New Zealand has lost an important figure in rugby with the passing of Jock Hobbs.  I was privileged to attend the successful bid for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Dublin with Jock.  He was a man that gave so much to the sport over many decades and I have fond memories of him.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

I was contacted by the Australian Barbarians to play in a team against the Australian Police Force at the Mudgee Grassroots Rugby Festival.

I haven’t played a game in over a year but the draw card was playing along side of my favourite players of all time – premiership-winning Canberra Raiders lock Brad Clyde
I am looking forward to getting an autograph and some photos of him.  It is a big rugby festival and we will be doing some coaching clinics as well. George Gregan and Robbie Deans will be there and it will also be a great opportunity to catch up with some old friends.

I am off to Hong Kong shortly with the Asia Pacific Barbarian team 10 aside tournament with Filo Tiatia.  Apart from the rugby we will be doing some school visits so I am looking forward to having a good look around and catching up with my old team mate Mils Muliaina.  I have never had a proper look around Hong Kong so it will be interesting.

I have been doing some work with the Chiefs Development team. From a Counties Manukau point of view it is a great opportunity for the players to get some education and opportunities and learning more about rugby. We have a good number of boys in the side which hopefully gets them under the eye of the Chiefs coaches.  The boys beat Samoa A 71-17 on Saturday which was pleasing.

The Counties Manukau Steelers are working two days a week and even though the club season is starting this weekend we are keeping up speed with our programmes.  We are also getting good turn outs for our wider training group.

I went to Australia and watch my son play NRL.   It was a proud moment for my wife and I to watch him play professional football at such an early age.  It wasn’t our intentions for him to get into professional sport as were focused on his education but he has a good balance and now is chasing some of his own dreams.   I believe it is important for people to chase their dreams because you never know what you can achieve unless you try.

I went to Sonny Bill Williams fight on Wednesday night and it was great to see him win the New Zealand Heavyweight Championship belt.  He had worked hard, prepared well and his work paid off.  I caught up with him before the fight at his house to offer my support and wish him all the best.

Sonny is a great friend of mine and a phenomenal athlete.  He has so much motivation, drive and dedication that he deserves all the success he gets.  He is one of the hardest working athletes I know so I am rapt with how the fight went.

I have been running Counties Manukau per-season trainings twice a week.  I have also been coaching the Chiefs Development side along with Kevin Schuler and Andrew Douglas.  We work closely with the Chiefs coaching team of Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith, Tom Coventry and Andrew Strawbridge.  I am really enjoying learning off them and the players are soaking it up.  It is great for them to learn what it is like at the next level.  The side is made up of players from the provincial unions within the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. I have also been at a few Chiefs training sessions and think it was only last year I was doing that!

Chester Williams and I will be coaching the Asia Pacific Barbarians team at the Hong Kong Football Club 10s tournament next month.  The side features former All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina, Anthony Tuitavake and Fijian flyer Filimoni Delasau. The side lost in the final last year so we are looking to go one better.   It is a great group of people and will be a lot of fun.

This weekend I am looking forward to watching my son play league. I really enjoy being on the sidelines encouraging and supporting anyone having a go at sports, particularly my own family.  I know how important it was and appreciated all the support I got when I was playing so I defiantly like to pay it back and enjoy watching people try hard no matter what level they play at.

Chase your dreams

Tana Umaga.

We had our first Christmas in our house which was great.  Our son came back from overseas for Christmas and we had family staying which made it a very enjoyable time of the year.  It makes a change to have Christmas at home; usually we are travelling all over the place.

We had a fairly quiet New Year but managed to have a few BBQ’s even though at times the weather wasn’t what you’d expect in summer! Despite the rain, it has still been relatively hot, so the kids have been making the most of swimming in the pool.

The Steelers start their pre season next week.  It will be good to get it all underway and see what sort of shape everyone comes back in after the festive season.

Last week I went down to Whakatane for a one day touch tournament with a whole heap of mates including Benji Marshall, Piri Weepu, Christian Cullen, Junior Tonu’u and Frano Botica.  The boys play in a team called Baa Baaz and we use it as a good time to get together from all over the place and have a bit of a run.

I have been going tournament for about fourteen years when I am in New Zealand but this year I didn’t throw the boots, but instead had the good job of giving away some of our fine sponsors products that Winston Sua had organized for us.

It is a highlight of the year for the boys and is a great opportunity to catch up with people of different ages and codes who play in our team.  The boys didn’t win but we had plenty of laughs.

I hope the New Year brings you all prosperity and enjoyment.

Chase your dreams

Tana