Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Death on game day: Blues star Caleb Clarke pays tribute to late grandfather after superb display

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Blues coach Leon MacDonald heaped praise on Caleb Clarke’s standout performance against the Highlanders after the highly-promising wing lost his grandfather earlier in the day.

ADVERTISEMENT

Clarke shed tears during a pre-match moment of silence as the 27,000 strong Eden Park crowd paused to honour slain Constable Matthew Hunt, who died in the line of duty in Auckland last week.

The 21-year-old is enjoying a breakout year after returning to the Blues from the New Zealand sevens team, and the loss of his grandfather inspired him to deliver another impressive display.

Video Spacer

Blues v Highlanders Press Conference

Video Spacer

Blues v Highlanders Press Conference

Speaking to Sky after the match, Clarke dedicated his superb performance to his grandfather.

“It was a big day losing my grandfather just before kick-off,” Clarke said. “It was a bit hard and it was a bit iffy whether I was going to play.’

“But I know he would want me to play so I just dedicated that game to him – that was to you grandpa.”

Clarke pointed to the sky in tribute after scoring the opening try in the Blues’ 27-24 victory. He then laid on Rieko Ioane’s first half strike after a brilliant break, and snaffled one Beauden Barrett restart to showcase his talents in the air.

“What an effort,” MacDonald said. “It’s been a big day, obviously, for him and his family. It’s been tough. He really wanted to go out and put a performance his grandfather would be proud of and I thought he was brilliant tonight. He’ll be emotionally drained so what a mighty effort from him. We’re all thinking for their family of their loss.”

ADVERTISEMENT

After watching his team blow a 22-10 halftime lead and then cling on for victory, MacDonald was pleased to welcome next week’s bye following three straight Super Rugby Aotearoa victories since lockdown.

“The Highlanders were really gritty and tough and did everything but win really. We’ll take the win. It highlights just how tough this competition is. It’s good for the crowd but not good for the heart rate.

“It’s a good time for the bye it gives us a chance to have a decent look at the Crusaders and start again really.

“It will allow us to regroup. We were a bit beaten and battered leading into this game and probably didn’t have the same zip we had in the previous couple of weeks.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Going to Christchurch is a great challenge they haven’t lost down there for a long time so it doesn’t take much motivation to get excited about it.”

Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger, meanwhile, does not expect Nehe Milner-Skudder to be available for selection next week despite losing wing Sam Gilbert to a knee injury against the Blues.

Mauger instead predicted the former All Black would return the following week against the Hurricanes, his former team, in Wellington.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 8 days ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING The Kwagga Smith fairytale is sadly over The Kwagga Smith fairytale is sady over
Search