The coaches, 'shoestring' budget, and creation of lifelong mates

“We do it on a shoestring budget and we just do it because we are Southlanders and we love playing footy."

SBHS celebrates winning the Highlanders regional final earlier in the season. Photo: DEBBIE FAHEY

Much like his brother Clarke - Jason Dermody can coach.

You don’t play a lead role in propelling an Invercargill school to a national secondary schools rugby title if you can’t.

Dermody coaches the Southland Boys’ High School first XV which on Sunday won the school’s first national final with a 32-29 victory over Westlake Boys’ High School.

The Southland Boys’ 2023 run under Dermody and Peter Skelt has been remarkable.

Jason’s younger brother Clarke is a Super Rugby head coach with the Highlanders. That has followed a successful apprenticeship at the helm of Tasman in the NPC.

Although Jason doesn’t intend to follow the path his brother has taken and himself turn coaching into a job in the future.

“I don’t see myself as a career coach, I just do it because I enjoy it. I haven’t got plans to be a professional coach.

“I just do it because I’m a schoolteacher. and enjoy it.”

Jason does talk about coaching with Clarke, but it’s not a constant discussion topic between the two.

“We talk occasionally, and I tap into him a wee bit around lineouts and that sort of stuff, but not really. I try to come up with my own stuff.”

Alongside Dermody, as part of the Southland Boys’ High School coaching setup, is probably Southland’s most respected rugby mentor - Peter Skelt.

It’s hard to think of too many more successful motivators in Southland sport than Skelt.

He’s been part of the SBHS first XV coaching setup - outside a couple of small breaks - since 1989.

Skelt’s seen many future stars pass through his stable - All Blacks Ethan de Groot, Mils Muliaina, Clarke Dermody, and Corey Flynn to name a few.

He’s also previously led the Southland Development team to a national title and was part of the Stags coaching group through its Ranfurly Shield tenures.

It’s a travesty Skelt was overlooked for the Stags head coaching job in 2018 when the Rugby Southland board opted for Dave Hewett ahead of him.

But that’s opening up old wounds, this is about Skelt’s role as a coach with the Southland Boys’ High School first XV.

The success over decades has occurred without a cashed-up rugby programme which some other schools operate with throughout New Zealand.

Southland Boys’ does attract players from other Southland schools with some players choosing to shift in search of what they believe are more playing opportunities at a higher intensity.

But Dermody points out that the success over many years has been produced on the back of whatever players they are dished up that particular year at the school.

There is no head-hunting players, through the lure of scholarships or other incentives, which has been rife nationally in first XV rugby over the years.

“We do it on a shoestring budget and we just do it because we are Southlanders and we love playing footy,” Dermody said.

“We line up against a lot bigger teams and I’m sure they look at us and think; ‘Far out, we are going to beat these bunnies’.”

There is a fair bit of excitement within Southland rugby quarters as to what the Southland Boys’ High School 2023 success this year will mean for Southland rugby in the future.

There are some players with a very bright future ahead of them - Mika Muliana and Gregor Rutledge are two of them.

For a lot, the 2023 season might well be their forever highlight when it comes to rugby.

“There will only be two or three that will go on and play professional rugby, for most of them this will be the highlight of their career,” Dermody said.

“The best thing is they go to school together day in day out, so they are good mates, they’ll be lifelong mates. That’s what it’s all about.”

Next year the 2024 will get their chance to create their own special memories.