Returning Withy hopes others may follow
With the Highlanders on a bye week, Sean Withy travelled to Invercargill on Saturday to be part of the Southland Boys’ High School first XV’s Gala Dinner at the Ascot Park Hotel.
Help us continue to shine a light on Southland by becoming a paid supporter/subscriber of The Southland Tribune.
Sean Withy hopes other Southland lads aligned to Otago may in the future join him in returning to their provincial roots.
Withy has been one of the Southland Stags’ most important signings in sometime with the Highlanders looseforward deciding to return home to play his NPC rugby with his home province.
He signed late last year on a three-year deal.
The former Southland Boys’ High School captain joined the Otago academy in Dunedin when the Dipton lad left school. He has since gone on to captain Otago.
But he feels now is the right time to pull on the Stags jersey.
“Growing up in the region and watching the Stags my whole life, I always wanted to play for them. It was more just a matter of time when the time was right,” Withy told The Roar Podcast host Nick Jeffrey in an interview that will air next week.
“I felt like this year is the time to come back and I’m looking forward to it and what we can try achieve down here with the Stags.
“I obviously loved my time in Otago and wouldn’t have it any other way with what I’ve done in my career there, and the opportunity they gave me, but the timing was right to come home.”
Withy is one of a few Southland products who in recent years have ended up pulling on the Otago jersey. Others include Finn Hurley, Cameron Miller, Harry Taylor, and Will Stodart.
“Hopefully I can be a bit of a catalyst for local [Southland] boys in Dunedin, and in the Otago team, to come back in the future. It’s something I’m hoping to achieve and hopefully, something that can happen down the track,” Withy said.
With the Highlanders on a bye week, Withy travelled to Invercargill on Saturday to be part of the Southland Boys’ High School first XV’s Gala Dinner at the Ascot Park Hotel.
It was a fundraiser for this month’s first XV tour to Japan where they will line up in the Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament.
About 250 people attended the Gala Dinner with $40,000 raised from auctions on the night.
Withy joined fellow Southland Boys’ old boys Ethan de Groot, Mils Muliaina, and Jack Taylor as special guests at the function.
Withy watched on last year as his former school became national secondary school champions for the first time.
“It’s been really special. I’ve been there myself [at the Top 4] and we got absolutely dicked up the road, so I know how tough it is and to achieve what they achieved is awesome to see.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the results when I go over to Japan and seeing how they can do back in the season as well.”
Withy’s younger brother Taine has followed in his footsteps with him this year named captain of the Southland Boys’ first XV. It follows an injury-interrupted 2023.
“It’s cool that he has been named captain, cool for us as a family, and cool for him.
“He had a difficult year last year not being able to play a single game, for him to have that title and trust from Skelty and Derms and the other players.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing him hopefully get a full year on the paddock.”
In terms of the Highlanders, Withy felt the bye had come at a good time.
“We are only six rounds into the comp, but we had three preseason games this year, which is different for us.
“And then a couple of tough losses mentally and physically against New Zealand teams. Those New Zealand games are always tougher physically and to have two tough losses like that when we really wanted to get the first win in a long time against a New Zealand team.
“There’s the mental toll as well, in terms of the hurt and a bit of embarrassment getting a hiding in front of our home fans against the Hurricanes.
“So, the bye has come at a good time, and I know everyone is going to be back on deck on Monday and looking to writing a few wrongs and hopefully we get our season back on track.”
The Highlanders’ next outing is against the Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday night.