Makos' manager Martyn Vercoe lands NZ role
Tasman Makos' manager Martyn Vercoe has been appointed manager of the NZ under-20 side who will attempt to win the world championship next year.
Martyn Vercoe's managerial career took a big step forward last week when he was confirmed as manager of the New Zealand under-20 rugby team to contest the 2017 World Rugby Championship.
The Marlborough-based 40 year-old has been Tasman Makos manager for the past three seasons, helping the top of the south side to two NPC premiership finals. However his new gig will take him both out of the country and out of his comfort zone.
"It was suggested by some of the people I work with that the opportunity to work with the under-20s would be good for me, a chance to better myself," he said.
"It will be good for personal development as well, from a Tasman point of view, to be involved in a campaign like that. Having spent a couple of days in the environment already, you pick up little things that could enhance what you do with Tasman in future years."
Vercoe is undaunted by the challenge of international management, seeing it as an exciting challenge.
"When you have done something for a number of years ... you get used to [the challenges] and yearn for it a bit. It is like university days, if you have prepared well for something you look forward to it because you know you are going to succeed.
"Without sounding arrogant, I think that it will go pretty well and I am looking forward to the opportunity."
The 2017 Under-20 World Championships will be staged in Georgia from May 31 until June 18 and involve 12 teams. New Zealand, who finished a disappointing fifth in the 2016 event, will be coached by Picton-raised Craig Philpott, now coach of Hawke's Bay. He will be assisted by Willie Rickards from Taranaki, Otago's Cory Brown and Dave Hewett from Canterbury.
Vercoe's first job comes this week when he attends a Development Camp in Palmerston North, the first step in identifying talent for next year's campaign. Tasman players Leicester Faingaanuku and Isaiah Miller will attend.
A trial camp will be held in March with a team named for an Oceania Tournament on the Gold Coast. In early May a pre-World Cup tournament camp is planned for Mount Maunganui before the team flies out to Europe on May 23.
Vercoe has served a lengthy sporting apprenticeship, both on and off the field.
The former Marlborough representative cricketer attended Lincoln University for four years before deciding on a teaching role. He completed his studies in Christchurch then took a job at New Plymouth Boys' High School, where he coached the First XV for three years. A move to St Bede's College followed, and a 2nd XV coaching role, then it was onto Marlborough Boys' College where he also coached the First XV, helping them pick up the Press Cup in his final year, 2013.
Two years at Sport Tasman followed, before he assumed his current role with the Tasman Rugby Union, managing their flagship team and handling commercial matters in Marlborough.
His recipe for success is uncomplicated, with on-going, positive team development being the key. He is fond of the simple mantra adopted of sailing legend Tom Schnackenberg, whose often-quoted reply to various suggestions was, "will it makes the boat go faster?"
Vercoe sees the opportunity to wear the silver fern, albeit in a management role, as a career highlight.
"It is massive to represent your country. I love being part of teams that have a goal and achieve it ... the Press Cup, winning cricket's Hawke Cup with Marlborough, they were special. I would love to win an NPC title with Tasman, so if we can get a Mitre 10 Cup and a World Cup in 2017 I would be pretty happy."
