Rumble in Russell: Politicians have a bruising encounter with ex-All Blacks

Some of the country's leading politicians have traded scrapping in the debating chamber for a bruising encounter with a Northland team studded with ex All Blacks and household names from news and entertainment.

The Rumble in Russell, a fundraiser for the charity Rugby for Life, has grown into one of the biggest fixtures in Northland's sporting calendar since it was first staged just two years ago.

The main event sees MPs put aside political differences to take on a Northland invitational side, the Russell Penguins, captained by former All Black Taine Randell and coached by Ian "Kamo Kid" Jones.

Russell Sports Club president Peter Stuart said just under 1200 people turned out for Saturday's match.

"It's huge for us. We're a small community. We only have 1000 permanent residents, 250 of them are members of our club, so to host this event where we have the Parliamentary Rugby Team playing, on a day like this, and with so many people coming out at a grass roots level, is very significant. It means a lot to us."

Ahead of the game, Local Government Minister Simon Watts, captain of the Parliamentary side, said he was under no illusions about the challenge facing his team.

He joked that the only criteria for joining his squad were an ability to walk unaided, and no hip operation in the past six months.

"It's going to be pretty difficult. The pitch is looking soft which is helpful. We've got an average age of about 60 in the squad so we don't like firm ground. But the boys are pretty excited. This is all about community and all about charity."

Watts said he was buoyed by the turnout.

"Russell always puts on a great occasion. Sport's one of those things that brings communities together, and this is a way Parliamentarians can give back."

Watts said his own strategy for the game was simple: "Third man to the ball. And if I get the ball, I pass it fast. That's what my wife's told me I need to do."

This year's Rumble kicked off with a netball match pitting Parliament's Parly Ferns against a Russell invitational side.

Tukituki MP and Parly Ferns captain Catherine Wedd was coy about the result.

"Well, we won't talk about the score," she joked.

"The score wasn't reflective of the hard work and participation, and of course we were raising money for a great cause and that was really special. It was Russell's on the day. They played really, really well. Though they were a little younger than us," she said.

"It was great to see lots of mums out there playing because seeing women in sport and leadership is really important. And we saw a lot of that, a lot of tough, resilient women out there on the court."

For the record, the final score in the netball was 53-19 to the locals.

The newly minted netball trophy is named after former Prime Minister, and now Russell resident, Jenny Shipley.

Dame Jenny was spotted cheering loudly for the home side rather than her former Beehive colleagues.

Meanwhile, Northland MP Grant McCallum said he played his last serious rugby in Dargaville in 1991.

He had a one-word answer when asked if he was ready to make his comeback: "No."

"But rumour has it I might have to run on and play a minute or two. It's a big fundraiser, great fun, great for the community."

TVNZ sports presenter Andrew Saville was also getting ready to run on, despite breaking a finger and suffering various other injuries in the 2024 match.

He said it was not just camaraderie, and the great cause, that persuaded him to sign up for the Russell squad again.

"It's also being able to legally give a Parliamentarian a clip around the ears, right? That's the other thrill of it."

When the game kicked off just after 2pm, a disappointed Rewi Spraggon - better known as the Hāngī Master - had been relegated to the sideline, unable to put his trademark big tackles on the politicians.

"Well, mate, I pulled a hammie in the warmup, so I think I'll probably get dick of the day before even going on the field. They call me the human cannonball, but I won't able to display that today. I'm just going to have to watch from the sidelines and run the water."

Also watching from the sideline this year was Fisheries and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, who was under orders from his wife and party leader Winston Peters to be in the best possible condition for the upcoming election.

However, he said he was well represented on the pitch by whānau, with a son, a brother and two nephews playing for the Parliamentarians.

Jones said there was no limo waiting for him in the carpark.

"Today the matua is being driven around on a bus and, sadly, I'm even being blighted with these exaggerations of limo stories in sleepy little Russell. I suspect that yarn is going to be like an odour that follows me around for a while yet."

And it wasn't only the matua forced to travel by bus.

With all flights from Wellington cancelled due to stormy weather, the entire squad had to pile onto buses for the long journey north, delaying their arrival until late at night.

When the final whistle blew the score was 22-10 to the locals.

Had there been a trophy for the oldest player, it would have been awarded to veteran MP Greg O'Connor.

"I'm 68 and I figured I'd keep going. I'm too old to give up, I might as well keep going until I can't any more. I didn't break anything or pull anything, and that's a victory in itself."

However, Sports Minister Mark Mitchell was less fortunate, breaking two ribs in one of the game's big tackles.

Despite that he was in good spirits.

Asked what was harder, taking on Labour in the debating chamber or Russell on the rugby field, he said it was no contest.

"I mean look at the scoreboard. They're a great side and they always come out. It's a tough contest. We absolutely love it. You saw the spirit in which the game was played and it was great."

Russell Penguins captain Taine Randell was stoked his side had retained the trophy.

"The problem with the rules we were playing under is that there were very few scrums or line-outs and a lot of running. So when you hit the age of 51, there's not a lot of down time, and I was surprised with how mistake-free it was," he said.

"We had four tries and they scored a couple, so a pretty good display all around."

Randell acknowledged he could be in a curious position if he returned for the rematch in 2028.

As he was standing in the upcoming election, he could end up being eligible for both the Parliamentary and the Russell teams.

Asked which side he would choose, he said he had a soft spot for the Russell Penguins.

"We're the defending champs. You can't give that up. And it's just an awesome occasion. Though from how I'm feeling right now, this might be my official retirement from rugby."

Rugby for Life deputy chairman Riki Kinnaird of Russell said the charity's aim was to help clubs and communities grow through sport.

The Rumble was a fundraiser, but more importantly it was about fun and bringing people together with their MPs and sporting heroes.

The event was held every two years because "it takes 18 months for people to forget how hard it is, and then another six months to commit to playing again".

The Parliamentarians will have another chance to lift the cup from the Russell Penguins when the Rumble returns in 2028.

The Penguins take their name from Kororāreka, the town's original name, which translates as 'sweet penguin'.

Former All Black Grahame Thorne, who debuted for Russell in 1963, also took part in the event, lending his name to the trophy and presenting the players' jerseys.