Big 50th for tough hooker

Clues to Rob Foreman's stamina include farming and rising at 5.30am, Monday to Friday, to work as a fitness trainer.

The 26-year-old Manawatu hooker plays his 50th first-class match for the Turbos tomorrow, on top of having played all 20 games for Wairarapa-Bush in 2004-05.

He is the only player not to miss a game for Dave Rennie's Turbos since they were elevated to the premier 14-team competition. Of those, he has had 26 starts.

Just imagine how Manawatu would've prospered had all the other top, but injury-hit, players been able to front in every match.

Eventually Foreman plans to return to the sheep-and-beef farm at Makuri, atop the often snowy Puketoi Ranges, with wife Alex, from nearby Pahiatua. There are two little Foreman boys now, Nixon, 3, and Mac, three months.

"I think that was the key for my rugby," he said. "Rugby used to be everything but now the good thing about family is you go home and Nixon and Mac don't care if you've played good or bad," he said.

Taking sessions at City Fitness, even during the Turbos' season, helps keep him busy and balanced.

"I hate it when you go away and have a whole day to sit around waiting for a game."

When he came to Manawatu in 2006, he was rated the No7 hooker in the union and since 2008 has had a ding-dong battle with Sean O'Connor for the No2 jersey. Nathan Kemp was there in 2006 and Wellington's Ged Robinson in 2007.

When the High School Old Boys and Marist clubs united two years ago, Foreman and O'Connor found themselves at the same club. So Foreman headed to Varsity.

Rennie rates Foreman one of the best hookers around, worthy of a peek from a Super 15 franchise.

"Rugby-wise I'd like to go as far as I can," Foreman said. "I want to play well for Manawatu first and if I do, I suppose doors will open. I feel like I'm improving."

He must play through pain. This year he has bursitis in both knees thanks to an early start on hard grounds.

Losing games has been a pain, too, this season, not helped by injuries and facing lots of Super 14 players.

"We match them physically now. It's just that we try and score straight away while other teams have more patience.

"We're a lot better side than what we've showed. That's the frustrating thing about playing for Manawatu sometimes."

Personally, his prime focus has been on his defence, being more physical and in carrying the ball. As for lineout throwing: "It's like goalkicking; it's such a complex task you've got to do it all the time."

- © Fairfax NZ News