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The 6ft 8 lock who just won the MLR title the Highlanders have brought back home
By Adam Julian
The Highlanders only won four out of 15 matches in 2022 but if Will Tucker has his way the southerners won’t be easy beats in 2023.
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The 6ft 8, 111 kg, lock is familiar with winning. In his final year of college, he helped St Bede’s College win the Canterbury championship. In 2020 he was part of the Otago team that beat Taranaki 30-19 in Inglewood to capture the Ranfurly Shield.
Last season he was a member of New York Rugby who won Major League Rugby in the USA. In the 30-15 victory over the Seattle Seawolves in the final, Tucker scored a try.
“America felt like a home away from home. We had so many Kiwis on our roster that it was almost ridiculous. I don’t want to name them all just in case I forget one,” Tucker told RugbyPass.
“The opportunity to play in America came from Rick Saletzo and Andy Ellis, two Kiwis running the joint. Rick was the manager of the All Blacks and is a really interesting guy.
“The level of rugby wasn’t too different from the NPC but the limit on the number of scrum resets per incident made a bit of a difference. After two resets a penalty or free kick was guaranteed to happen.
“Our season really gained momentum when Nehe Milner-Skudder arrived. He’s all class on the field and the professionalism, detail, and culture he helped develop was huge. What a legend.”
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Nic Mayhew, Antonio Kiri Kiri, Brendon O’Connor, Kara Pryor, Jack Heighton, Jason Emery, Fa’asui Fuatai and Waisake Naholo were other Kiwis on the New York roster. New York is based in Hoboken, New Jersey, the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.
The Tucker household is the birthplace of three first-class players. In 2019 former Waikato loose forward Brad Tucker was Major League Player of the Year with Seattle. James Tucker captained Waikato to NPC Premiership glory in 2021 and was instrumental in the Blues charge to the 2022 Super Rugby final. Will has made 25 appearances for Otago after a brief stint with Canterbury. All three brothers are renowned for their uncompromising approach.
“It was pretty niggly in the backyard. Brad is a redhead so they’re always fiery while James has always played on the edge.
“What can I bring to the Highlanders? I think my height in the lineout will be an asset and I like to get stuck in physically.
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“I was approached by the Highlanders midway through the Otago season. I was surprised but chuffed at the same time. It’s an opportunity I’ve been waiting a long time for.”
Will was a standout for St Bede’s College when they won the 2015 Canterbury championship. Remarkably a British Lion, World Cup captains of Uruguay and Japan and an All Black are among the impressive cohort of flankers or second-row forwards playing professional rugby out of the gates of the all-boys Catholic school on Main North Road, Papanui.
Josh Navidi, Michael Letich, Charlie Gamble, Billy Harmon, James Lentjes, Elliot Dixon, Dominic Gardner, Alejandro Martin Nieto Serra (71 tests for Uruguay), and Sione Lavemai, are all ‘Bedians.’
“Everyone looks up to Christchurch Boys’ High School as the factory. They’re the favourites every year because of their size and tradition. At St Bede’s I guess we play with a bit of a chip on our shoulder. That battler, underdog thing. Taking down Christchurch Boys’ is always a motivating priority.
“In 2014 we didn’t have the best season. It forced us back to the drawing board and we developed an awesome culture and game plan.”
Tucker was in the Canterbury Academy but stuck behind a backlog of promising prospects ventured further south to Dunedin. He now rolls the ‘R’ and is close to completing a sports marketing degree.
“I made New Zealand U20s in 2018 but I was kind of stuck at Canterbury, so I went to Otago. Winning the Ranfurly Shield in 2020 was huge. It meant the whole family have won it which is pretty cool. In 2021 we beat Canterbury 22-20 that was awesome too.”
With Tucker, Pari Pari Parkinson, and Fabian Holland the Highlanders won’t lack for height in the lineout. Marino Mikaele Tu’u, James Lentjes and All Black Shannon Frizell should bring plenty of bustle in the back row.
“The boys are fit and healthy and working hard. We know we’ve got the talent to succeed. We’ll give it a decent crack for sure,” Tucker warned.
