RobLawMax Labour Hire Player Profile: Sam McNicol (Petone)

In association with our partners RobLawMax Labour Hire, we're running regular player profiles this season, showcasing many of the young up and coming players and some of the more established players in Wellington Premier Men's and Women's club rugby.

This weekend is Derby Day, with several mouth-watering local derby clashes for local fans to look forward to. Not least the annual McBain Shield clash between Petone and Hutt Old Boys Marist. New to Petone and to Wellington rugby this year is last year's New Zealand Secondary Schools fullback Sam McNicol, who has come to Wellington from Hawke's Bay to play rugby and to study at Victoria University. Like many past Petone custodians before him such as Bunk Pollock, Bob Scott and Allan Hewson, McNicol will be hoping to win the McBain Shield for Petone on Saturday.

Name: Sam McNicol

Club: Petone

Playing position: Fullback

Secondary School attended: Napier Boys' High School

First rugby club played for: Feilding Yellows

Earliest rugby memory: Playing barefoot rugby on cold Feilding mornings

Playing position growing up: First five-eighth

Favourite memory from school/First XV rugby: Beating the Australians 17-16 last year for the NZ Secondary Schools and beating the Wellington U18s last year in the final of the Hurricanes U18 tournament (playing for Hawke's Bay U18)

If you could choose any current rugby player, from across the world, to join your team- who would it be and why: All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith, because of his pass that will constantly give the backline good ball

Favourite non-rugby sportsman: Michael Jordan -he failed many times before succeeding. His journey to the top was tough but he persevered and eventually made it

What you like / dislike about training: Always improving your weaknesses and also your strengths/training in the rain and catching a cold

?Hobbies and interests outside of rugby: Surf Life Saving; Fifa 14

Outside of rugby: I study geography and accounting at Victoria University

Favourite superhero: Superman

Favourite TV show: Are you the One? and Game of Thrones

The last book or magazine you read was: An Introduction to Physical Geography and Geology

My signature dish is: Chicken pasta and vegetables

A motto I live by is: Sweat more today. Bleed less tomorrow

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