HARRY - Matt Harrison |
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Since Playing with the Mighty Harbour Hawks in the 2007 session my life and rugby have taken me accross the globe. At the end of the 2008 session I said good bye to Pete and his merry men and headed over to north England to Play for a National Div 2 team called Halifax. The Rugby over there was different but i think it improved my game. The team had a disapointing season but I enjoyed my rugby over there. Miranda (my partner) and I took some time off from work and rugby and spent most of 2008 travelling. We visited over 15 countries in Europe, Northern Africa and Asia. Some of the highlights were Egypt, sailing in Crotia, beer feast in Germany and seeing an Otago Jersery Signed by 2 Hawks (Pete and Boggy) on the wall of a p At fiub in London.
Since returning to NZ in late 2008, I have moved back up to Whangarei (where i am orginally from) and have been working for a gym personal training up here. As far as rugby went in 2009 I have had a long season with some ups and downs. I am playing and captianing for Old Boys, which just earnt promtion the year before I arrived, we had a solid season. I was lucky enough to be named Player of the Year and Players Player. Along with getting the Whangarei Districs Player of the Year award (which was shared). During the club session I trained with the Northland Squad, and made the final 28 but unfortunitly missed out on the final 26. I Captain the Northland Development Team to there most successful season in quite a few years, in which saw us make the semi finals for the first time. I was also named Northland Development Player of the Year. I was lucky enough to get three Caps for Northland against some of the smaller provincial teams (Auckland, Wellington and Waikato). The Waikato game as far as tv coverage gave me the most exposure as it took them 10 mins to get me off the field on a stretcher. At first things looked a bit grime as i may have done some serious damage to my neck but after xrays and scans came back the docs have said that i should be able to return to rugby next year.
So the plan at them moment is lost of training and rehab. Miranda and I are also starting our own Personal Training business in 2010 named MotiV8 Northland Ltd which may require more time away from rugby.......but we will see.
I have had some Visits from Past Hawks this year (Bowler, Noles and Bundy) so if any of you past or present hawks are up this way feel free to drop in, I always have cold beer (speights normally) and a place to crash.
Hope to see the Harbour Hawks ripping the Comp up this year........i'll come down to watch the final at the brook.
Matt Harrison (Harry)