OBU player to celebrate 300th match in the boxing ring

Above: Members of the OBU 69ers Reserve Grade team, including new triple-centurion Andy ‘Kamate’ Clark (front right) with the Jackie Ruru Shield in 2012.? The Jackie Ruru Shield is contested amongst OBU’s social teams and is highly prized.

How does a rugby player who has just played his 300th club rugby match celebrate this remarkable achievement?

He jumps in to the boxing ring.

And it’s all for a good cause. Old Boys University 69ers player Andy “Kamate” Clark recently played his 300th game for the Reserve grade side and this Saturday he steps into the boxing ring as part of a charity boxing event to help raise funds for the OBU 69ers’ upcoming trip to Argentina.

The 69ers rugby team (Soixante Neuf) is one of the eight social teams that represents OBU? Last year the team started discussions on going on an overseas end of year tour, as a number of ‘old timers’ were looking to retire at the end of this year.

To help raise funds they have organised Fight Night 2013, which is this Saturday ][night in Kilbirnie, and features nine corporate bouts and one professional bout.

Kamate explained that the corporate fights are made up of social rugby players as well as four female fighters and will be 3 x 2 minute rounds.

“The professional bout will be 6 x 3 minute rounds and is a rematch from Asher Derbyshire’s professional debut fight against James Langton.? Asher won in a points decision 60-53, after putting Langton down for an eight count in the fifth round.”

"We invited other OBU social teams to put forward a fighter and received two volunteers.? We also received interest from a couple of female fighters and have two female bouts scheduled for Fight Night 2013.?“

Kamate was initially in charge of organising the fighters and their training until one of the fighters popped a shoulder during sparring.“We were three weeks out so I decided I would fight in his place.” His opponent is Michael ‘Woody’ Wood.

Kamate and all the corporate fighters have been training hard. “The corporate fighters have been training two days a week since the end of May, alternating mornings and evenings under the guidance of Willie Collins from Limitless Fitness.?Willie has provided a structured training programme focusing on both the physical and mental aspects of the sport. The past three weeks has seen the fighters sparring in the ring and putting together some of the skills they have learned over the previous several weeks.

”Frankie Stevens is the MC for the evening and DJ Raw will be managing the sounds.?Doors open at 5:45pm and the first bout is at 6:30 pm.? There will be a break at the end of the 5th bout for an auction featuring signed Super Rugby Jerseys, a signed All Blacks jersey, as well as a driving experience from Audi New Zealand.? There will be four more rounds before the ?final professional bout, which will look to start just before 11:00pm.?

Tickets are available here

Kamate’s career with the OBU 69ers started in 1992. Over the years he has played for several of the social teams as well as the Senior 1s and Senior 2s at various times.? He? coached for three years from 2008 –2010, the U21s, Senior 1s and the Women’s team, but always found time to play a game or two each year.

He played his 300th game against another OBU team, the Therapists. ?“We lost the game 12-9.? Late in the game we had a penalty right in front of the posts and we had the chance to draw however someone decided a quick tap was in order and we lost possession in the ensuring tackle !!? We haven’t celebrated the achievement yet but will be doing so after the boxing event is over.”

Can he remember his first game for the team?

“I certainly remember my first game, at Boyd Wilson Park.? I was introduced to the team through Paul Sutton, a guy I played rugby with over in London.? I rocked up for my debut and when asked what position I played, after having played as a rugby league hooker the year before, I boldly said second five-eighth.? I managed to score a try and set up two tries and thought – They have to believe me.? The following week Grant Smith came to pick me up to take me to the game and when he asked what position I played, he said ‘No you don’t, I play there’. So I reinvented myself as a centre.”

Since then he has played in every position in the team. “I am what you might call a utility player, and have been privileged enough to play every position in the team.? Even though I am a mighty 5’ 7” tall I have had to play lock on a couple of occasions when we were really strapped for players.? It certainly made it easier for the props to lift me in the lineouts.“However my preferred position is midfield or fullback which is where I have played the majority of my games for the 69ers. ?However having played most of my schoolboy and Auckland Premier rugby at hooker, this is my next most played position.”

What about other highlights?

“Other highlights include my 69th game after waiting six weeks to play my blazer game as we had ground cancellations and opposition defaults, my 100th game which we won and more recently my 276th game last year, which was during the annual OBU social team ten a side tournament.? I remember gathering the ball up just outside our 22 and I had to run for 70 odd metres to score a try under the posts and that day just happened to be my 49th birthday.

“The highlights for a 69er is their blazer game – 69th game and multiples thereof. The tradition is to hold a court session and for everyone at the court session to have a drink of their choice with the blazer holder. Then after 138 games, two drinks per person and 207 games, three drinks per person etc.? Obviously having played 301 games I have now played 4 blazer games (276) but thankfully I have not been subjected to the traditional court session.. although that may yet happen in Argentina !!!

”What about team highlights?

“Some of the best memories over the years have been the years we won the Reserve grade and of course when we have played for the Jackie Ruru Shield.? This shield is hotly contested between the non-training social teams at OBU.? I have had the honour of raising the shield on a number of occasions as well as the bitter disappointment of handing it over to the victors.? The Jackie Ruru shield redefines the spirit of grassroots club rugby.”

How have the OBU 69ers gone this year and what does the future hold?

“The team has not had a good year to be honest as we have lost more than we have won.? Part of the reason is that we have 11 guys who have been training for this upcoming boxing event and trying to manage the fighters and keep them healthy has been a full time job.? We have had a couple of guys pull out of the boxing due to injury.

“Having turned 50 this year, it is probably time to hang up the boots which is a good reason to go out well with a rugby trip to Argentina.? I also have a young family to look after and my god they aren’t slowing down at all .“I will still keep an interest in the team and with a bit of luck may throw the boots on a for a cameo appearance now and again.? I am planning to grade to black belt in Shotokan karate this year so I will still have that to keep me out of mischief.”

He’s also pleased with how the OBU Premiers played this year, making the Jubilee Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2002.“I passionately follow the OBU Premiers and am very excited about what they have done this year.? I think they have realised some of their potential and would like to see them go one step further next year.?

“The Premiers’ Coach, Paddy Gough, is a long time friend of mine.? We played together in the 69ers – he is close to 150 games – and I spent two years coaching the U21s and the Senior 1s with Paddy.”

A final word? -how did the nickname Kamate come about?

“The name Kamate comes from my son.? The story is that when he was young and just learning to speak he started calling me Kamate right from the outset – it might have had something to do with the fact that when he used to wake in the middle of the night I would take him downstairs to watch the rugby and I would chant the haka to him while I was feeding him.? Then during a ‘naming’ session with the 69ers the name was given to me.?Ten years ago I also bought the personalised licence plate KAMATE.”

By the numbers:

Andy Kamate Clark

301 Games
110 tries ?(the next highest is 57 tries)
31 Conversions
0 Penalties.
2 Drop Goals
618 points.

OBU 69ers: Leading points scorers:

Andy ‘Kamate’ Clark 618
Andrew 'Precious' McKenzie 617
Martin ‘Clit’ Pike 453
Julian 'Muriali' Basalingam 442
Gerry Jurie 434
Pete 'Beamus' Scott 294
Tim Bourke 271
Phil Quinney 267
Chad ‘Te Ika’ Smith 263
Phil McKay 229

OBU 69ers: Most capped players 1977-2013:

301 Andy ‘Kamate’ Clark (1992 - )
226 Chris ‘Val’ Banks (1994 - 2011)
193 Brendan ‘Lurch’ Moore (1980s - 2000)
177 Paddy ‘Cyclops Gough (1994-2007)
166 Jaeson ‘Dump’ Sumner (2003 - )
161 Richard ‘Head’ Cromie (1994 - 2012)
158 Alistair ‘Dork’ McKee (1980s - 2003)
155 Al 'No Name' Mansell (1980s - )
152 John 'Ali' Henderson (2003 - )
133 David Jones (1978 - 1989)