Rugby: Sleepless Nights and Happy Tears: How Rising Stars Found Out They Were Part of the All Blacks Team

Sleepless nights, anxious waiting by the phone and eventual tears of joy were shared by seven rookie All Blacks named to Ian Foster’s inaugural team on Sunday.

The All Blacks management told the 46 expectant players involved in Saturday night’s North vs. South game in Wellington that they would receive a call the following morning between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. to inform them if they had made it to the 35-man team.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster broke the bad news to the unselected; manager Darren Shand had the best job of making dreams come true.

However, the wait from the end of the North South game until that phone call was not a pleasant experience for the new players.

Caleb Clarke, one of seven test rookies and 10 Blues included on the team, calmed his nerves on the left wing for the North with a 40-meter dash from kickoff, but it was a different story after the game. He went around and around all night, keeping his roommate Aaron Smith awake. Also the Chiefs, 20, locked up Tupou Vaa’i while sharing a room with future Taranaki teammate Beauden Barrett.

Hoskins Sotutu woke up at 6.30am and texted Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu to come get coffee, but instead told him to go back to sleep. The next hour and a half waiting for Shand to call felt like a lifetime.

All the rookie inclusions were overjoyed when they finally heard the news, none more so than Clarke, who now has a chance to follow her father, Eroni, in the coveted black jersey.

“There were a lot of nerves waiting for that phone call,” said Clarke, the blues’ destructive wing. “I was actually contemplating turning off my phone and losing it and waiting for the announcement, but I’m so grateful to be in this position now and to be able to make a dream come true.

“It was a special moment. I ended the call and started crying with joy, just because this has been a lifelong dream and to be able to do something that my dad also did was very special.”

Clarke’s mother, Siala, filmed the reaction of younger siblings Jireh, 11, and Zion, 9, to enhance the sense of occasion.

Telling his father capped the achievement of the 21-year-old who started this year with his sights set on competing in the Olympics with the team of sevens, but instead played an influential role for the Blues due to the Covid pandemic. 19.

“I was late telling him. I said ‘happy father’s day, what did you get, how was your breakfast?’ I was just having a normal conversation until the end when I said ‘here’s another gift … I made the team.’ I could hear my little brothers in the room, so it was special to share that moment with my family.

“At the beginning of the year I was hoping to build an Olympic team and score a goal there, but you never know how something works, especially during this time of pandemic, it has affected a lot of people, so I am grateful to be in this position.”

Vaa’i is still coming to terms with his rapid rise that propelled him from the wooden fence with his father to being called up to the Chiefs squad when injuries affected his second-row actions and all of a sudden the All Blacks in a matter of months.

“I was working with my father in Auckland during Level 3 and then I got a call from the Chiefs CEO asking if he could come and play for the team,” Vaa’i said. “I took it and starting most of the games is something special that I will hold close to my heart. Once I told my family the news, they all burst into tears.”

Sotutu was a standout for the Blues this season before a knee injury forced him out of action for the Super Rugby Aotearoa backend. He returned for the North South game, starting at No. 8 alongside Akira Ioane and Ardie Savea in the loose trio, and confirmed his testing potential with dynamic explosions and rim shots.

Sotutu’s father, Waisake, starred in the Auckland wing, the Blues and Fiji and has been the biggest influence on the 22-year-old’s career.

“I owe that guy a lot. Being a young rugby player, you always want to grow up and play for the All Blacks. Earlier this year I didn’t even think about that. I just wanted to start and play well for the Blues. I’m really lucky to have this opportunity. “