History-making 144th cap may also be the finale
“I know there is going to be a lot of my friends there and a lot of my family. Rugby Southland has been great really acknowledging this milestone and they are right behind me."
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Josh Bekhuis isn’t ready to make an official call on his playing future just yet, but he’s conceded his history-making 144th appearance on Saturday may also be his last.
The 38-year-old lock will on Saturday move past Jason Rutledge to become Southland’s all-time most-capped rugby player at 144 games.
He will do so in the Stags’ final game of the 2024 NPC season against North Harbour.
Bekhuis joined The Roar Podcast this week in a wide-ranging interview that will go live later on Wednesday.
He told The Roar he isn’t ready yet to confirm if Saturday will or won’t be the finale to his remarkable 18-year professional career that started in 2006 against North Otago at Rugby Park - or Bekhuis Park as it’s known this week.
“I like a challenge and the player inside me keeps on saying; ‘you could do another year’, and the body feels good,” Bekhuis said.
“This may be my last game for Southland, but I still haven’t made a full decision on that at this point. But the way it’s looking it might be my last game.”
The thought that his 144th outing could potentially also be his last adds to an already emotional week for Bekhuis, his family, and Southland rugby as a whole.
“Hopefully I can put in a good performance and leave it all out on the field.
“I know there are going to be a lot of my friends there and a lot of my family. Rugby Southland has been great, really acknowledging this milestone and they are right behind me.
“I’m just going to enjoy going out there with this team and focusing on doing our best. These last two games, we’ve wanted to win for the fans, for all of our supporters.
“That’s going to be the mindset, and I guess it will be a little bit emotional afterwards.”
Jason Rutledge took hold of the Southland record in 2012 when he passed Gerald Dermody’s 120-game mark. Dermody himself had held the record since 1977.
It is Rutledge who has actually provided Bekhuis with a lot of his motivation in the twilight of his career.
The pair played 73 games together for Southland during their careers - the last of those games in 2014.
Rutledge visited Bekhuis at a Stags at training last week in the lead up to Bekhuis joining him on 143 caps.
“Cabbage - Jason Rutledge - I see him as one of the greats. I followed his mould, looking after myself. He was just into everything, he wanted to play every minute, and that is the sort of mindset I’ve had.
“He wanted to be on that field and I think that has carried on through my career.”
Rugby Southland will honour Bekhuis during and after Saturday’s game in what will be an historic occasion.
Rugby Park has officially been renamed Bekhuis Park this week to honour Josh Bekhuis.
“It means a lot, especially for my family. Not being a common name in New Zealand (Bekhuis), my grandfather came over in the 50s, and I’ve always been proud to get it out there. To have the park named after me for the weekend is awesome.”
Stags coach Matt Saunders has paid tribute to Bekhuis in the lead up to Saturday’s fixture.
“Hell of an achievement from Josh. To do what he has done for Southland over such a long time is almost hard to believe,” Saunders said.
“To be mentioned in the same breath as Cabbage shows what a legend of the game he is.
“I am proud to have both played alongside him and to have coached him.”
Rugby Southland's CEO Hua Tamariki, who also played alongside Bekhuis, said the veteran lock was a consummate team man.
“I could think of no one more fitting to overtake another Stag legend, Jason Rutledge, and take sole possession of the title of Southland's most capped player.
“The effort required to attain a record like this is demanding, and in the context of modern-day provincial rugby, it’s hard to see Josh being overtaken any time soon.
“Myself and our team here at Rugby Southland are excited to see the big guy etch his name at the top of our centurion list,” Tamariki said.
Saturday’s game between Southland and North Harbour at Rugby Park in Invercargill will kick off at 4.35pm.
Most appearances for Southland:
143 - Jason Rutledge (2000-2020)
143 - Josh Bekhuis (2006-2024)
127 - Tim Boys (2005-2017)
123 - Jamie Mackintosh (2004-2015)
120 - Gerald Dermody (1965-1977)
113 - Leicester Rutledge (1972-1983)
111 - Jimmy Cowan (2000-2016)
107 - Greig Spencer (1958-1967)
106 - David Hall (2002-2015)
104 - Brent Shepherd (1987-1997)
103 - Ack Soper (1954-1966)
103 - Paul Laidlaw (1980-1991)
103 - Simon Culhane (1988-1998)
100 - Lin Booth (1969-1979)
100 - Phil Butt (1971-1980)
Congratulations Josh, it was both a privilege and pleasure to get to know you during my 4 years in Southland, you and Cabbage are great ambassadors of the game and heroes within your own province, kind regards Steve