Lessons from the Country Pirates Rugby Club
The photo above is from the Country Pirates Rugby Club, a small but mighty group that recently celebrated a major event.
This milestone, the club’s 100th anniversary, isn’t just a number; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of rural sports clubs. These communities, with their rich history and deep-rooted values, are a rare and precious part of our society, and their decreasing numbers are a sad rural tale that evokes nostalgia and appreciation.
But that’s another topic.
I’ve spent much time thinking about my connection to this rugby club. My dad, for instance, may have played in his younger days, but he spent a significant part of his life refereeing games and supporting the team in various ways.
My brother had a brief stint playing, and I even had the chance to step onto the field a couple of times when the under-35-kg team was short of players. I might have been the only girl in the club’s history to play on an all-boys team.
Recently, I scanned the photo, looking for my dad among familiar childhood, weather-beaten faces. But then it hit me—he wasn’t there. Of course not.
The photo was taken in 2025, and my dad passed away in November 2024. It’s strange when you suddenly realise a loved one is no longer around. It takes your breath away, but you soon regain your composure.
Another thought crossed my mind as I looked at the faces in the photo. This rugby club isn’t just a sports team—it’s a community that stretches beyond the field. These same people are also part of the volunteer fire brigade, the Garston Cemetery community, the local PTA, the school board, the dog trial club, and several other organisations supporting the fabric of rural life.
These individuals have worked together for years to lift hay bales, cook sausages for fundraising, and leave their farms during busy times to respond to emergencies like car accidents, fires, and floods. They’ve come together to assist with mustering livestock and have supported one another in dog trials. Behind the scenes, the women have contributed with potluck dinners, cakes, and cheese rolls, supporting their husbands and families.
These people taught me invaluable life skills—how to build campfires, fly fish, drive tractors, muster livestock, and work in shearing sheds—skills I don’t often need in my city life but carry with me nonetheless.
When my parents passed away, we brought them home to the family farm to lie for a few days before burying them in the local cemetery. During this time, the families from the rugby club and other community groups came to our house to pay their respects. They brought food, sat with us, and shared in the last conversations about the weather, the kids, and the price of wool—simple, every day topics that carried a deep sense of community and care.
The rugby club members arrived early on the day of each funeral to prepare Mum and Dad’s grave sites. They removed the hard rocks from the tough Northern Southland soil, tidied the area, and ensured the family didn’t have to worry about it. They stood behind us during the final blessing, ready to offer support in any way needed. Afterwards, they filled in the grave, placed flowers, and quietly walked away—without asking for thanks or recognition.
It was a profound act of love, respect, and seamless teamwork that moved us deeply and made us appreciate the power of community and the importance of showing up for others when it matters most.
This level of dedication and care struck me deeply. It reminded me of the beauty of volunteering and working together as a team.
The Power of Team Volunteering: Lessons for the Workplace
Having experienced this kind of community support firsthand, I’ve been thinking a lot about the values we hold dear in our urban communities and workplaces. What can we learn from this spirit of showing up and teamwork to apply to our modern working environments?
At the core of effective teams is a willingness to put the group’s needs above our own. It’s about showing up for others, even when there’s no immediate personal benefit. While this can be challenging to exercise in a workplace setting, it’s crucial because, when you’re at your most vulnerable, you want to know that the people around you care, have your back, and will support you when you need it most.
We all need a sense of community—people around us who care, take the time to show up, and reflect the values we want to live by.
One way to foster this spirit in a business setting is through team volunteering. While it might not have the same depth or history as a rugby club that has been going strong for 100 years, volunteering can spark meaningful conversations about values and strengthen bonds among team members.
Team volunteering provides a unique opportunity to learn about what motivates your colleagues—what they care about, what they believe in, and how they contribute to the larger picture. It can reveal insights into your team’s core values and help you better understand each individual’s essence, ultimately fostering a sense of connection and shared purpose.
So, the next time your team faces a challenge, consider stepping outside the office together and volunteering. Whether for a cause close to your heart or for a community project, this experience can deepen your team’s relationships and help you develop a stronger team dynamic.
After all, just like in those small, rural rugby clubs, the team’s strength makes all the difference.
