The remarkable ‘little movie’ All Blacks debut for rookie who was working as a roofer just 12 months ago
The 100 cap All Black Ardie Savea hugs Kyle Preston after he made his Test debut last Saturday
Kyle Preston has spoken about his remarkable journey from working as a roofer last year to making his All Blacks debut last Saturday.
The scrum-half stepped off the Eden Park bench to play the last 13 minutes of New Zealand’s gripping 24-17 Rugby Championship win over the world champion Springboks.
He is now poised to be named on the bench again for this Saturday’s Round Four rematch in his hometown of Wellington on the same day as his 26th birthday.
Movie worthy
All Blacks boss Scott Robertson claimed following Preston’s Test debut that his sudden, rapid rise through the ranks was worthy of a movie – and few would disagree.
It was March 2024 when Preston finished his roofing apprenticeship, and he was on the tools as recently as 12 months ago before making his breakthrough with Wellington in the NPC. That led to a Super Rugby contract with the Crusaders and 14 appearances with them – including a cameo off the bench in the title-winning decider versus the Chiefs – led to an All Blacks debut 11 weeks later.
A rib fracture injury sustained by Cortez Ratima in the Round Two loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires opened the door to selection, and Preston came onto the field at Eden Park, watched by a family and friends group of 19, with the All Blacks leading 24-10 in a clash that ultimately went down to the wire.
“Great for him…”
Robertson put the focus on Preston when speaking post-game last Saturday in Auckland, telling reporters: “What a story that is. It’s a little movie, isn’t it, in its own right, just for him to come in.
“When you have someone who has their debut, you send videos in of the people that are with them along the way on the journey, and there is a few roofers that said, ‘This is a good way to get out of it’ and there were a few other superlatives used.
“It just reflected where he came from and how much it meant to them. He stayed in the fight to be a professional player, and he went out and did a job for us. Great for him.”
Preston has since given an interview to stuff.co.nz, where he described the friends/family video shown last week about him to the All Blacks squad as “pretty humbling”.
The ‘pretty crazy’ All Blacks verdict on Richie McCaw joining them for Springboks rematch
Springboks legend: ‘The biggest games need the best referee, and we didn’t get it’
He also reflected on his rapid career acceleration after years biding his time in the rugby shadows while learning his trade as a roofer. “It’s hard; you don’t get too much time to reflect because it’s all go, go, go.
“But when you have sit-down chats with mum and dad or a few mates around, it’s only kind of less than 12 months almost when I was on the tools and how quick it can happen in a year. It’s awesome to have a bit of reflection to see how quick it has come. It’s pretty cool.
“I finished my apprenticeship March last year, officially off the tools just before NPC last year and then it led into full NPC, got signed by Super Rugby. It’s almost like that was my first full year.
“I have been working pretty hard for over a decade really; it takes a lot of time to get stuck in. Some boys are on different journeys, so they get in quite quickly, but I felt like I needed to stick to the path and whatever happens will happen.
“For me, it was just getting the opportunity, so with Wellington there were a few half-backs in there, the likes of TJ (Perenara) and just a few others that kept me out of the loop for a little bit.
“I did the representative stuff for quite a while and then finally got a chance through a few injuries. That got me on the park, which was where I needed to be. I just needed to showcase ability and stuff that I felt like I had, but I just didn’t have the chance to as early on as I would have liked.”
It was 2023 when Preston made his Lions debut, but there were just three starts in his nine appearances. Not enough to properly catch the eye. The following NPC season, though, he climbed up the pecking order to start in nine of his 13 appearances, scoring seven tries and winning the title in the final against Bay of Plenty.
There was talk of him graduating through to the Hurricanes, but he felt it best to take up an offer from Rob Penney’s Crusaders. He struck gold. “For sure, there is a lot of things you have got to weigh up when there is a couple of decisions you have got to make,” he recalled.
“It was around where is the best opportunity is to get a bit of game time. The history of the Canes, they like to play their nines for 70-odd minutes of the game.
“I felt a better opportunity down there and the history of the Crusaders, the amount of All Blacks they have produced – it just so happened that I managed to get a few extra games in and showcased what I can do. It was a big decision.”
That decision has now led to his return as an All Black to his hometown. “It’s cool. You’re a bit more relaxed because you are back at home and see a few of the Wellington Lions boys rolling around the facilities, so it’s cool to rub shoulders, say hi again. It’s good.”