Super Rugby: Blues wing Caleb Clarke’s love for the game reborn

Blues and All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke has rekindled his love for rugby after what was a tumultuous 2021.

Clarke set about an Olympic dream last year wishing for gold at the Tokyo Games but failed to make All Blacks Sevens head coach Clarke Laidlaw’s final squad for the games.

Off-season partnership

The 22-year-old says he had no regrets about throwing all his eggs in one basket as he chased the Olympics but had to find a way to reconnect with the game. Clarke partnered up with new Blues recruit Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in an extended off-season training program that saw the wing lose four kilograms and develop a close bond with Tuivasa-Sheck.

“If I reflect on last year I had so many things on and it just felt like my attention was divided,” Clarke told Stuff.

“So this year I’ve just got one focus — enjoying my rugby, and enjoying being back with the boys. It’s been awesome being out of lockdown, and in another system where we can be with people. That’s where I thrive the most, around people who bring the best out of me.”

The partnership with code hopper Tuivasa-Sheck was based on hard work.

“I got to train with Roger once that picnic rule came out and, bro, there were some hard sessions,” added Clarke. “I was crying in one of them – that’s how hard it was.”

The goal of the off-season training regime was to share knowledge of the game between the two and to grow both skill-sets in a mutually beneficial structure. 

“Our first session we had Roger, Danny Tusitala (who’s in America now) and myself, with his brother and cousin there for extra numbers,” said Clarke. “It was lucky Danny was there because he was helping Roger with his passing. We built our relationship in that way.

“When it was just the two of us we sat down every morning talking through different pictures… now he’s got all the coaches, boys like Steven (Perofeta) and Harry (Plummer), and he’s really growing his game. He’s helped me with my footwork, and it’s just good having someone of his calibre here at the Blues.”

When asked how he helped Tuivasa-Scheck’s game, Clarke emphasised a focus on the physical side of rugby.

“Hopefully the physicality side. He had to use me as a tackling ram,” he said. “It was good over that lockdown period to have some contact work with him, and we worked hard on the ruck as well… we worked on the small things like the jackal, and getting over the ball and through the ruck.”

Lockdown proved a tough period for Clarke but allowed him the chance to find the right headspace.

“I reflected in lockdown. That was a tough period,” he revealed. “I thought I was still going to go on tour (with the All Blacks], and even before that playing in the Olympics … and to have bad hand after bad hand every time, and even Sean [Wainui] passing away just made things more tough.

“But it’s helped me realise there is more to life than just rugby. I’m here enjoying myself, and that’s the most important thing … I’ve found that love for the game again. If I look back at last year I put too much expectation on myself and I listened to too many people, when I should have just been listening to my small circle, and just enjoying the game.

“That’s the focus now. I’m not worried if I don’t make the All Blacks, or anything. I just want to enjoy the game again.”

Taking stock of his decision made in 2021, Clarke says there are no regrets.

“I’m very optimistic,” he responds. “I try to find the silver lining. Not making the Olympics, it’s a lesson to be learned on how I can deal with things better.”

The wing will be looking to capitalise on the additional mobility his lighter frame allows whilst maintaining his hard running power.

“I’m excited, I haven’t played 15s since the last Super Rugby Aotearoa game, and haven’t played any form of rugby since June. I’ve got itchy feet,” he said. “Every day in training I have to hold myself back from getting over-competitive … I don’t want to yell at people but I want to win, and there’s just that competitiveness and eagerness to get out there.”