Perseverance pays for new All Black Jeremy Thrush

Founded in 1926, Hutt Valley High School (HVHS)is the largest school with a roll of over 1600 in the Hutt Valley. HVHS has a proud rugby history, having produced All Blacks Ron Jarden, Alan Hewson and Jason O'Halloran. In 2013 the First XV missed qualifying for Premier One by a mere three points.? Last week at Hurricanes training, Josef Shadwell (Head Boy and First XV halfback left in photo above) and Jerry Galuefa (captain First XV and No. 8, right in photo above) met Jeremy Thrush, the school’s latest All Black and newest rugby international.

Waiting on the sunny fields of Rugby League Park, 1.98 meters of smiling timber walked towards us and apologised profusely for being late. He had just been in a senior players’ meeting, talking about the Hurricanes comeback to Super Rugby against the Chiefs- a 34-22 win to the opposition.

He invited us into the maze inside the Grandstand and took us to the ‘50 room’. His picture hung opposite. It read: “Jeremy Thrush - debut Waikato 2006”.

He ensured we were comfortable and apologised again for his lateness. We read calmness about him, smiling and laughing as he reminisced about his days at Hutt Valley High School. Thrush conceded he probably “enjoyed too much.”

Thrush started playing for the Hutt Valley High School (HVHS) First XV in 2001 when in the fifth form– he was an instant hit!

In that year (2001) HVHS played in the Premier Three Wellington competition,which? the team had been placed for some time.

The following two years saw HVHS climb the ranks to Premier One with a ferocity that HVHS hasn’t managed to repeat.

When asked about the highlights of his HVHS career, Thrush is reminded of “the Michael Pehi try being an unforgettable moment.”

Pehi was picked for the New Zealand Sevens squad that year and scored an 80-metre run-away try near fulltime at an away from home game, to beat St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, 20-19.

Weeks later he was the best on ground as Silverstream was beaten again, 19-13. A rare win against the prominent rugby school was something special for him – to do it twice was extraordinary!

In the semi-final against Wellington College, his side lost 8-12, but missed two crucial kicks that would have seen them into the final. Although HVHS lost the game it was obvious that Thrush was a force in schoolboy rugby

Thrush was incorporated into the Wellington Rugby Football Union training academyin his seventh form year. This was Thrush’s first taste of serious rugby.

He said his first trainings usually concluded with him lying on the team dressing room benches “nearly throwing up and close to fainting.”

The realisation that there was nothing else better to do than to be a rugby player, hit Thrush in 2003 when he made the New Zealand Secondary schools team. As his fitness and size increased, so did his skills and trademark workhorse style of play.

The next four years saw Thrush become a major success. In 2004 he captained the New Zealand Under 19s to an U19 World Cup victory and during this tournament scored a “few unexpected tries.” He received the Under 19 World Player of the Year accolade.

Thrush became a regular starter for the Hutt Old Boys Marist club. This was the right club for him as he recalled that this was the club which gave the HVHS First XV the sawdust gym on rainy days.

In 2006 Thrush signed a playing contract for the Wellington Lions. Two years later he had his debut with the Hurricanes.

As every player experiences, the sore points of rugby were to come.

2009/10 saw Thrush make the All Blacks squad, but injury put him out of action. He admitted that for a short space of time Europe seemed like an option to play rugby,but his beloved city prevailed.

Thrush tells us that he felt that he could only leave New Zealand if he’d given every ounce of effort into claiming an All Black locking spot. The incentive to make hundred games for the Lions and the Hurricanes was a strong factor in throwing away the idea of a rugby OE.

Reward for old school loyalty was soon to pay off. In 2010he was made captain of the Wellington Lions, a title he still relishes to this day.

Followers of Thrush noticed what he noticed – his game and personality were maturing.

Thrush became a leader by example, saw the Lions into the 2010 ITM Cup semifinal and became more open to the media.

Improvements to his game continued during 2012 when Mark Hammett, in his second year of coaching the Hurricanes, and the Lions coach Chris Boyd, tightened the game style of these two teams.

Thrush credits this to bringing greater consistency to his game, enabling him to develop good habits and get a second look into the All Blacks.
This June injury to Dominic Bird whilst in the All Blacks wider training corps, provided a second opportunity.

Thrush was called in as cover and played 12 minutes of the second test against France in Christchurch. Thrush can now call himself an All Black.

The advice Thrush gives to young Kiwi dreamers is simple: “don’t leave New Zealand too early.” These days’ young players want everything too quickly - when they don't get what they want, when they want it, that’s when they decide to leave, unless it’s for family or financial reasons of course.”

Thrush ended the interview by telling us of a conversation he had recently with injured All Black wing Cory Jane. Both thought after their debut: “I want more, I just want more.”

Note: The 2003 New Schools team went 4-0. They defeated Samoa (74-13) and Australia (18-16) in the school test matches. IsaiaToeava, Jamie Mackintosh, Kieran Read and Hikawera Elliot went onto become All Blacks from the 2003 New Zealand Schools team. Thrush at 27 years of age became the oldest debutant in the All Blacks squad when he played in the recent series against France. Thrush had put on 40kg since his seventh form year.

This story is also being published on the Sky Sport Rugby Channel First XV website. Follow them on Facebook