The start of the 2026 rugby season has come full circle for Tākaka stalwart Richard Tait.
The 47-year-old has rejoined Takaka Rugby Club’s senior A side and, in the opening round clash against Riwaka, took the field alongside four players he first coached when they were five years old.
Alex Reilly, Archie Darwen, Gordie Langford and Kade Betts have all come through the club’s age-grade system and now find themselves playing senior rugby with the coach who first introduced them to the game.
Richard first pulled on the Takaka senior A jersey as a 17-year-old, playing as a fleet-footed first five-eighth and fullback. Thirty years on, the pace might have dropped off, but the game sense remains.
Coming off the bench in Takaka’s opening 32–28 win over Riwaka, he slotted in at halfback and calmly directed his forward pack around the park.
“It was a pretty cool experience to play rugby with boys I knew as little fellas. We’re a small town and finding players is always going to be tough, so this year I’m happy to fill in and make sure we have the numbers to put a competitive side out.”
Takaka’s player drain is nothing new, but it has been exacerbated this season with Collingwood Rugby Football Club re-entering the division two competition. Several college players have also been selected in the Waimea Combined First XV for 2026, including Richard’s son, Thomas.
“It would have been great to play this season alongside Thomas, as when I first started playing senior rugby it was with my dad. But there is still time, I’m not going anywhere,” he says.
