Player of the week: Logan Flutey

PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Martinborough No 8 Logan Flutey had a strong all-round game in the green and blacks’ comeback 39-38 victory over Carterton. CHRIS COGDALE talked to the Carterton fencer.

During the week Logan Flutey is up before dawn and heading to Wellington to erect security fencing around commercial properties.

On Saturdays, he turns out for Martinborough, the rugby club where the Flutey family have a long history.

A second cousin of former England and British Lions international Riki and former Hawke’s Bay, East Coast, and NZ Divisional first-five Mano, Logan followed his illustrious relatives and attended Te Aute College for the final two years of secondary school after previously going to Kuranui College.

There he made the first XV in his first year, which was one of his favourite years of rugby.

“Just the different environment boarding with the other players, you got to know everyone quite well and we built this good chemistry,” he said. “We had a good year that year.

“The next year, we moved on to the Central North Island comp, and that was my first time travelling and playing rugby, going to Auckland, and playing Wesley, and St Peter’s Cambridge and schools like that. It got me into rugby so much more.”

He then worked in the shearing sheds with his mother Erina and stepfather, Selwyn Brown, before Martinborough coach James Bruce assisted him in finding the fencing job.

Flutey also stepped straight into the Marty premier side, where he struggled to find his spot.

“I was playing at lock and I’m usually a No 8, and I was on the bench quite a lot, and I think last year was my breakout year when two of our loose forwards went overseas and that opened up a spot for me at No 8 and I took the chance.”

That good form led to the club winning their first championship in 28 years, with Flutey scoring a crucial try in the 34-30 win over Gladstone in the final. He then joined his brother, winger Tristan, in the Wairarapa-Bush Heartland squad.

“I was so humbled. I couldn’t think of anything better to top off the season and I got a few caps and it was the first time I had been on a plane, so that was pretty good eh.”

As for this season, the 20-year-old said Marty are building and trying to improve individual and team performance every week and are determined to win back to back titles.