NATIONAL HONOURS: Piopio’s Kaleb Foote has gained a spot in the New Zealand Heartland XV to face the NZ Police in Taupō this Sunday. Photo Brayden Lindsay
FOR a player who wasn’t that interested in playing the representative season – it’s turned out to be incredibly successful for Kaleb Foote. The hard-working number eight has gained selection in the New Zealand Heartland XV on the back of a strong season for King Country. He has been named in the side alongside fellow King Country forwards Cruise Dunster and Liam Rowlands. “It’s a nice honour. It’s a bit of a shock but I am happy to have been selected. It was a good season this year, we had a great culture going and that really led to us playing some good rugby. “Hopefully now I can make the side and get out on the park and do Piopio proud.” Foote, 27, said after Piopio lost the club final, he wasn’t that interested in donning the yellow and maroon hoops. GLAD “I was a bit down and was thinking I don’t want to play anymore rugby this season, after we lost the final, but I thought about it and decided to, and I am glad I opted to.” A key in him opting to play for the representative team was his younger brother Ollie, who was down in Dunedin studying but keen to come back and play alongside Kaleb and other brother Lachie. “Lachie was actually the keenest of us all to play the rep rugby and Ollie was reasonably keen and then I said why not as we wouldn’t get the chance to play alongside each other that often, although Lachie broke his ribs in the club final and that ruined that. “It was cool playing alongside Ollie, he’s seven years younger than me, so to have that chance was nice because I didn’t think we’d get to play rugby together.” He puts his selection down to his King Country team-mates. FANTASTIC FRONT ROW “We had a fantastic front row of Dennis Andrew-Peters, Liam and Dan Ros, they really got a good go forward and it was dream for a number eight running off the back of the scrum.” Foote, a former shearer who has a world record next to his name, said it was a great season and he’s excited to link up with the New Zealand Heartland XV for their game against the New Zealand Police. “It will be good to get into camp make a few more mates and rip into it. Hopefully after this I might be able to donate a jersey or something to the Piopio club, because it’s a pretty special achievement.” Foote has had his fair share of niggles and serious injuries the past couple of years but got through the representative season well. “I think I will be back to go around again next year. We had a great culture and if we bring all of that main squad back and fill a few holes then it could be some exciting times.” TOUGH FANS He admitted to not being much of a gym goer with Foote’s hard yards instead done on his King Country farm. “It’s been nice when we’ve been having a beer at the pub and people have been talking about how well the Rams have been going, because the King Country fans can be pretty tough when we’re struggling, so to have them talking positively has been great.” There’s even another brother who is 13, however Kaleb doesn’t think he will be running around by the time that brother reaches club rugby. “I think I will be a broken man by then. I will be in my mid 30s then and probably more likely to be a coach or helping out rather than playing.”
