Locker 71

What's the biggest thing players don't see behind the scenes?

Do players really understand what it takes to run a club?

Most of us see the game from the changing room, the sideline, or the grandstand.

But everything looks different when you step into governance.

Ioane Ioane talks about the transition from player to club leadership and the realities that come with it.

Budgets, facilities, volunteers, planning, and decisions that most members never see.

Running a rugby club is about far more than what happens on the field.

What surprised you most when you got involved behind the scenes?

Can a rugby club become part of your family?

For many, the club became a second home.

You can't replace genuine belonging.

What does your rugby club mean to you personally?

Does your club still inspire that kind of loyalty?

We asked Ioane Ioane what East Tamaki means to him.

His answer had nothing to do with results or trophies.

He said if you cut him open, he'd bleed red, white and green.

That's what years of commitment can create.

Some clubs are where you play rugby.

Others become part of who you are.

What memories made your club feel like more than just a place to play rugby?

When Ivan Tasi thinks about Marist, he doesn't just think about rugby.

He remembers young families filling the clubrooms.

Kids running around together while parents watched the game, caught up with mates, and enjoyed the day.