'I’ve eaten a lot': The beefed-up newbie Stags lock
“It’s just been eating and conditioning myself to that weight as well, which was probably the biggest thing over the summer. Just running around with that weight."
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There’s been plenty of rugby players over the years who have made the shift to Southland in search of an opportunity.
Alex Yallop is one of them.
Many of those players have played a club season in hope of picking up a Stags contract before pulling the pin after a year in when the desired result hasn’t eventuated.
Alex Yallop isn’t one of them.
The lock arrived in Southland at the start of 2024. He had been a prominent club player for New Brighton in Christchurch and played for the Canterbury Under-19 and B teams.
His thought was the path to an opportunity at NPC level might be a little clearer in Southland.
“My coach at New Brighton is good mates with Swanny, Marty McKenzie, and I had mentioned I wanted to try something different, and he said he knew a guy in Southland, and we got talking. So Swanny, sort of, got me down here,” Yallop said.
However, following the 2024 club season with Woodlands that desired Stags contract didn’t eventuate. He was overlooked.
He had effectively gone from playing for Canterbury B to Southland B and was left with a decision to make.
It was either depart, like many others who have come up short after a season in Southland, or go again in 2025.
Yallop chose to remain in Southland, and he is now bracing for his rookie season with the Stags after picking up a well-earned contract.
“I knew I could get there eventually; it was just how long it was. I just wanted to stick it out.
“I felt like I was there or there abouts so I just thought I would give it another shot,” Yallop told The Tribune about remaining in Southland.
The opportunity with the Stags has come on the back of a lot of hard work and… well… a lot of eating.
The message from then Stags co-coach Matt Saunders was for Yallop to increase his physical presence on the field.
That task come with adding some bulk.
Yallop has gone about adding 13kgs to his frame since arriving in Southland in 2024.
“I’ve eaten a lot,” Yallop said.
But it has been a juggling act, putting on that bulk he was after, to increase his physicality, while also being fit enough to carry that additional weight around the field.
“It’s just been eating and conditioning myself to that weight as well, which was probably the biggest thing over the summer. Just running around with that weight. Keeping that weight on while I’m running around.”
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Yallop has been juggling his time training - and eating - in Southland with work as a teacher aide at Aparima College in Riverton, where his Woodlands coach Richard Jones is the Deputy Principal.
The newbie Stags lock hasn’t just had his first week in camp as a fulltime rugby player this week to get his head around, Yallop is also preparing to lineup for Woodlands in a Galbraith Shield final against Pirates-Old Boys on Saturday.
“There is a lot of learning this week, but I’ve also got to go along on Tuesday and Thursday night and give the club all they need.
“My main focus this week is getting everything written down for the Stags, but when it comes to club, it’s full focus on the club.”
When it comes to the Stags, Yallop joins Mitch Dunshea, Woody Kirkwood, and Irishman Cian Hurley as locking options this season.
New looseforward Sam Fischli, who has transferred from Otago, can also cover lock.
It used to be about the size of your ticker ,how quick you were and your southland pride.now its seems its how heavy you are.???