The Southland rugby appeal that piqued coaching interest
I’ve had my eye on what they’ve been up to [in Southland] for a few years now. The work that Scotty [Eade], Marty [McKenzie], Panel [Matt Saunders], and James Wilson are doing is fantastic."
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Stepping in to coach the Eastern-Northern Barbarians this season is a homecoming of sorts for AJ Aitken.
Aitken is an Eastern Southland lad who went to Gore High and played a lot of his rugby for Waikaka.
Although for over a decade he has lived in West Otago where he works as a stock agent.
After finishing his playing days at the Herriot Rugby Club in 2018 Aitken pretty much stepped straight into coaching duties at the club.
He previously coached alongside now Stags coach Matt Saunders at Herriot and last year coached the Otago Country under-16 team.
When he heard there might be an opening to coach the Eastern-Northern Barbarians in Southland’s premier club rugby competition it piqued Aitken’s interest.
The opportunity to link with Southland rugby again had plenty of appeal.
“To be honest I’ve had my eye on what they’ve been up to [in Southland] for a few years now. The work that Scotty [Eade], Marty [McKenzie], Panel [Matt Saunders], and James Wilson are doing is fantastic.
“Rugby Southland has got something good going on and I’m quite keen to be part of it, as far as the coaching side of it where I am now.”
Aitken attended an IRANZ (International Rugby Academy New Zealand) course during his playing days and returned to complete a coaching course.
It triggered a bit of a passion for coaching which is why he’s keen to have a crack at the premier club rugby level.
“I don’t know if it is great for the home life, being a premier coach requires a bit of due diligence, but we’re making it work and I’m really enjoying it.”
“This is the highest level I’ve coached and it’s nice to know that everything you are putting down is either being picked up or utilised from the players’ point of view.”
When the Barbarians was set up in 2012 the concept was that players would remain aligned to their local clubs. The Barbarians side was simply a collection of players from different clubs in Eastern and Northern clubs who wanted to test themselves at the premier level.
Over time the Barbarians has almost become another club in itself, with some believing it has lost the connection to other clubs.
That’s one thing Aitken wants to work towards re-establishing.
“We’ll look to send some guys back to their clubs when we can because I think it’s a good way of keeping those relationships and we can call on each other when we need to,” Aitken said.
“The players are really mindful of it and are keen, even if it’s going back for 20 minutes for their clubs, they want to be seen to be going back to their clubs. That’s something we want to try and get back to if we can.”
While Aitken has been away from Southland rugby for a while he said many of the people involved in various Division 1 and 2 clubs, from when he was playing, were still involved today.
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He said he has made a point of trying to reach out to those guys to let them know he was keen for the Barbarians to help where they could, and vice versa the clubs get in behind the Barbarians which represents the Eastern and Northern areas of the province.
“It can’t be all one way…. If we can give back when we can, and repay the favour, it can start working nicely. Because at the end of the day the more top-end footy everyone is playing the better, not only for them and their clubs, but Rugby Southland as well.”
Aitken is this year being helped by injured Stags lock Woody Kirkwood who has taken on the role of the Barbarians’ forwards coach, while Blake Korteweg is leading the backs and attack.
“I just fill in all of the pieces in between really and it’s coming together really nicely so far,” Aitken said.
The Barbarians opened its 2025 Galbraith Shield on Saturday with a tight-lowing scoring 7-6 victory over Woodlands.
Next up for the Eastern-Northern Barbarians will be a big test when they travel to take on competition favorites Pirates-Old Boys in Invercargill on Saturday.