Roger Clark: Highlanders-Southland relationship strong
Invercargill-based SBS Bank has extended its sponsorship of the Highlanders for a further two years and Highlanders CEO Roger Clark says its Southland ties are as strong as ever.
Highlanders CEO Roger Clark believes his organisation’s ties with Southland are as strong as ever.
Clark has hailed the work being done by Rugby Southland board chair Murray Brown, director of rugby Matt Saunders, and others in the quest to lift Southland rugby’s fortunes - and in turn increase its Highlanders presence.
To add to the strong Highlanders-Southland ties, Invercargill-based SBS Bank has recommitted to another two years as the Highlanders’ front-of-jersey sponsor.
SBS Bank partnered with the Highlanders as a sponsor in 2020 and at its recent AGM confirmed the two-year partnership extension.
SBS Bank is also the naming rights sponsor of the Southland Stags.
As part of the agreement, the Highlanders will bring a Super Rugby game to Invercargill every second year.
It meant in March the Highlanders played a Super Rugby game at Invercargill’s Rugby Park for the first time since 2019.
Clark said aligning with an iconic southern brand like SBS, and helping promote it to the country, was a good fit for both parties.
“[SBS Bank] are really proactive…. They are proactive with what they do in the community and making sure the [sponsorship] activation adds value to people. It’s not just shaking hands, the stuff they do is actually valued by their community and customers.”
Clark added that SBS Bank representatives were keen to see close regional ties, including between the Highlanders and Southland rugby.
Clark was Rugby Southland’s CEO before joining the Highlanders.
He concedes there were times, while in his role with Southland, when they were trying to get Stags players a gig with other Super Rugby teams because it was too hard to get a look in with the Highlanders.
It was much different in 2023, Clark said.
“The relationship with [Murray Brown] as chair - he’s obviously outstanding - is a great relationship.
“The relationship between [Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody], and all of us, with Matt [Saunders], David [Hall] and James [Wilson] is really close. All of that has helped.”
Clark added Rugby Southland academy manager Scott Eade was doing a great job and has been working closely with Highlanders’ talent development manager Kane Jury.
The Highlanders each year contract five players on development-type contracts. They players largely leaving school, and often come from throughout the country.
Traditionally they have all linked with Otago for their provincial rugby.
Clark said that shouldn’t always be the case though.
He points out that the Highlanders need to see those players playing in the NPC to get a gauge of where they are at.
No 8 Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa is an example of that. He’s joined the Highlanders set up as a development player and has since opted for Southland over Otago in search of game time.
“Whenever we get a player come into the Highlanders - and we are getting five a year coming in that are at school leaving age - there is a Southland and Otago component to it.
“They have to choose, but obviously from our perspective if we are getting five each year, we’ve got to have them playing NPC.
“We can’t make them play anywhere but we don’t want them not playing.
“You’ll see Semisi down there this year. I’m sure next year there will be a couple.
“If a player wants to go to Otago University because he wants to be an engineer or a doctor, or whatever, he can still do that and play for Southland.
“I think that has been the change in mindset for all of us… I think the main thing is there are good people in each of the organisations. And with the people that are down there at the moment, you’ve got a group of people that when the parents come down, they can trust.
“They look at it and think my kid’s going to be looked after, and that is what they need.”
All eyes on Saturday night will be on the annual southern derby between Southland and Otago with the Donald Stuart Memorial Shield up for grabs.
This article was published in partnership with the SBS Bank.
The no 8 Semisi T T certainly looked the part and needs games.In the netball code we had youngsters part of the steel and sting (?) They never got to play and left for Northern squads.
If looked after and given regular chances to play Semisi will be a name we remember.