During the last week of September a tournament will be held which is a vital event on the Hawke’s Bay calendar – the Ross Shield Tournament.

This is a big thing for those lads who are selected to represent their sub union. I know, because I was privileged to be selected for the CHB team in 1958.

This was the first year the tournament was held in Taupo and what an adventure it was for us kids to cross the divide for almost a week of rugby.

My fellow lock, John Duncan, and I were edging on the upper weight limit of the tournament of 8½ stone so we had to fast before the weigh-in – well, we only had one Weetbix for breakfast that day.

This is the only time in my life when I have subjected myself to gastronomic denial – it was a tough sacrifice, but the stakes were high.

Taupo was something of a frontier town then, with only the main street sealed, the rest being raw pumice. The ground was strewn with small pieces of pumice, the cuts from which turned septic.

One round was played at Turangi, which then made Taupo look rather developed. We were sent over the field to pick up the bottles and other detritus.

The field wasn’t located on hill country, but it would have been stretching it to call it flat. It was pretty much as God left it when lava from the last eruption solidified. But who cared?

The Ross Shield not only engenders purpose and pride in youngsters, but it is a great coming together of town and country. It is – or was – the nursery of senior representative rugby. Lamentably, but I suppose inevitably, professional rugby and Super 12 have changed all that. The great days of rep rugby have probably gone forever.

At the launching of Arena Hawke’s Bay, Brian Lochore said the resources in talent and wealth – and public focus – have, to a large extent, shifted away from the provinces, especially smaller ones who have made such a contribution to New Zealand rugby.

Hawke’s Bay rugby had its doldrums, and they were often rather lengthy. But we’ve been at the mountain top too. Remember how Hawke’s Bay walked with a spring in their step during the 1960’s Ranfurly Shield era? It would have been the same in the 1920’s.

Excerpt from Ewan McGregor’s “Over the Fence” article in “Hawke’s Bay Today” – June 6 2002.