National title sorted, now for a game with the old man
National title sorted, now for a game with the old man
“The plan is to come down in the holidays and get a game with [Dad]. That would be pretty special.”
Gregor Rutledge has captained Southland Boys’ High School to its first national rugby title, and many are picking a bright future for the 17-year-old loose forward.
Although he has circled a game of senior rugby with his father Jason as the next special rugby moment he’d love to tick off.
Rutledge and his SBHS first XV team mates were honoured with a mayoral reception at the Invercargill City Council chambers on Wednesday.
The initial plan was for a street parade but that was ditched because of the temperamental weather.
At the reception, Mayor Nobby Clark, Rugby Southland CEO Steve Mitchell, and Rugby Southland board chairperson Murray Brown all expressed how proud they and the community are for what the team had achieved this year.
Rutledge told The Tribune after the speeches that it had now hit home what the 2023 SBHS first XV had accomplished by becoming national champions.
“I think it is starting to sink in now that we are national champions and getting to see this support from your community is pretty amazing, and hearing the Mayor talk about how special this is.”
Rutledge was also honoured to hear the Mayor of Kumagaya - Invercargill’s sister city - had also written to Clark congratulating Southland Boys’ High on the victory.
Clark told the reception that Kumagaya was a rugby town with the Panasonic Wild Knights based there.
He said the Southland Boys’ success had simply ramped up the possibilities of a rugby partnership between Southland and Kumagaya in the future.
“Even hearing that they know about us being national champions is pretty special,” Rutledge said.
Rutledge is in his final year at Southland Boys’ High School and will head to Dunedin next year to study health science at Otago University.
Despite plenty of time before that happens, he’s already eyeing a trip home to Invercargill during his Uni holidays.
“I’m hoping to come down and potentially play with Dad for Woodlands,” Rutledge said.
“The plan is to come down in the holidays and get a game with him. That would be pretty special.”
Rutledge Jr’s father Jason is a Southland rugby legend given he is the province’s most capped player at the Stags level.
At 45 Jason lined up for his beloved Woodlands club this year and has no plans of retiring.
He too has previously indicated he has a goal before hanging up the boots to play a senior game with his oldest son Gregor.
Gregor’s grandfather Leicester also racked up 100 games for Southland and plenty are confident Rutledge Jr will add to the family legacy with plenty of games in the maroon jersey.
SBHS first XV coach Jason Dermody spoke glowing of Gregor Rutledge during a recent interview on The Roaring Pen podcast. Not just as a rugby player but as a person.
“He is just a fantastic kid. Yes, he has got the Rutledge name, but the first name is Gregor, he is his own man now.
“I knew Gregor from when he was born, because I’m good mates with Cab [Jason Rutledge], and the way he is now he stands up proud, he wouldn’t have said boo last year,” Dermody told The Roaring Pen.
Rugby Southland CEO Steve Mitchell told the Southland Boys’ players at Wednesday’s reception that he hoped to have some of them filtering into the Stags in the future.
“I would love to see you all in Stags colours as soon as you feel capable. We intend to improve what we offer, hopefully, you are seeing some of the changes with the support we are bringing into the mix,” Mitchell said.
“It is mine and Murray [Brown’s] vision to turn the Stags into an extremely competitive NPC side. It will take the likes of you guys and the way you play the game.”
What a fantastic extended family of great human beings and what a credit Gregor is to his parents (Gina and Cab) and extended family. This achievement beggars belief and all of the boys, their unreal coaches and support staff deserve all of the accolades they get. Super proud!