Battling Booth growing at the Hurricanes

Above: Jamie Booth at halfback playing for Manawatu against Wellington in a NPC pre-season fixture last year. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography. 

"You've got to be resilient and take heart from the small victories," Jamie Booth suggests to those battling adversity.

June 1, 2013, Booth is playing for his Varsity club side in Palmerston North when tragedy strikes. 

"I went to clear the ball from a ruck and my left leg got shackled under some bodies. The clean out happened and knocked me to the ground. When I tried to move, I couldn't," Booth recalls.

The halfback had broken his leg so badly he would possibly never play again.

"I flew to Auckland ten days later and had surgery. I was put in a full length knee brace and couldn't move my leg for six weeks," Booth reveals. 

The ordeal was far from over as extension and flexibility remained difficulty. Another brace was applied with an adjustable lock that provided limited movement not exceeding 90 degrees. 

It would be eight months until Booth could run again and five months after the break in June he had further surgery remove scar tissue. 

"It was hard being idle for so long. Mum and Dad were huge. They got me through it," Booth acknowledges.

In fact, Jamie and his father Paul put their minds together and formed their own business. 
"Mum and Dad wanted a change so Dad and I decided to start a property maintenance business.

It's called Pj's Property Services Limited and it serves clients in Palmerston North. It's done okay," Booth explains.

Booth was born and bred in Palmerston North where he spent two years in the PNBHS First XV and made quite an impression. Booth was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2012, but it was the year before where Booth made a greater impact. Palmerston North won 18 out of 20 games and was one of the best teams in the country and included Super Rugby notables Ngani Laumape, Jason Emery and Jackson Hemopo.

"That was a pretty special team. We beat Hamilton Boys' who were the world champions at the time and won the Polson Banner which is our biggest and oldest traditional game against Napier Boys," Booth fondly reflects.

It took Booth 13 months from the time he broke his leg to return to rugby, but in 2014 he was good enough to earn a place on the Manawatu NPC team.

Booth started in three of his nine appearances making his debut against Bay of Plenty and scoring a try in the 27-21 win against Wellington. Manawatu won 10 out of 12 games jumping from 12th place the previous year to Championship winners.

Booth concedes he didn't feel fully fit until "the middle of 2015," but he has now played 32 games for the Turbos and cracked the All Blacks Sevens in 2017, a breakthrough season.

"Personally I was really happy with my for last year, but from a Manawatu perspective it wasn't a great year. The phone call I got from Chris Stirling (former high performance manager) came out of the blue," Booth says.

Booth scored two outstanding tries against the Crusaders to lift the Hurricanes into the final of the Brisbane Global Tens and has seen limited minutes in the Hurricanes first three matches of the actual season. TJ Perenara isn't going to be easy to usurp.  

"TJ is one of the best going around so I need to make the most of the minutes I get," Booth admits. 

Booth believes the most valuable things he has learnt of the All Black are "greater precision around the little things" and he admirers "TJ's competitive edge."

This Saturday the Hurricanes host the Highlanders at the Westpac Stadium and Aaron Smith will feature at halfback for the opposition. Booth has a huge respect for the Manawatu All Black.

"Aaron Smith changed at the game. His speed around the ruck and clearance of the ball brought the little guy back into the game," Booth acclaims. 

Booth is the youngest of three siblings. His older brother is a builder and his sister an early childhood teacher. In his spare time Booth is a keen hunter and enjoys basketball and cricket.