England’s tour of New Zealand, which begins with the first of three Tests at Eden Park on Saturday, poses myriad challenges: there is their own depletion, their unparalleled opponents and the expectation of a rugby-rabid public for whom the game’s culture makes up a large part of national identity.
It is a culture that Stuart Lancaster has looked to emulate since taking over as England coach following 2011’s ill-fated World Cup campaign and one that Matt Symons, Waikato Chiefs’ English lock, is in a position of rare authority to comment on having played the game at multiple levels in the country.
“It’s no secret that rugby is more than just a game here,” says the 24-year-old. “Teams from youth and club level upwards work hard to make the whole squad understand that rugby is about something far greater than themselves.
“That was immediately obvious when I first arrived and was playing club rugby with two former All Blacks [Reuben Thorne and Aaron Mauger] – they were so down to Earth and everyone was desperate to play for them. I see it again now at the top level – the All Blacks guys who I play with at Chiefs, there’s no ego there, they’re all humble and approachable. Everyone talks to each other as equals and these ideas are deeply ingrained.”
Symons adds: “As a pro the best thing about the system here is its fluid nature. Guys who aren’t in the Super Rugby match-day 23 will be sent back to play for their club on Saturday, which means you’re always playing, not just sitting in the gym. Skill sets are always developing, it aids recovery from injury and the standards rise at lower levels as there could be six or eight Super Rugby guys – All Blacks even – turning out for their clubs. The step up at each level is a huge one – the intensity of collisions and speed of the game is immense in Super Rugby.
“One thing I can’t stop thinking, and I know it’s cliched, is what a lucky bloke I am to be playing here. There aren’t many guys who’ve done what I’m doing and I look around at training and in matches, which are the steepest learning curve – tactically, physically and mentally – and have to pinch myself occasionally.”
Symons’ story, beset by untimely setbacks, makes it hardly surprising that he is so wide-eyed. At 17 he was a “scrawny, lanky thing” and found himself laid off by Saracens and left out of the south-east England Under-18s squad. At a loose end his mother suggested he joined GB Rowing’s famed World Class Start programme.
“I had a frame which suited rowing, so gave it a shot and moved down to Reading which tied in nicely with my studies,” Symons says. He graduated in human geography from Reading University in 2012. “Unfortunately, because all the movements were new, I developed forearm problems pretty sharpish and had to have an operation in 2010. It was very frustrating and I set myself a deadline for getting back in the boat but couldn’t hit it.
“Thanks to all the training, I’d filled out a bit and was better suited to rugby. Luckily Esher gave me a chance to return to the game.”
Filled out he had, weighing 117kg and standing 6ft 7in. But, with top-level opportunities not forthcoming, younger his brother Andrew put him in touch with High School Old Boys RFC in Christchurch.
“I’d never been to New Zealand but the club told me to head straight over,” says Symons. “At first I worked in a fridge works packing yoghurts, training Tuesday, Thursday and playing Saturdays – the rugby was amateur but serious, full of guys working hard on building sites and living for game-day. Then I got a job full-time with the Earthquake Commission in Christchurch, which was interesting and it says a lot about rugby over here that I was given plenty of leniency to skip work and further my game.”
Having impressed at amateur level, Symons was selected for Canterbury’s ITM Cup side and, after one season at the highest domestic level, was approached by Tom Coventry, forwards coach at the Chiefs, for whom he has turned out 10 times. Inevitably questions are now being asked about where Symons’ international future would lie.
He would qualify for the All Blacks on residency grounds next year but word is that the England forwards coach, Graham Rowntree – who famously keeps tabs on every forward available to him – is to pay him a visit during England’s tour. It is well-documented that those playing abroad are not under consideration, so if Symons was to play for England, something would have to give.
“I’m honestly just focused on life with the Chiefs and Canterbury,” Symons says. “Everything has happened so fast for me – I’m only in my first season of top-level rugby, so it’s just one step at a time. I’ve certainly not heard anything from England and, while I’d love to play in the Premiership, I’m loving life out here and it’s not on my mind right now.
“I’m a proud Englishman who grew up watching the great World Cup-winning team. They were my heroes and the ones who got us all out in the garden throwing a ball about. But rugby in New Zealand has been good to me and I’m not going anywhere any time soon.”
Other Brits who have played for southern hemisphere clubs
Danny Cipriani
Signed for the new Super Rugby franchise Melbourne Rebels for the 2011 season and played 19 games, scoring 122 points. While a prolific scorer, he was criticised for his weak tackling against big ball-carriers and was involved in a number of off-field incidents.
Gareth Delve
The former Wales backrow also joined the Rebels for the 2011 season and soon became the team’s first-choice No8. He was appointed vice-captain in his debut season and later that season became the first overseas player to captain an Australian franchise.
Gregor Townsend
The Scotland, Lions and Northampton utility back had a nomadic career after leaving Saints and wound up at Natal Sharks in 2004 to play in what was then the Super 12. There, he helped the side to a seventh-placed finish, usually playing at inside centre.
Martin Johnson
England’s World Cup-winning captain played two seasons of club rugby in New Zealand, for King Country before joining Leicester Tigers in 1989. A year later he earned a solitary cap for New Zealand Under-21s. Dan Lucas
