If you're a rugby tragic, the scene at Karaka Rugby Club on Tuesday night would've warmed the heart. As the rain pelted down on the club's premier team training under floodlights after a hard day's work, inside the clubrooms the quart bottles were being popped open as dinner was cooked and the speeches prepared.
This was no ordinary rugby club function, though. Families, friends and dignitaries were gathered on the tables and leaners to farewell and wish good luck to the first ever New Zealand Under 85kg team on their first ever overseas tour. Their destination: Sri Lanka, not exactly top of mind when it comes to rugby but on that certainly makes sense at the end of the long and arduous journey this team has been on to its existence.
NZ U85kg team photo. Photo: Blake Armstrong/ActionPress
"A lot of credit goes to those guys who have worked behind the scenes," said newly minted U85s captain and first five Jared Percival, who has also played for Mid Canterbury in the Heartland Championship and represented New Zealand in Australian Rules Football.
"All those guys have a massive role and have played a huge part in growing the National Cup, getting us recognition and getting this New Zealand team over the line."
The new side, who will play in a black jersey, perform the haka and represent the legacy of every other side that's represented New Zealand, was always going to be the next step after the introduction of the National Club Cup in 2020. The U85 kg grade had existed in club rugby for two and a half decades previously, developing a cult following among those involved. Probably the most important devotee to the grade is Sir Graham Henry, whose influence as a World Cup winning All Black coach was crucial in getting the team up and running.
The NZ Under 85kg side prepares. Photo: Johnny Hendrikus/NZ Rugby
"I suppose we're looking like the original All Blacks, they were nicknamed the 'All Backs'," said coach Ngatai Walker, who played Under 85kg rugby right back when the grade was first conceived in the 1990s.
"I think that's similar to us. Like we want everyone to be able to read and react to the pictures that are in front of them on defence and attack."
Why Sri Lanka? The thought process around playing Asian sides dates back to when the idea of a national team was first floated, in that the general size of players there would more or less match up with a New Zealand team. However, Sri Lankan rugby does have a long and rich history, with the Colombo Football Club established in 1879. In an odd quirk, their first ever international match was against a team marketed at the time as the 'All Blacks' in 1907 - who were actually the precursors to the Kiwis rugby league side but playing under union rules.
Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, was also the country were Sir Colin Meads first played in a black jersey. Meads was a member of the NZ Colts side that toured there in 1955, playing in all eight fixtures and scoring three tries. Lately, the Sri Lanka Tuskers won the Asia Rugby Division 1 title last year and flogged Malaysia 59-19 two weeks ago.
Dilruksha Dange of the Sri Lanka Tuskers in action at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Matt Impey/www.photosport.nz
"They like to throw the ball around, they're not they're not shy with the offloads," said Percival on the footage that they'd been able to see of their opposition.
"So it's going to be an awesome game to be a part of and a spectacle as well."
The New Zealand side's selection has been an interesting one, given that it is entirely based on last year's season (the 2025 club season starts this weekend). The team includes loose forward Lewis Craik, with the Dundee native reversing the usual trend of kiwis ending up playing for the Scottish national side.
"I mean, growing up in Scotland I never, ever thought I'd get the chance to put on a black jersey and represent New Zealand for rugby," said Craik.
Lewis Craik packs down on the side on the NZ Under 85kg scrum as they prepare to play Sri Lanka. Photo: Johnny Hendrikus/NZ Rugby
"The last few days (in camp) it feels like we've known each other for about two years… everyone plays a little bit harder, a little bit faster."
Craik, Percival and the rest of the squad were congratulated by Henry and given a crash course in what wearing a black jersey means by two-time World Cup winning All Black Keven Mealamu. Walker admitted that the expectation on his side is to play up tempo, exciting rugby, as well as continuing the tradition of winning.
"(Sri Lanka) are a really proud rugby nation. So yeah it's pretty cool but we know that is a big challenge and they're really proud," said Walker.
There is expected to be a lot of interest in the two tour fixtures, with reports out of Sri Lanka saying interest is high in the side the locals are calling the 'weight grade All Blacks'. Prime Minister and footy fan Dr Harini Amarasuriya is looking forward to the occasion, telling local news that the games "promise to energise the nation's rugby enthusiasts as they witness a powerhouse of the sport take on our national team."
The NZ Under 85kg team find themselves a very unique situation where predicting just what will happen is almost impossible, however Percival confirmed that the traditional grade post match traditions will be honoured.
"I think it'd be rude to say no. You know, there might be some boat races, with events in between tests…at the coaches discretion."
Schedule
New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers
Kick-off: 10:30pm Sunday 4 May NZT
Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy
New Zealand Under 85kg v Sri Lanka Tuskers
Kick-off: 1am Sunday 11 May NZT
Racecourse Grounds, Colombo
Live coverage on Sky Sport
New Zealand Under 85kg Squad
Forwards:
Pasia Asiata (Poneke Wanderers, Wellington)
Ben Biggelaar (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland)
Rory Cavanagh (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland)
Lewis Craik (Morrinsville Majestic Pukekos, Waikato)
Jeandre Du Toit (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland)
Luke Eyre (Massey Rock n Rumble, North Harbour)
Josh Gellert (Auckland University Slug Collectors, Auckland)
Frazer Harrison (Auckland University Squids, Auckland)
Tyler Koning (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury)
Jack Laity (Auckland University Slug Collectors, Auckland)
Callum Nimmo (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury)
Ridgley Paxton (Karaka Razzlers, Counties Manukau)
Josh Purdon (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury)
Tom Rowland (Eden Lizards, Auckland)
Simon Sia (Morrinsville Majestic Pukekos, Waikato)
Matt Treeby (Tawa Ducks, Wellington)
Backs:
Campbell Busby (Auckland University Squids, Auckland)
Taine Cordell-Hull (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury)
Jackson Ephraims (Takapuna Bombers, North Harbour)
Ben Megson (Grammar TEC Old Boys, Auckland)
Ned Milne (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury)
Francis Morrison (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland)
Jarred Percival (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury) - Captain
Jamie Petford (Pakuranga Black Panthers, Auckland)
Adam Preston (Tawa Ducks, Wellington)
Eamon Reilly (Ponsonby Hustlers, Auckland)
Ben Scott (High School Old Boys Light Bears, Canterbury)
Pieter Swarts (East Coast Bays Badgers, North Harbour)
Coach: Ngatai Walker
Manager: Grant Wilson
