Chris Neill lost his house in the earthquake and just had to get out of Christchurch.
Neill (40) is the coach of the Burnham Taipans sevens team that beat Otago University 36-26 to win the Middlesex Cup in Dunedin on Saturday.
"I was so tired in the days after the earthquake and just had to get out of the city for a break," Neill told the Otago Daily Times.
"The win boosted our morale. But I know there are still lots of things to do and reality will kick in when we get back to Christchurch."
Neill, a warrant officer in the New Zealand Army at Burnham, had his home in the suburb of Westmorland condemned, with a red sticker attached to it.
A single parent, he had spent the past few days organising temporary accommodation for himself and three children aged 4, 14 and 16.
His 4-year-old son was traumatised by the first earthquake in September.
He was scared of the "monster" coming back to get him, Neill said.
Travelling to Dunedin was mental relief for the army team that has been deeply involved with the aftermath from the earthquake.
"We all felt a bit guilty coming here to play rugby, when there is so much work to be done in Christchurch," he said.
The trip to Dunedin almost did not take place because five members of the team were assigned to relief duty by the army.
"Five others put up their hand to join the team," Neill said.
It was a difficult task organising the team because three of Neill's best players are with the army in Afghanistan and, because of the earthquake, army personnel can be assigned to duties at a moment's notice.
