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Among them was Sam Coles, a Bachelor of Business student. Now in his third year, Sam has his sights set on becoming a chartered accountant. When he’s not in a lecture theatre, you’ll find him on the rugby field, playing fullback or first five.

Sam and five other players from the ������Դ Rugby Club, also known as Varsity, spent a month playing in Japan with the New Zealand Universities Rugby Team. Sam says the experience of getting to represent New Zealand on a global stage was invaluable.

“Being able to travel to Japan and play rugby for three weeks was a dream. It’s something I imagined as a kid, getting to play the game I love and travel internationally to do it. Facing top-tier opposition was a highlight, as Japan XV, who went on to play against the Māori All Blacks, were a very strong side and I got to test my skills against them. It was also incredible getting to experience true Japanese culture, food and history.”

Sam says what he enjoys most about playing for Varsity is the environment and energy involved.

“Everyone involved with the club has good spirit. The rugby is awesome, but it’s the people – the players, management and everyone involved - that make it enjoyable to play and train. It’s really shaped my experience at Massey in a positive way. I’ve met great people and been able to enjoy rugby with others who bring good banter and genuinely care about each other.”

To manage the demands of high-performance sport and full-time study, Sam is supported by Massey’s Academy of Sport programme, where he sits at gold level. He credits the programme for helping him stay on track to meet both his academic and athletic goals.

“Being part of the Academy of Sport programme has been irreplaceable. The support I get from the staff in terms of connecting with lecturers or reorganising exams has been a massive part of my success at Massey. I’m thankful for the staff and the Academy for backing me.”

To be eligible for selection in the New Zealand Universities Rugby Team, players must belong to a club affiliated with New Zealand University Rugby. Players are scouted through a series of trial games held across the country.

Deputy Head of the School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Associate Professor Matt Barnes, is a long-time advocate for university rugby. He says the aim is to encourage players to remain engaged with their university clubs, even after graduation.

“We want to maintain and grow strong university clubs that keep students and alumni connected to both the university and the sport. Club rugby participation is changing, and we’re seeing a shift where keeping alumni involved is just as important as having current students on the field.”

Massey’s rugby club has a long and proud history. Founded in 1929 by students of the then Massey Agricultural College, it became the ������Դ Rugby Football Club in 1964 when the institution gained university status. Since then, many talented players have worn the club’s blue jersey, contributing to the local Manawatū rugby scene and going on to play at higher representative levels. Most recently, the team won the Manawatū Senior 1 competition in July of this year for the second time in three years.

Dr Barnes says Varsity and other sports clubs remain a vital part of the university experience, as they build community and develop students beyond the classroom.

“We’ve seen a major drop in participation in recent years. We’re down to two teams and, for the first time since World War II, we haven’t been able to field a Colts team. That’s why it’s so encouraging to see Massey players succeed at this level, and we hope it inspires others to join. There’s a real sense of belonging and opportunity that comes from being part of a club like Varsity.”

The Varsity players who travelled to Japan were a mix of current students and alumni. They were supported by five members of the Varsity coaching and management team, who took on roles including head coach, assistant coach, manager, strength and conditioning coach and team physio for the New Zealand Universities team.

Learn about the Academy of Sport programme.