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Josh Kaifa 2, Brad Weber; Lincoln McClutchie 3 con, Caleb Makene con) Southland 7 (Tevita Latu try; Greg Dyer con). HT: 19-7
The more you dig into Hunter Fahey’s story the more remarkable it gets.
Up until last year, Fahey had pretty much played all of his rugby as a hooker. The 20-year-old is now a starting NPC prop.
Fahey emerged from Verdon College as a good rugby player. Although he was far from that player who had talent scouts pestering him as some other promising school leavers get.
In his first year studying at Otago University in Dunedin, Fahey continued his path in rugby as a hooker. That was before playing half a game for the Otago Under-19 team as a loosehead prop.
Rugby Southland went about signing him on a development contract with the plan to transition him from hooker to a loosehead prop.
It was the start to an astonishing rise.
Less than 12 months on Fahey has played for the Highlanders under-20 team, represented New Zealand at the U20 World Championship in South Africa, and made his NPC debut for the Southland Stags.
“I’m eight months into playing loosehead [prop],” he said, hammering home just how quickly it has all happened.
“It’s been a pretty whirlwind year, to be fair. A few opportunities have come sooner than I definitely would have thought, but I’ve just had to take them when they come because you never know what can happen next year and the year after.”
The initial plan for Fahey was to play for the Southland U19 team this year and spend about two weeks of training days with the Stags to help his development.
On the back of injuries, he’s now played four games for the Stags as he adjusted to playing NPC rugby at 20 years of age.
Included in those four games was his first NPC start in the 33-7 loss to Hawke’s Bay on Saturday, adding to the crazy 2023.
“I haven’t played much prem [club rugby] to be fair. [NPC] is just quick and physical. Obviously with the scrummaging and being a young prop it’s something I’m still working on with that craft.”
Fahey got through plenty of work with ball in hand against Hawke’s Bay. He was more than willing to put his hand up for the tough carries.
“I was trying to get my hands on the ball early in the game. Coming off the bench lots of times you struggle to get your hands on it, so when I had the opportunity on attack it was just a way to get involved in the game.
“It definitely does [get your confidence up], it gets you on the front foot.”
For Fahey, being in the middle of Rugby Park on Saturday seemed like there was no other place he wanted to be.
He’s a proud Southlander with a strong affiliation with the Stags, and Southland rugby in general.
His father Regan is the Stags assistant manager, and his mother Debbie Rugby Southland’s photographer.
“I’ve been a loyal supporter for a fair few years so it definitely means a lot to run out in the Southland jersey. Especially to put the No 1 jersey on and start, there’s been some good players wear the [Southland] No 1 jersey.”
While Saturday was a big moment for Fahey, the 33-7 loss was another tough watch for the Stags faithful.
Southland scored just six minutes into the game through second five-eighth Tevita Latu to lead 7-0.
But that was it for Southland, in terms of scoring. And on the other side of the ball the Stags leaked five tries.
Southland showed glimpses of spark on attack but yet again a string of unforced errors cost them.
There is little time to dwell as the Stags now eye Bay of Plenty at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Wednesday night.
Southland is winless through eight games and has just two more opportunities to avoid a winless 2023 campaign.