'This will be special': Father, son duo to take field together

The father and son combo of Jason and Gregor Rutledge are expected to line up together in a Southland premier club rugby competition game.

Father and son combo Jason and Gregor Rutledge are set to play alongside each other in Southland premier club rugby fixture on Saturday. Photos: DEBBIE FAHEY

One of Southland sport’s more special moments is likely play out on Saturday at Oreti Park.

The father and son combo of Jason and Gregor Rutledge are expected to line up together for Woodlands in a premier club rugby game against Pirates-Old Boys.

The Rutledge family is Southland rugby royalty and Saturday’s occasion will simply add another chapter to the impressive story.

Jason is in his 25th year playing in Southland’s premier competition. His career also includes the title of the Southland Stags most-capped player and two-time Ranfurly Shield winner.

“It’s probably hard to beat a Ranfurly Shield, but this will be special,” Rutledge senior said about the prospect of playing alongside son Gregor for Woodlands.

“You spend a lot of time with your son kicking around doing stuff. He’s been everywhere with us; he’s been to a lot of trainings over the years.

“To play with him would be pretty cool. It will also be a bit strange, I can’t really yell and abuse him,” Rutledge joked.

Son Gregor wasn’t even born when his dad played his debut game for Woodlands in 1999.

In fact, Gregor was still about six years away from entering the world when Dad Jason went about winning his first Galbraith Shield title with Woodlands.

While Rutledge’s never-ending rugby career has played out, Gregor himself has gone about developing his own promising rugby prospects.

It included captaining the Southland Boys’ High School first XV to the school’s first national title last year.

The 18-year-old flanker is in his first year studying at university in Dunedin. However, the looming university holidays have triggered the opportunity to return home and play a game alongside his 46-year-old father.

Rutledge junior has been playing for Kaikorai in Dunedin - predominately in the premier colts grade. Although he did line up for the club’s top premier team on Saturday.

The prospect of playing a game together is something both Jason and Gregor have had in their sights for a while.

“I don’t think I’ve just kept playing because of it, but it has definitely been a bit of a carrot,” Jason said.

The problem now is Jason’s youngest son - and biggest fan - Sabin is on his case. Sabin wants Dad to hang on so they can also play a premier game together in the future.

“He’s 12. I was working it out and that’s six more years. I’ll be 52, that would be a miracle.”

Rutledge praised Rugby Southland for keeping closer ties with the Southland players who are now studying in Dunedin.

“It’s the good thing with Rugby Southland allowing these young guys to align with a club down here and actually come back down and play in their holidays.

“With what Rugby Southland is doing with the academy up there as well, it is keeping them aligned to Southland.”

Rutledge hasn’t put a potential end date on his playing days saying at this point he is just taking it year by year.

“I still like going to trainings. Sabin comes to every training as well, he loves it. He goes to every game, so it’s a great father and son thing to do.”

What has been confirmed is Rutledge and his Woodlands team mates will again be part of the 2024 playoffs despite a challenging season to date.

Woodlands has won four from 11 outings this season but has also notched up nine bonus points which has locked in fourth spot in the competition standings.

They will take on top-of-the-table Star in one of the semifinals on July 6.

“We haven’t been too far away, but we haven’t hit our strides. Injuries to key players have made it really hard and it’s really tested the depth of our club,” Rutledge said.

“If we can get everyone back on deck and have a good game we will be there or there abouts.

“The good thing is we are locked in, and we know we’ll be playing Star. So, we’ve got three weeks knowing who we will be playing.”

Saturday’s Woodlands-Pirates Old Boys clash will kick-off at 2pm at Oreti Park.

The likely father and son Rutledge appearance isn’t the sole reason why Saturday will be a special occasion.

The two teams will square-off for the Cosgrove Cup which honours the late Paul Cosgrove who was linked to both clubs.

The Woodlands Rugby Club is also raising funds for the Ovarian Cancer Foundation, with a special charity auction to be held on Saturday night.