H0060 Jason and Leicester RUTLEDGE

Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen

Abstracter: Judy Christie

Interview: 22 May 2011

TRACK ONE - Leicester Rutledge

0.0 Interview identification

0.30 Born CHRISTCHURCH. Ran away from school at 15 years of age. Worked on a farm in ASHBURTON.

1.02 End of Track One

TRACK TWO

0.08 Came down to Invercargill aged 16 to visit brother and been here ever since.

0.20 Got a job in WAIANIWA working on a farm. Played rugby there for WRIGHTS BUSH.

0.51 Started playing rugby at age 5 – came from typical Christchurch rugby family.

1.18 Loyalties now to Southland.

1.30 Aspirations to be an ALL BLACK as a child.

2.00 Played for WRIGHTS BUSH until age 33. Had a small farmlet there and met wife who lived in the district. Rugby Club a meeting place for the district.

2.45 Selected for the CENTRAL SUB-UNION side, then 1972 selected for SOUTHLAND SQUAD. At age 19 in 1972 selected to play for SOUTHLAND against the ALL BLACKS as flanker. Opposite ALAN MCNAUGHTON and ALISTER SCOWAN. KENNY STEWART, a Southlander, was also playing for All Blacks.

3.40 Game not then professional. Cost a lot to play and played for fun and enjoyment.

4.20 Played because mates played – what would you do if you didn’t play?

4.40 Many highlights to career: picked for club side in early days; picked to play for SOUTHLAND; picked for ALL BLACKS; being involved with HIGHLANDERS; all the years involved with SOUTHLAND rugby; watching sons play rugby.

5.55 Picked for ALL BLACKS 1978 aged 26 against AUSTRALIA. All Black for three years.

7.00 Achieved everything while staying in Southland. Would assemble in Auckland and be back home by Sunday.

7.30 First year as All Black played ten tests.

7.45 Stand out games RANFURLY SHIELD Challenge two years ago [2009]. Was Manager. Test matches always special. HIGHLANDERS achievements special.

9.00 As a child remembers SOUTHLAND winning RANFURLY SHIELD in 1959.

9.25 More about 2009 RANFURLY SHIELD challenge. Southlanders passionate about their team and celebrate success.

11.30 Did two years in ITALY coaching Italian team 2001-2002. Wife and he travelled a lot but always came home.

12.15 HIGHLANDERS - comment on recent successes. Element of Southland input in Highlanders success.

13.50 Not easy to live in Southland – climate etc. But as 15 year old had a huge amount of support.

15.00 End of Track Two

TRACK THREE

0.0 Continuing comment about living in Southland.

0.57 End of Track Three.

TRACK THREE: Jason Rutledge

0.0 Interview identification

0.25 Started playing rugby at 5 years old. Played for WAIKIWI RUGBY CLUB.

1.0 Always at Rugby club kicking ball around. Two younger brothers - both play for STAR.

1.40 Comment about son playing.

1.50 Started career playing for enjoyment and now paid to play.

2.15 Suffered head knocks through career, particularly in First XV, so took breaks. Coached instead.

3.0 Now hooker, but used to be a flanker. Played for WOODLANDS.

3.45 Had to practise with ball a lot to be a hooker. Also did a lot of rowing, which teaches discipline.

4.50 PARENTS were good mentors, along with LEX CHISHOLM. Wanted to play at ALL BLACK level.

5.30 Wanted to play for STAGS when young, but had to have three years off for head knocks around 20 years old.

6.20 RANFURLY SHIELD big thing in family. Amazing to win against CANTERBURY.

7.40 STAGS brand has taken off.

8.10 Southland special with own traits. Everyone is loyal and friendly.

8.50 More about RANFURLY SHIELD – proudest moment – amazing reception at Airport on return to Invercargill and a parade.

10.20 Five or six defences of Shield.

11.20 Staying in Southland means you train with everyone. May have been an advantage. Happy here in Southland. Own plumbing business now.

12.10 2001 went in to Highlanders team. Explains.

13.00 Southlanders defend their province. Comment that colder in Otago than in Southland.

13.37 End of Track Four.