The Hurricanes celebrate winning MANAGER the Super Rugby final in 2017. “Helping players to enhance their lives FAREWELL outside of rugby has been really humbling. Many people go into the environment to enhance their rugby, and my focus BARRETT, COLES, was different and extremely rewarding and challenging.” SMITH AND PAKU STEVE SYMONDS PAY TRIBUTE TO STEVE SYMONDS Having worked with hundreds of and soul into improving the players and such an inspiration to us all. players over his tenure, Steve says: encouraging them to grow as men. His strong values, compassion, “Helping players to enhance their “Since being out of the rugby scene sincerity and genuine desire to lives outside of rugby has been really I have always kept in contact with him. help people are evident and were humbling. Many people go into the It has been and will always be a very key fundamentals to making these environment to enhance their rugby, and important relationship for me.” trips such a growth experience for my focus was different and extremely Steve has been a stand out for his us all and life-changing for many of the rewarding and challenging. innovation and there are some special people we touched.” “I believe we are heading in the right highlights for him. They include getting Another highlight for Steve were the facebook.com/NZRPA direction, our players are extremely the players to create a business numeracy and literacy programmes privileged to have this programme and producing a charity calendar which that he started at Wellington Academy they are starting to understand that, featured photos of the players. They had with Weltec which were used across the and the more people in rugby that adopt Jimmy Gopperth as the company CEO, country: “It’s hard for players to go to the that mindset the bigger successes we Shannon Paku as the marketing person next level when they struggle to read and Dane Coles and Beauden Barrett. will have.” along with Tamati Ellison. Other players write. It is humbling when players say I He claims that it wasn’t always that were allocated various roles and they am doing this so I can read to my kids, or way. Over his 10 years in the role he I am writing a story on my family coming has seen many changes: “Players will “Since being out of the out from the islands, so the player could hen a player drives his own programme. It has been a privilege to build “His influence has seen the be the first to admit there was a bit of rugby scene I have always document his family history. Family is a @nzrpa personal development, it is such special relationships with players and Professional Development Programme reluctance and not much motivation. kept in contact with him. It huge part of understanding people.” Wone of the most satisfying the people I have worked with.” within the Hurricanes and around New Despite some great success stories there has been and will always A player who Steve has spent a lot parts of being a Personal Development One of those captains he worked Zealand move significantly forward, from was still a bit of apathy.” be a very important of time with and who understands how Manager (PDM), says Steve Symonds, closely with is Conrad Smith MNZM. a set-up that helped players that were Steve says the relationships he has important family is to Steve is Hurricanes relationship for me.” nzrugbyplayersassoc who is moving on after 10 years as the Speaking from his home in France, looking for help, to one that is a lot more built have been the stand-out for him: captain Dane Coles: “Aside from the Hurricanes and Wellington PDM. Smith said: “I was lucky enough to work proactive in my opinion, and is constantly “Catching up with players when they SHANNON PAKU personal development programme, World Rugby Player of the Year with Steve for almost his whole time encouraging players to make the most of come back from overseas is always Steve has been a massive part of our Beauden Barrett has given high praise with the Hurricanes. He proved to be a their time in the rugby environment. great. When many of the boys came raised $60,000 for charity. improvement and success. He made huge and recognition of Steve’s work in the massive asset to the team and I know all “On a personal level, I’ve also seen home for the funeral for Jerry Collins it Part of the money raised contributed contributions and we adopted many of capital city: “Steve has been a big part of the Hurricanes players during his time Steve go above and beyond his role was sad time but a special time for our to a pilot programme in the Pacific his ideas on how to improve our culture. my personal development over the years. could speak about how he has helped as PDM, during some pretty tough rugby family.” Islands in a joint venture between We have a special connection. He is He would always make time to discuss us all, individually, as men dealing with times within the Hurricanes club, One player who has greatly benefited players and the police. The goal of the someone I have really enjoyed working any matters. He cared so much about the the challenges that professional sport where he would passionately highlight from a proactive approach to his personal programme was to raise awareness with over the last 10 years and we wish players and wanted the best for us. I would throws up. issues we needed to deal with and, development is new Manawatu CEO around the need to change attitudes him and his family all the best for their always leave one-on-one meetings with more importantly, suggest ways the Shannon Paku. and actions towards preventing violence future. I know our friendship will continue Steve feeling clear, certain and happier, problems could be solved. His efforts Paku who introduced Steve to the in families in the Pacific. The inaugural and we will reminisce on the rugby days “...He proved to be a probably after laughing at one of his jokes. may not receive recognition in a Hurricanes in the changing shed on his trip was so successful that it extended over a few quiets. I know he will be valued wherever the next massive asset to the newspaper but will be long remembered very first day in the role said: “Steve is to become a national project with rugby “I have had a lot of time on my hands stage of life takes him and his family. He’s team and I know all the by all the players.” a top man. He has been fantastic for a players and sportspeople from all over due to concussion and injury and Steve left a great legacy and can be very proud of Hurricanes players during Steve states that for him success will large group of players who have come New Zealand visiting the Pacific annually was of one my number one guys who what he has achieved at the Hurricanes.” his time could speak about be measured on where the players are 10 through the Hurricanes and Wellington for many years. It has included trips to supported me. He really helped me Steve is equally complimentary of the how he has helped us years after rugby. Are they good men? programmes. He takes the time to get Guam, Tonga and Samoa twice, the Cook see the light at the end of the tunnel. players he has worked with: “There has all, individually, as men Are they good dads and husbands? Do to know the individual and their support Islands and Vanuatu. Personal development is so important, been some great support from players dealing with the challenges they have meaningful careers? “That is network and takes a holistic approach Former Blues, national Sevens player and Steve really helped me improve that. for the programme and it is humbling to that professional sport the difference between us and coaches. towards the players. He has got a good and now chaplain at Kings College in If you plan ahead and use your Personal have a lifetime link with players. I have also throws up.” CONRAD SMITH They get judged on results but our results way of building trust with his special Auckland Onosa’i Auva’a, who attended Development hours wisely you will had great captains who supported the and programme is life lasting.” demeanour and style. He invests his heart the trip to Vanuatu, said: “Steve was transition better after rugby.” NZRPA | PLAYERS OWN – BY THE PLAYERS FOR THE GAME | STEVE SYMONDS STEVE SYMONDS | PLAYERS OWN – BY THE PLAYERS FOR THE GAME | NZRPA Steve (back row far left) and his PDM colleagues. Steve in his role as PDM. “Steve is an all-round good bloke a really good mate and will be sorely missed by those of us who worked with him. He is a thinker, an innovator and a dynamic leader in the personal and professional development of players and his PDM colleague.” PETER SINCLAIR Steve’s affinity for helping at Sport NZ and went young people derived from his own to the Paralympic unconventional pathway into rugby and games before making the mentors he had in his life. He grew up the life decision to in Paraparaumu and left Kapiti College at spend six months the age of 15. He says this contributed travelling with his to his desire to help mentor people as he wife and young kids.