Page 16 - Beyond_the_Classroom

Roger Litt 1986

An ex-pupil of our He remembers being
school made it to the caned by Mr Templeton,
Waikato Provincial Rugby and apart from rugby and
team in 1986. girls he liked tennis and
Roger Litt, Waikato cricket.
Fullback, attended Ngarua- When speaking of his
wahia High School between experiences in the Waikato
1966 and 1970. He said his Provincial Rugby team, and
memories of the school Ranfurly Shield matches,
hadn’t changed apart from he said there was a lot of
noticing a few additional pressure within the team
classrooms, the gymnasium and that nervousness was a
and the library (1986) big problem. He said he
observations). needed to be relaxed before
He remembered he could expect to play a
bringing an egg to school to good game.
help raise funds for the He attributed the
gymnasium! Waikato team’s success to
Roger reached the 6th their good team spirit and
Form but, like most of us, their will to win. As with all
wasn’t too keen on the successful sportsmen, Roger
curriculum contents. His favourite subject was History. always aimed for higher goals, even looking towards
Roger had praise for Mr Murphy who was his the All Blacks!
English teacher and also his 1st XV Rugby coach. He His views on the proposed Springbok Tour of
played as 1st and 2nd Five-eight in the Ngaruawahia 1981 were that sports should not be mixed with politics
High School 1st XV with Chris Grinter, of whose and hoped that the competitive merit of the tour would
rugby talents he spoke most highly. always be considered in any final decision.

Hekewaru Muru 1980

I started playing Rugby League at the age of the second Test on a Wednesday
seven for my home club Turangawaewae, my position night - it was a thriller! The
being Centre. crowd there was amazing, filling
In 1980 and Under-15 Waikato team was both grandstands. The match
selected for a National could
Tournament to be held at Davies have
Park in Huntly in the August gone either way in a similar
holidays. Shane Pompey, Joseph fashion to the first Test, but
Heremaia, Keith Simon, Mark Australia managed a last-
Simon and myself were in the minute try to clinch the series.
team The team and I were
This was a week of hard, determined to win the last
solid football, during which a encounter, which we did with
Northern Zone team was picked the aid of the weather (as
and I was selected. We were many of you would have seen
matched against a Southern Zone on television).
team and from both teams a Representing New

National squad was selected. Zealand was a great honour
I found myself fortunate for myself, my parents and
enough to play Centre and team-mates. But mostly I’ll
selected to face three Tests against never forget the day I put on
New South Wales (Australia); one my first Kiwi jersey!
at Huntly and two at Christchurch. No reira, tena koutou,
The first test was close and tena koutou, tena koutou
we just lost. Then the squad flew katoa.
down to Christchurch to play
New Zealand National Representative
Rugby League Under-15s.

16