Cross still going strong for the Avalon Wolves

After playing rugby for Avalon for nearly 13 years it might be easy for one to go over to another club or hang up the boots, this isn’t the case for one legend of Avalon rugby.

Cameron Cross has played over 200 Premier or first-team games for the Avalon Wolves, starting his premier career back in 2005.

Playing right through the grades from under 11 to under 13 for Avalon Cameron also played for the Hutt Valley representative sides before going to school at Naenae College.

His support for Avalon didn’t stop there, during his time at school he continued to attend Avalon’s games to help out at the club.

“I’ve always been a supporter of Avalon, I would go along to all their games whilst I was at school, all their Premier games and be the ball boy”, said Cross.

After leaving secondary school Cross says he wanted to play for the same team his brother and friends were playing and so he played a couple of seasons for the 80/80’s before moving up to Premier level.

Outside of rugby Cameron Cross is a sergeant in the police which takes up a lot of his time. He also likes spending time with his family.

“Rugby these days is an out for me, a bit of time out, getting back into the community and playing with all my mates.

“I don’t like to use my position [in the police] in the rugby scenes I treat everyone as equals, I'm just like anyone else out there, I work and I love playing rugby.”

Two weeks ago Avalon tasted a rare success against one of Wellington club rugby heavyweights, Marist St Pat’s, the Wolves downing MSP 27-17.

“I think with the number of injuries that we’ve got so far this season, having sort of a makeshift backline, It just goes to show that you don’t need all the name players to win games it comes down to the individuals”.

In his long career with the club, Cross says a highlight for him is being able to play for the club continually every year.

“Just playing really [is a highlight], just having the opportunity to play each year, not everyone gets that opportunity.”

Another highlight for him was playing for the New Zealand police rugby team, last year they played an Anzac test against Australian police in Queenstown.

“We beat them, 58-7 in the test match, which was quite a big highlight for us and for myself.”

In his time at the club, Cross has seen the likes of the Asafo Aumua and the Waldrom brothers come through. Thomas Waldrom went on to make four caps for England [and could be back soon] whilst his brother and now Premier coach Scott played four caps for New Zealand. Asafo Aumua played for Wellington and the Hurricanes and played two games for the All Blacks on last year’s European tour.

“We’ve got some young ones coming through at the moment, Liddy Ah Wong, He’s just one of those loyal club men, jeez I can name heaps.”

As well as playing Cross also helps the Premier team as a backs coach but says he has no desire to hang up the boots just yet.

“Never retire, the day I retire is the day I stop walking, I think it’s a good way for me to slowly start taking a step back and let these younger ones come through and try and help them as much as I can.”

Avalon has two home games to close out the Swindale Shield, firstly this weekend Avalon take on Paremata-Plimmerton and then against Poneke on the 2nd of June.