Three weeks down and ten to go. It has been another brilliant stretch here in Christchurch and, before getting into everything that has happened, I want to give a quick mention to home.

The Suttonians MAD Dinner and the end-of-season awards looked like a fantastic night. Seeing everyone celebrating another year of hard work made me proud to be part of the club, and it gave me an extra lift heading into what turned out to be a very busy couple of weeks here. Big congrats to Matty, Bucko, Ben, Oisin & DT on picking up some awards.

Once our opening win was behind us, all focus moved straight to University of Canterbury A. Everyone in Linwood made it clear that this was a serious challenge. Training stepped up immediately. The pace, the physicality, and the detail all increased. The coaches pushed us hard and the lads responded. It felt like one of those weeks where every session mattered.

In the middle of all the preparation, George and I headed to One NZ Stadium for the Crusaders versus Blues game. The atmosphere was incredible and the standard of rugby was unbelievable to watch up close. It definitely sharpened the mindset heading into the weekend.

The team was named on Thursday and I was selected to start in the second row again. Unfortunately, the game did not go our way. We found ourselves twenty-six points down at half-time and chasing the match. We fought back in the second half and got on the scoreboard, but the final result was 10–38. A tough one to take, but a valuable learning experience.

Sunday was all about recovery. The following week was quieter on the rugby side but busy in other ways. I have been looking for part-time work, keeping up the gym sessions, and getting plenty of running done. I also spent more time exploring Christchurch city, which is starting to feel very familiar now.

One of the real highlights has been being coached by Scotty Hansen, former All Blacks assistant coach. The level of detail he brings is outstanding, and you can feel yourself improving from every session.

Before long, our attention turned to Belfast. It was another strong week of preparation and another chance to bounce back. I was named to start in the second row again. The match was a real battle. Belfast were stubborn and physical, but we stuck to our plan and came away with a great 37–24 win. The buzz afterwards was exactly what we needed. It was also great to see my auntie, Mary-Clare, and uncle, Phil, at full-time, as they were down from Wellington.

We spent the weekend exploring the beautiful areas of Sumner and Akaroa. Both places were stunning, and it was a great break from the usual routine.

Sunday was recovery again before a busy start to the new week. I met up with John Cadogan, a Clontarf player and good friend, who was now in Christchurch playing for rivals Sydenham. I showed him around the city and we had a great catch-up.

Now all focus is on Sumner this weekend. It is Club Day for Linwood and it is a must-win game. The energy around Tane Norton Park is already building, and everyone is ready for another big challenge.

Really looking forward to the week ahead.

Bulls Baby