Something the Thames Valley Swamp Foxes value is strengthening their team bonds.
Before the rugby team even thinks about doing anything on the field, their goal is to connect as a unit.
It was clear the strong team ties contributed to their on-field successes with the tight-knit crews recent triumph in the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship Draw 2024 in October.
The champions took home the Meads Cup for the second time since 2018.
Swamp Fox head coach David ‘Harry’ Harrison, who shares the role with Joe Murray, told The Profile it was really important to build the team culture of getting to know each other.
Harry said something the team prides itself on was setting a theme each rugby season.
For example, the theme for the Swamp Foxes this year was about making memories, and they aimed to make it “the most memorable season” so far for the players and management, he said.
They did it by making training enjoyable, and also enjoying all the opportunities the team had such as travelling around the country, playing rugby and meeting people, he said.
“And if you get that good team culture going, then it makes that on-field stuff a lot easier – the boys buy in.”
Harry said it was their biggest philosophy.
It should come as no surprise the team received a nomination for the adidas National Men’s Team of the Year award as part of the 2024 ASB Rugby Awards held on December 12.
The strong heartland team shared the category with the Wellington Lions and the Blues, who swept up the win for this year.
Harry said the boys were really proud to be nominated, they were all sharing messages in their group chat when they heard the news.
It was a privilege to be a Heartland team there next to two professional rugby teams, Harry said.
When asked what the key factor behind the nomination was, Harry assumed it was their success in winning the Meads Cup, he said.
“I’d like to think community support might be in there, but I think they basically would go on results [and] winning competitions.”
The Blues and Wellington Lions also won their championships this year, he said.
“I think we had amazing community support this year and yeah, that was maybe our point of difference.”
And it was evident the team was grounded in its community.
Harry said they were very grateful and proud of their supporters this season, “not just in the final, but we always had people at every game this year, even if it was down in Gisborne or Masterton”.
“It means a lot. The boys get a lot out of that, looking out and seeing our crowd.”
Harry said they’d never forget the championship final crowd of around 5000 people.
“That was special when we ran out and saw the crowds,” he said.
“It’ll definitely sit in our memories for a very long time.”
