George Stowers viewing Nelson in a new light [Nelson Mail]
The first rugby game George Stowers ever played in New Zealand was as captain of the Samoan secondary schools team against the Nelson Bays Colts at Trafalgar Park.
That was in 1996. Now, the Apia-born former Samoan international No 8 is looking at Tasman's home ground in a whole new light.
The experienced 34-year-old loosie recalls a narrow win, but not the score, and remembers the ground looking a whole lot different back then.
Seventeen years on, Trafalgar Park is about to become the centre of his universe for the next four months, at least in a rugby sense, as he begins his latest career move with the Tasman Makos.
With "close to 40" international games behind him since his debut against Ireland at Lansdowne Road in 2001, the powerfully-built 114kg and 1.91m-tall Stowers isn't expecting any favours from Tasman's coaching staff. He expects to work for a starting position in this year's ITM Cup team.
"It's not my style just to walk into [a team], I have to earn the jersey," Stowers said.
Before last Saturday's start with his new Kahurangi club team, Stowers' last game was about six weeks ago for Welsh side Ospreys in the Rabo Direct PRO 12 series. So he was grateful for the full 80 minutes in Kahurangi's comprehensive 63-5 win over Blenheim club side Renwick; Stowers marked the occasion when he scored one of the team's 10 tries.
"The body is fresh and ready to go. I just need some conditioning and game time at club level with Kahurangi.
"The last time I played [New Zealand] club rugby was 12 years ago so it was good to get back into it, in the mud. I enjoyed every minute of it.
"They're a good bunch of boys at Kahurangi. I've been keeping fit ever since [leaving Ospreys] but the game time, match fitness, is different."
Despite an extensive playing career that's included seven years with Kobe in Japan and several seasons with London Irish before he joined Ospreys in 2011, he's serious about earning everyone's respect in Nelson.
Experience will help. He is a former Samoan captain who played every minute of every game for his country at the last Rugby World Cup but there are other more obvious assets.
"Experience is one thing [but] the physicality, the ball carrying, the defence, that's always there. It is natural for the [Pacific] Island players."
Linking up with Tasman wasn't part of his original thinking but, with the explosive Jordan Taufua not returning this season, Tasman were in the market for a player of similar mould.
"I'm so grateful to Tasman. I have something they want, they gave me the opportunity, so I'm here."
He's not coming in completely cold, having already picked the brain of former Samoan and Ospreys team-mate Kahn Fotuali'i who made the last of his 37 appearances for Tasman in 2009.
"He's told me a lot of good things about Tasman; the weather to start with, is nice here.
"It's similar to where we used to live in Swansea, the location next to the beaches - not the temperature [but] maybe the rain sometimes."
Even at 34, Stowers says he still has plenty to offer, although isn't making any bold statements about his shelf life.
"I'm just going to take it year by year. I can't say to myself, ‘I've got another couple of years', to me that's a lie. I have to earn another year, go year by year and see how it goes.
"The young fellas will keep me honest and I'll keep them honest too. It's not going to be easy, but I'm ready to put in the hard work, firstly with the club.
"Hopefully I'll add something and Kahurangi will get up to the [Nelson Bays club championship] playoffs and then [I'll] move on to the ITM Cup."
- © Fairfax NZ News
