With Sevens in full swing this edition of the NZRPA Players’ Own Magazine has been put together with input from the New Zealand Men’s Sevens team. PLAYERS IN BUSINESS

Dallas Seymour Biography Dallas Seymour was NEW ZEALAND MEN’S SEVENS TEAM born in Tokoroa and educated in the now closed, retired from rugby at 35 years of age, back-to-back since the late 90’s, was following week. It was the first time iconic St Stephens School in South . so there was still plenty of life to live.” carrying a couple of injuries and the I had looked at a paper for a job in 20 Off the field Dallas knew the value of a younger guys coming through were years! But it was also the first time He played more than 100 Provincial games for good support network and drew great in good form, so I did what was best I had got really excited when I saw Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and Bay strength from his whānau, partner for the jersey, and my broken body to this role with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Hikairo and Māori culture. be fair! advertised. of Plenty. He also played for the He married former Silver Ferns I was keen just to move on quietly Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is a highly and but is best known as the captain Julie Seymour in 1998 after then, but Titch suggested we release successful organisation who were the Kuala Lumpur games with a no 1 an official statement just so people keen to open up the opportunity former New Zealand Seven’s captain and one of haircut, which he has his team mates didn’t get any wrong ideas about for the Ngai Tahu iwi members to the longest serving sevens player in New Zealand. to thank for. whether he and I had fallen out or the develop and prepare for leading The Gold Medal winning team of like. I knew that the game was in a the iwi businesses, and that really Dallas is a former All Black, New Zealand Maori DALLAS SEYMOUR , , Joeli Vidiri, good space and it was time to let the appealed to me. player, Seven’s 1998 Commonwealth Gold Medallist. , , Christian young guys take it to higher places. My role involves developing programs Cullen, , Amasio Valence I enjoyed the ride but come the end and opportunities for iwi members He also played in a variety of representative and all agreed, which of 2002 I got a role at SPARC, which to grow and it is about identifying sides including New Zealand Colts, New Zealand Seymour says he does not remember, became Sport NZ, as a Senior Maori talent and investing in people. Like to shave their heads if they won. Advisor, which was a good transition sports, you cast your net wide, so you Universities, the Divisional XV, North Island XV and “It was Jonah’s idea… I had two out of the game. give as many people opportunities New Zealand XV. choices, do it willingly or Jonah was It took about two years to adjust to as you can. In this case it is about going to hold me down. Julie was not working normal hours and I was doing commercially, entrepreneurially and Dallas attended his first Hong Kong Seven’s that impressed with my new look, but a bit of travel, commuting between as Ngai Tahu iwi members. international tournament in 1998 and was a regular thankfully it grew back a tiny bit just Christchurch and Wellington. I am always talking to my ancestors until 2002, playing in 35 international tournaments before the wedding. It took about two to three years to and they give me strength as I have Leading into 2002, I felt my career get over the wanting to play feeling. that sense of identity and purpose. I and two World Cup tournaments. The 48 year-old is was in its twilight. We had played in I got dragged back to play for my believe those values and knowledge married to former Silver Ferns captain Julie Seymour the Welsh seven’s tournament and old University club, but I wasn’t of your own culture give you strength my knee was troubling me leading enjoying the game as much as I used on how to deal with adversity and and they have four children. DALLAS SEYMOUR into the final so that was my last time to because I had achieved what I business and success. It is taking in the Black Jersey. The jersey and wanted and I didn’t really want to the approach of commercial and the team has always been paramount take some younger person’s position cultural astuteness and combining ALLAS SEYMOUR IS WORKING NGĀI TAHU KNOW THE VALUE IN GROWING good stead. for me, so I told Josh Blackie he had when I wasn’t 100% committed. them to benefit the iwi. IN WHAT HE CALLS HIS DREAM AND DEVELOPING THEIR OWN TALENT. All the skills you learn in the sporting better start and he backed that I had over a decade with Sport NZ We have just started a new strategy JOB, A ROLE HE HAS BEEN IN We ask the former rugby player how did world are highly transferrable to the decision with a great performance, doing a range of roles including and plan which is building on the FOR JUST OVER A YEAR, WHERE he land his dream job? working environment. They include goal with a fantastic try saving tackle – management, policy advice and great work that has been started HED IS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR “Rugby was amateur when I started setting, hard work, mental skills, people just one of his fine efforts that day. relationship management, before by people who were here before me. DEVELOPING A PIPELINE OF IWI TALENT and I knew I had to have something to management, building relationships Even though Manchester was on the changing tack. The foundations have been laid and FOR THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES fall back on, so that’s why I completed and learning how to do business. And horizon, I was toying with the idea I got made redundant, which was a I am just doing my bit to help Ngāi OF TE RŪNANGA O NGĀI TAHU. THE two Bachelor degrees, both from the while you have a profile it is good to build about retiring from the game or to bit of a surprise. It was like picking Tahu thrive into the future. It is a bit COMMERCIAL ENTITIES INCLUDE NGĀI University of Canterbury, in Science and relationships that can be useful once your keep going. After missing the cut for a team - if you get selected, you’re like wearing a jersey – you take it TAHU PROPERTY, NGĀI TAHU SEAFOOD, Forestry. playing career is over. the 2002 Games, I spoke to Rushie playing, but if you are not, you just forward and then expect the next NGĀI TAHU TOURISM, NGĀI TAHU I worked for four years in the Forestry Playing on the field is obviously quite (Eric Rush) and Titch (Sir Gordan go into a different process. You just person to take it to another level.” FARMING AND NGĀI TAHU CAPITAL. industry in harvest management before different to sitting in an office. So it is Tietjens) about it being the right time get on and find something new. JUST LIKE A RUGBY TEAM, TE RŪNANGA O rugby went professional which held me in important to prepare for life after rugby. I to go. I had done fifteens and sevens My wife passed me the paper the www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz

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