We are excited to have our new DoR onboard and we thought you'd love to learn a bit more about him too.

Q. Tell us what you have been up to since you were last at the club?

A. Since departing New Zealand in December 2016, I moved to Perth and stayed with my family as both my brothers are settled there with families. I was employed at St John ambulance, managing their call centre which was a very busy and challenging role where I made some great friends. Rugby wise I was head coach for my local club side. We had a fantastic season winning our championship, scoring some awesome try's and playing a great brand of rugby. It was pretty sad when the Force was removed as a Super side as Western Australia had such a thieving Junior section and they believed in player development which is something that I am also very passionate about.

Q.What excites you about your new role with the club as Director of Rugby?

A. I am really excited and enthusiastic about anything and everything that goes on at our club. I started playing at Grammar Carlton back in 2008, this is my home and the club is my Whanau. Rugby really helped me integrate into New Zealand and build lifelong friends. From a past player, coach and now Director it is going to be a fantastic year ahead!! This really excites me. We have fantastic playing facilities here at Orakei, Cornwall Park and Shore road, we have the best coaches and managers with a committee that is proactive in supporting us, also we have the best players. I am really looking forward to seeing everything come together as the club has been working very hard off season and now it’s over to the coaches and players to do what they do best. I will be looking forward to seeing as many games as I can from the juniors, woman's and men's sides. It’s important we play with enthusiasm and a smile on our face and enjoy our rugby then the wins will come.

Q. 2018 promises to be an exciting one for the club, can you tell us about some your goals for the season

A. As I am still new to the role I will be learning all the time and will give my all to the club and its members. My first goal is ensuring that all members and visitors have the best experience when they come to our club and enjoy coming back time and again. Building relationships with other clubs and most importantly our community, we need to get local people coming to watch our games and support the teams.  Create a 'feel good factor' as well, I am sure that everyone is proud to wear the shirt but off the field we need to have a good culture and social side to the club. I want our friends and whanau to come along and join in supporting the players, it would be great to see the touch lines rammed with supporters and the kids cheering on their loved ones on game day. There are so many goals and dreams I have but nothing would give me more pleasure then a young player enjoying their rugby, progressing though the grades here to play top level rugby and then going on to play for Auckland, The Blues and All Blacks. For those that know me I would give anything to the club, be honest and if you want to meet or have a catch up I am always available, rugby is the best game in the world and a new season is upon us....lets GO GTEC!!