Rutledge family's rugby impact extends well beyond hitting rucks
“Someone has done it for us before, so it’s your turn now.”
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The Rutledge family’s long-time impact on Southland rugby is evident to most involved in the sport.
Leicester Rutledge played over 100 games for Southland, was an All Black, coached and managed the Stags, is a life member of Rugby Southland, and now holds the role of the organisation’s president.
Son Jason Rutledge played 143 games for the province and was part of two Ranfurly Shield winning teams. The 46-years-old still laces up the boots in Southland’s premier competition.
It’s probably not unfair to say they have hogged the headlines when it comes to filling any sort of Rutledge family scrapbook over the years.
But it is another Rutledge family member who is probably having the biggest impact on Southland rugby at this point in time.
That was recognised on Wednesday night.
Callum Rutledge - younger brother of Jason - was named Rugby Southland’s junior volunteer of the year at the community and representative awards evening.
It didn’t come as a surprise to many given the amount of volunteer work Callum Rutledge has taken on.
Rutledge - who himself played five games for the Stags at hooker - runs the Star Rugby Club’s junior section which caters for over 200 players.
He has also filled the role of Southland Boys’ High School Rugby Club president and is coach of his son Thomas’ Under-14 team which this year won the Southland competition.
To add to that, Rutledge is a town representative on Rugby Southland’s Youth Council committee.
If Rutledge’s Saturdays in the winter weren’t already busy enough, this year he also stepped into the role of fitness trainer for the Star Rugby Club’s premier team which won the Galbraith Shield.
It’s a volunteer workload that might be easy enough to write but is a lot harder to actually take on.
However, Rutledge simply feels he is at a stage in life where it’s his turn to roll up the sleeves and help in the junior ranks.
“Someone has done it for us before, so it’s your turn now.”
And on the topic of Wednesday’s junior volunteer of the year award: “It’s not why you do it, but it is good to get that recognition.”
Junior numbers under Rutledge’s watch peaked at the Star Rugby Club a few years back at about 240, but it has settled closer to that 200 mark each season.
“The other clubs have actually grown a lot, which has been good. POB [Pirates-Old Boys] has seen a big increase in their juniors, so have Blues,” he said.
To add to the Rutledge family involvement, the youngest of the Rutledge brothers, Andrew, is also heavily involved through coaching duties as Star.
As far as his Southland Boys’ role, Rutledge said not a lot was done this year, but he has plans to help build the rugby programme at the school to help with development.
He felt one of junior rugby’s bigger headaches - and in fact rugby in general - was getting people and clubs to think about “the bigger picture”, rather than just what they might want for their team, club, or area in the region.
Rutledge added Rugby Southland, and its community rugby manager David Hall, are doing a good job.
“It’s come along way. They’ve got a really good team, right through the teenage stuff as well.”
Rutledge was one of many players, coaches, referees, clubs, and administrators recognised in amongst a host of new awards at Wednesday night’s community and representative awards evening.
Helen Peterson picked up the senior volunteer of the year for her tireless work with the Blues Rugby Club in Invercargill.
Peterson joined the club’s junior committee in 1995 and then the senior committee in 2008.
She has spent the last two years on the club’s 150th jubilee committee on top of all of her other duties, whether it be in the kitchen, behind the bar, cleaning the club or other tasks.
AWARD WINNERS
Jonty Carran Shield Most Promising Player Southland Under 16 Boy: Jack McKeay
Supreme Siteworks Southland Under 16 Boys Player of the Year: Finn Hurley
Supreme Siteworks Southland Under 16 Spikers Player of the Year: Charlie Robson
I Sign Southland Under 16 Girls Player of the Year: Sophie Dahlenburg
I Hire Southland Metro Under 18 Boys " Bruce Robertson Memorial Trophy" Player of the Year: Luka Salesa
I Hire Southland Country Under 18 Boys "Bruce Robertson Memorial Trophy" Player of the Year: Jimmy Taylor
I Hire Southland Country Under 18 Boys "Bruce Robertson Memorial Trophy" Player of the Year: Rafferty Cowie
Southern Mechanical Services Southland Under 18 Girls Most Promising Secondary School Girls Player "Judy Holland Trophy": Piper MacRae
Southern Mechanical Services Southland Under 18 Girls "Alastair (Spud) Tait Cup: Southland Under 18 Girls Player of the Year: Olivia Gill
Supreme Siteworks Southland Under 19 Most Improved Player: Braden Poyntz Roberts
Supreme Siteworks Southland Under 19 Player of the Year: Justin Shaw
I Hire Southland Hinds Most Improved Player: Wikitoria Ratema
I Hire Southland Hinds "Active Alarm Services" Southland Hinds Player of the Year: Kim Udy
I Battery Southland Development (B's) Player of the Year: Kalani Elder
Southland Country Player of the Year: Rhys Horrell
Murihiku Māori Rugby Tane of the Year: Jayden Broome
Murihiku Māori Rugby Kōhine of the Year: Natasha Santos-O'Connell
Most Improved Referee: Cam Black
Junior Rugby Volunteer of the Year: Callum Rutledge
Senior Rugby Volunteer of the Year: Helen Peterson
Behind the Scenes - Unsung Hero: Nathan Lyall
Rugby Southland Coach of the Year: Gavin McDermott (Wyndham)
"Bill Foster Trophy" Most Improved Team in a Southland Wide Competition: Albion Premier Women
Team of the Year: South Port Bluff Seniors
Club of the Year: Riverton Rugby Club