WAITANGURU's Kaleb Foote, centre, with fellow players in the Heartland XV in 2022.
PIOPIO’s Kaleb Foote will return to the New Zealand Heartland XV squad this year.
He will be the only King Country Rams player joining the tour – this Sunday he is off to the South Island to face off against the New Zealand Barbarians and Canterbury.
The 23-man squad comprises many of New Zealand’s best players, being rewarded for their standout performances in the prior 2023 Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship competition.
Foote, who lives in Waitanguru, is a farmer when he’s off the field. When he spoke to King Country News, he was busy “tidying up a bit of drenching” before going away.
It is a demanding part of the season with this year’s crop of lambs and calves, and he is grateful for his family looking after the property during the tour – as they have done throughout the year, when he has been off playing for many weekends in a row.
It had been “pretty awesome” to be selected, although that was mixed with surprise that a talented fellow player for the King Country Rams would not be joining him.
“I think there’s at least one player in the team that should have been a first-choice pick.
“I’m pretty disappointed because he’s good mate of mine. He had an outstanding season … I thought if any of us were going to be in, it would be him, but I suppose that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
“Still, it’s a good achievement to have made it on my own.”
Kaleb said his recent season had been up and down in some ways, although he felt he had been generally strong in the lineouts.
He guesses that his selection may have been to do with the coach wanting players with previous experience in the squad – given that many of last year’s players have not made the side a second time.
He said there was much to look forward to with the eight-day tour.
As well as the chance to “feel like a professional again”, he would be socialising with players he knew from last year – a good group of guys.
“I spent a bit of time having a few beers with them [last year]. It was great getting to know people from around the country.”
He had already seen them during games in this year’s Heartland comp – but now he would play alongside them.
Foote is grateful for the chance to learn from Nigel Walsh, who will coach the Heartland side this year.
“He’d probably be one of the better coaches, I suppose. Without any disrespect to anyone else that I’ve come across.
“He’s an awesome guy and I really liked some of his ideas.
“He’s coached the South Canterbury side to currently the longest winning streak in National Provincial Championship (NPC) history. His team hasn’t lost a game in three, maybe four years now.
“He’s a pretty good guy. He comes from a farming background … he’s a real down-to-earth Kiwi bloke.
Walsh never micromanaged the players, Kaleb said.
“Last year, he was like, ‘just go out there and play rugby’.
“He didn’t try and overcomplicate anything. We were in there for a week, after all.
“You can’t change the world in a week. That approach just made it more fun, and everyone felt it.”
“For us, he hit the nail on the head.”
He said, “you guys are obviously pretty good rugby players. You’ve been selected on the side. We don’t need to be there telling you what to do.”
Last year, the new environment had led to a few nerves for the players – but Walsh managed this well, Foote said.
“Last year, going into the squad was a little bit like turning up to a new classroom or going to a new school.
“Straight away he got us into doing a few drills, so you were almost forced to get to know everyone, which was really good.
“After the first day or two, we gelled as a team.”
It will be a few more years before he considers retiring – partly thanks to the social and off-field atmosphere at the Piopio rugby club.
“I’m only young and a lot of old timers, they say play for as long as you can. And you’re retired a long time. I can’t see my rugby career stopping in the immediate future.
“I do feel like I’m getting a bit older and a bit slower and my body’s not what it once was, but I could probably push on for another year or maybe two.
“Maybe I’ll get into coaching in a few years, so at least I can stay in the circle.”
Walsh confirmed his squad following the Heartland finals last weekend which saw South Canterbury win the Meads Cup for a third consecutive year over Whanganui (40-30), and West Coast secure the Lochore Cup in a nailbiter against Poverty Bay (23-20).
Among the debutants were Meads Cup winners Connor Anderson, Finlay Joyce and Sam Briggs.
Whanganui’s Peceli Malanicagi, Peter-Travis Hay-Horton and Douglas Horrocks were also named.
Walsh said there was a thorough process during player selections, and he was impressed with each individual throughout the season.
“Every player listed stood out during the Heartland competition and I’ve got a good mix of experience across the board.”
The Heartland XV will play in a two-match campaign against Canterbury Development on November 1 and the New Zealand Barbarians on November 4. Both matches will be streamed live on New Zealand Rugby.
