McCarthy reflects on his sporting journey
| Author | RUGBY Jesse Wood |
| Published date | 15 September 2022 |
| Publication title | Te Awamutu Courier |
The likes of All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and former Old Glory DC (USA Major League Rugby) prop Gordon Fullerton have been under McCarthy’s thumb.
“I grew up in Tūrangi and I played rugby league for Year 7 and 8 (first and second form). I did gymnastics competitively and a bit of motocross. I didn’t play rugby until I was Year 9,” says McCarthy.
“After high school I went to Rotorua and did a Diploma in Forest Management. I had two years over there where I played for Waikite and we had a really good team. We won the Bay of Plenty banner/championship two years in a row and I also played Bay of Plenty Colts.”
One of his Colts teammates was heading to the University of Otago and talked McCarthy into joining him.
Here, McCarthy became qualified with a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching.
During his first year in Dunedin, he represented the Zingari Richmond Football Club.
“I went down there initially because I got a trial for the Highlanders Under 23 side, I managed to sneak into that in my first year. That was in January [2001] before university even started, they flew me down.
“Otago back then was just stacked with halfbacks. They had Byron Kelleher, Dave Gibson, and Toby Morland had just finished school at Marlborough. There were three or four New Zealand class halfbacks.”
Thinking that he wouldn’t get a chance in the Otago National Provincial Championship setup, McCarthy was approached to be a North Otago loan player by coach Glenn Moore, a former Zingari Richmond coach.
“I actually transferred unions after my first year. I still lived in Dunedin but I played my club rugby up there for another three years after that [for Athletic and then Valley], then I could be a local player and we could strengthen our team because you’re allowed seven out-of-zone/union players,” says McCarthy.
“It was wonderful, I loved it. It was probably the best rugby of my time. We had a really good team culture and played under Moore and Barry Matthews.”
The following year the Ōamaru-based North Otago side took out the 2002 NPC third division, an experience McCarthy will never forget.
Twenty years on from that victory, the team is due to have a reunion during September that McCarthy is amped to be involved in.
“Getting promoted to the NPC second division was pretty awesome; I loved that rugby because in those days we...
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