University alumni behind scholarships

Alumni of the University of Otago are behind a new scholarship to attract rugby talent to the institution.

The university has attracted top players over the years who have gone on to be All Blacks.

From Ron Elvidge to Earle Kirton and John Timu, the Otago University Rugby Football Club has produced the most All Blacks of any club in the country.

Now for the first time the club, in association with the Alumni of the University of Otago in America Inc (AUOA), is offering rugby performance entrance scholarships.

Recipients will receive up to $16,000 over three years, and two scholarships are up for grabs this year.

Applications opened on November 1 and close on December 5.

Club president and university physical education professor Ken Hodge said the new scholarships augment the club’s ability to attract top year 13 pupils to play and study at Otago.

"It is immensely valuable to our club that we can now offer additional incentives, via the AUOA Scholarships, to not only be part of the OURFC experience, but to study at what we see as New Zealand’s premiere sporting university," he said.

Although they are based in a country best known for baseball and a version of football featuring touch-downs, shoulder-pads and helmets it is no surprise AUOA members have backed the scholarships; president Neil Matheson and past-president Sir Murray Brennan both played rugby for University of Otago teams.

"AUOA is excited to be able to fund the first Otago University rugby scholarships. Our mission is to support the education of all young people who wish to attend our great university, but may not be able to do so due to lack of financial resources," Matheson said.

"Utilising their athletic talents to achieve access to a world-class education is consistent with this mission. Also, having benefited from academic and sporting experiences at Otago ourselves, Sir Murray and I are strong supporters of the AUOA Rugby Scholarships."

Brennan played 12 games for Otago during the 1964-65 seasons.

Professor Hodge says the OURFC’s ethos will also be a drawcard for applicants.

Management, volunteers and coaching staff endorse a student-first approach and previous OURFC scholarship recipients have been assigned an academic mentor to ensure they strike a balance between study and sporting commitments.

Training times are scheduled with lecture and tutorial/lab times in mind.

The club had a proud history of success; 66 of its players have become All Blacks, with 45 first donning the black jersey while still playing for the club. The club has also produced 13 Black Ferns women’s rugby representatives.