Current North Harbour Head Coach and former All Black and Super Rugby winner Ben Afeaki joins the podcast to discuss his incredible journey.
A story that saw Big climb through the ranks and become one of the most promising front-rowers in New Zealand, until a cruel injury halted him from reaching the heights he deserved, forcing him into medical retirement and leaving the game that he loved.
But his story doesn’t finish there – with his eye for detail and ability to create genuine connections and culture within team environments, he was approached to take on a coaching role with his province, which saw him return to Rugby Union, but this time as a coach. The success he's already been able to create in his coaching career to date is nothing short of impressive!
Yarns in the Episode Include:
- What it was in his childhood that contributed to him having an unbelievable work rate as a Big Marn!
- How he nearly got snatched up by another province coming out of school
- What it was like for him debuting as a 19-year-old in the NPC
- Discusses his success in the NZ U/20s and how he played with some of the Greatest All Blacks and what he noticed were some of their key traits they displayed as young men
- How he had to move to the Chiefs for opportunity and how he grabbed it with both hands
- His opinion on Dave Rennie as a coach during the Chief's title reign
- What it was like competing with Ben Tameifuna when he burst onto the New Zealand Rugby scene
- His dream debut for the All Blacks in Auckland
- His career-ending injury and how he navigated through the struggles of battling with it for years
- How he climbed the ranks as a coach, going from an assistant coaching in the NPC to a forwards coach for an international side leading into the 2019 Rugby World Cup
- Who he believes is the next upcoming superstar in Super Rugby
And so much more!
Available in the bio wherever you get your podcasts.
