Aaron Senior to step down as Marlborough area manager
Tasman and Marlborough rugby will lose a valuable and popular figure next month when Aaron Senior leaves to pursue a new career direction.
The man who played 100 games in the Red Devils jersey is stepping down from his role as Marlborough Area Rugby Manager to join the New Zealand Police. He leaves on February 13 and said the new job is something he has wanted to do for several years.
"I applied to join the police when I was quite a bit younger but there was a big waiting list. I joined the RNZAF as a physical trainer instead.
"An opportunity came up to join the police and it was confirmed over Christmas. It provides long-term job security for the family and an opportunity for more family time."
Senior has been in the rugby job a year, having replaced Craig Morris when he left to live in Australia, and the departing area manager believes rugby in Marlborough is heading in the right direction.
"We are in for some improving times in Marlborough rugby. The clubs are working very hard. Players are coming in this season.
"We are waiting to get a junior rugby development officer to get into primary schools and the new Tasman CEO (Andrew Flexman) is bringing fresh new ideas. He intends to have a bigger presence in Marlborough. It is an exciting time for Marlborough rugby."
Senior said although Marlborough people were so passionate about the game and their province, he thought most had now accepted the best way forward was with Tasman.
"[We are] trying not to lose that history but there is a future direction and we have to make the most of it. Player numbers is an ongoing issue but the Tasman Trophy (combined premier club competition between Marlborough and Nelson clubs) is going to be a real positive and having Leon MacDonald (former All Black and Tasman Makos assistant coach) based here is big.
"Hopefully Marlborough will become a more attractive place to come and play rugby."
Developing good coaches is another focus Senior feels is very important. He believes Nelson Bays are ahead of Marlborough at present in attitudes to training and preparation, mainly because the Makos are based in Nelson and the players feed off each other when training. "It's more professional and that always breeds enthusiasm. We are starting to get that here. A group of boys are training well under Frank Burns. We've turned a real corner. We've accepted where we are and clubs are working very hard to be ready for the 2012 season."
One of the highlights of his 12 months in the job was being involved with the Rugby World Cup and he had high praise for the support he had, not only from his staff at Marlborough rugby but also from many others during the past 12 months.
"I had great support from life members asking if they could assist me and the staff. I feel privileged to be part of it."
While he's undertaking a new career, Senior said as long as he graduates from Police College, he will be posted to Blenheim and wants to be involved in rugby in the area again in some capacity.
Tasman Rugby Union (TRU) commercial and marketing manager Les Edwards said Senior had done "an outstanding job for the Union and for Marlborough rugby and he goes to his new career with our very best wishes".
Edwards said a replacement would be selected as soon as possible but they were waiting for new TRU chief executive Andrew Flexman to start his job on Monday.
He will meet promptly with the Marlborough Rugby Sub-Union board to discuss the best type of person for the job.
- The Marlborough Express
