Hale and hearty

Guernsey's rugby side has been benefiting from some New Zealand character. Tight-head prop Steve Hale came to the island in January and has since become part of the coaching and playing staff at the club.

'I was injured when I came over so I was just watching the matches and itching to get onto the field.

'We've lived in a few different places, the first thing I sort out is where's the rugby club and where's the Burger King.'

Guernsey has four coaches this year and he thinks the different playing experiences and ideas are working really well.

'The preparation and whole rugby culture is different in New Zealand. It's the number one sport, everything is geared towards rugby and there is more pressure to perform and more expectation in the community.

'We need to put more pressure on ourselves to produce our best.'

The forward believes the Guernsey team are capable at playing at least one level higher and may surprise Jersey in some areas.

Changes to more-mobile forwards and an emphasis on set plays and improved scrummaging have helped the island team.

'It's a good opportunity for us to push on. We're getting some good crowds, it's up to us to up the anti.'

Children in New Zealand start playing when they are as young as three, in Guernsey the sport is marginalised.

'The earlier they're down there the earlier you can coach them. Rugby is a difficult game to learn.'

Hale came to Guernsey with his wife, Jocelyn, and his young son, Boston. The family has some rugby pedigree, All-Black prop Carl Hoeft is his wife's brother.

'I talked to him just before the World Cup started. They were all really looking forward to it and thought they were in the best shape of their lives.

'He played against Canada and we're waiting to see if he gets picked for the Wales game. They're pretty confident.'

The New Zealanders plan to stay in the island until 2005. They are both working in education.

'We've got a really good mix of guys at the club with all sorts of different backgrounds. It was sometimes a case of playing with 14 different farmers in New Zealand.

'Even though it's the other side of the world, the guys at the club love the game just as much.'