Dermody extends rugby legacy
100 games as scrum coach latest milestone
If you were looking for an example of utilising legacy in your Super Rugby Aotearoa franchise then it would be hard to go past that provided by Highlanders scrum coach Clarke Dermody.
He registered 100 games in his role with the side in Saturday's resumption of rugby post-Covid 19 and in doing so extended the Dermody family contribution to the southern game.
A member of the southern Southland clan, he had a distinguished career with Southland, playing 90 games for the side between 2000-07.
Clarke's father, Fergus, played 62 times for the province while his late uncle Gerald, a powerful lock who went close to national honours in the late-1960s and early-1970s set the record of most appearances, 119, at that time, for Southland.
Another uncle, Stuart, also achieved representative status, all of them while playing for the Tokanui club.
As well as playing three Tests for the All Blacks, Dermody had 44 games for the Highlanders before playing overseas.
It was his connection with fellow Southland prop and All Black Jamie Mackintosh that laid the path towards a coaching future for him while his link with the Highlanders almost came about by accident.
"Jamie got me up for a few sessions that year and then one thing led to another and I just stayed on," Dermody said.
"Coaching was not something I instantly wanted to do. I took a bit of a break from rugby and just sort of fell into it. [I] worked with David Henderson with Southland and started chipping away and then Jamie got me up [to Dunedin]."
He said he enjoyed the team element in coaching - something that was a continuation of the playing experience, and he had missed that during his hiatus.
The lockdown in New Zealand had extended Dermody's wait to achieve his 100th game. It should have happened in Buenos Aires however when that game was abandoned Dermody just had to wait out a return to play.
Dermody has also extended his reach, having been involved with Tasman during their Mitre 10 Cup-winning effort last year, and will return to that role later in the season.
"Everyone has ambitions, but it is just whoever wants you. It is a bit like a player – you get to move around a bit. Luckily I have had a good stint here," he said.
Dermody said there had been some evolution in scrummaging since he played and the latest example had been evident in Saturday's game at Forsyth Barr Stadium where both the Highlanders and Chiefs packs' had been positive in their approach.
There were only six scrums in the game, something that was the result of playing in dry conditions under the glass at the stadium.
Although scrums were not so frequent, a prop still had to have an enjoyment of what he was doing while also having the necessary strength to compete.
He had been impressed with the way the players had looked after themselves during the covid-19 lockdown.
"It was a real test of the boys' character and how much they wanted it. It is easy to sit on the couch and watch telly. Yes, we prescribed stuff, but they still had to go out and manage it. They've come back in great nick, and we can concentrate on coaching," he said.