A Pre-Season Chat with Isaac Henry

The 2023 Super Rugby season is set to begin in the coming weeks. I am beyond excited, this season is set to be a cracking, fast paced tournament, with a few new rule changes!

I’ve have been lucky enough to head on down to a few of pre-season training sessions with the Reds! Seeing the teams talent, hard work and perseverance has given me lots to look forward to, come the first match against the Hurricanes.

Before the very close trial game between the Reds and the Waratahs last Saturday, I was able to catch up with Isaac Henry and pick his brains about his experience with rugby and the Reds. 

Hey Isaac, thanks for taking the time to chat today!

Q: Congrats on the Massive win against the force over the weekend (4/2/23). How is the team feeling after the trial round?

A: Yeah the team is good! You know it was a great one over in Perth against the Force. It was pretty hot conditions at 38 degrees, I think all of the boys got to test their lungs out in the minutes they played. It was a good hit out and it was sort of a stepping stone for us to launch into this year and hopefully we can give a good crack in 2023! 

Q: What’s your headspace heading into this weekends (11/2/23) trial game against the Waratahs?

A: Its another trial, so I think all of the boys are just keen to be back playing some footy. The Tahs have won the last two trials for the santos festival so hopefully we can get one back against them. All of the boys are super pumped and excited for this weekend against the Tahs.

Q: What has been some of your favourite experiences this far with the reds?

A:Probably my debut in Dunedin against the Highlanders, it was pretty cool. I’d never actually been to New Zealand before then, so to do the two legs on the plane and get 10 minutes off the bench, that was pretty special.

Also my starting debut against the Chiefs back in 2021 was awesome. Those two are probably my highlights.

Q: What are some of your goals for this season with the reds?

A: The first one is to hopefully play as many minutes as I can. Last year I was sort of hit with a few injury’s so that was pretty disappointing and unlucky. So this year I’m looking to get as much game time as I can. I’m also really looking forward to hopefully getting many more wins with the Reds and making this State as successful as we can. 

Q: Your home club is Wests, what are some of your favourite things about playing for this club? 

A: Honestly it’s probably the people, Wests has such a great culture, very inclusive and we’ve got blokes from all over that are happy to put on the doggy’s jersey

Coming out of school, I went to UQ and met some pretty good mates there. I ended up transitioning from there to wests and haven’t really looked back. I have had a really good time there and have loved every minute I’ve got to play with Wests. I love Wests, it’s a great culture and a great club.

Q: What were some of your rugby influences growing up?

A: I’d say as a young fullah, I used to play a lot of flyhalf, playing 10, so I looked up to Matt Giteau and a lot of Dan Carter even though he is a kiwi. As I got older, I really enjoyed watching Sonny Bill play as well as Samu Kerevi.

Q: Have you got any tips or advice for some young and upcoming players?

A: Just to stick with it. Rugby is a very short term thing. I think as long as you have got the enjoyment and you are willing to put in the work, I think you just have to stick with it. There is going to be injury’s along the way, but if you love something enough and you are willing to put your heart and soul into it, I think you’re going to go places.

Q: What are some of things you love to do in your down time? 

A: Funnily enough, I’ve gotten into golf in my down time over the last couple of years. So 2020 when Covid hit and we weren’t allowed to do anything, I picked up golf with my dad. I just loved it and it was such a good mental break. I love getting outside and hitting a few balls.

Q: What is your favourite post-training meal? 

A: I love an eye fillet steak, it’s probably one of my favourites - even a lasagne! That’s a great question. I’m a bit of a foodie, so if we were to really get into it, I’d probably have a few different suggestions. I’d definitely go for a steak though. 

Thanks again for chatting today Isaac, all the best with this season and I’m looking forward to seeing you play! 

How good, thanks Tom it was a good chat. Happy to jump on board and hopefully the Reds have a good year this year. I’m really looking forward to playing, great talking to you Tom.

From Prop to Pastor: A Conversation with Former Red Peni Volavola

As we edge closer to the Super Rugby Season, I was fortunate to be able to catch up with former Queensland Red and Fijian international Peni Volavola at a local cafe. During our interview, he shared about his rugby experiences as well as advice for players and former players. We had an awesome time together and I hope you enjoy reading our conversation as much as much as I enjoyed having it!

Hey Peni, thanks for taking time to catch up.

Thank you!

I love catching up with Reds players, past and present. Rugby has changed a lot of over the years. What are some of the most obvious changes to you?

One of the obvious changes is it’s really professional now. During our era, we were still “amateurs”. The younger players now are more professional in their approach, with the big money involved. Diet is also one thing, they have to see that they eat the right food, because their dietician will be there to check that they’re doing the right thing. Where as we would always go to “Big Maccers” (laughs). So food plays a big part in the professional era of rugby.

Another thing is the players are more disciplined now, because of things like sponsorship. The sponsors don’t want to support a team that’s second best. They want to put their money on a team that wins all the time. They want their culture to be a winning culture.

What’s your favourite memory, from playing at Ballymore?

Tom, I didn’t play many times for the Reds, I think I only played about four or five games with Queensland. I played quite a bit for Queensland B. But my best memory was beating Canterbury, from New Zealand. I was on the bench and I replaced - I think it was Matt Ryan, but that was a good experience. All the teams from New Zealand are all good teams… they love their rugby, they’re all hard rugby players… the Canterbury forwards were all playing for the All Blacks, so that was a good experience.

What else did you love most about your time with the Reds?

I really loved my time with the Reds, especially playing alongside great players. Players like Dan Crowley, David Nucifora, Matt Ryan (the prop), Bill Campbell, I was fortunate to go with him on my first tour for Queensland in 1990… Rod McCall, John Eels… We were new players on that tour, with John Eels. We went to England, where we played Northampton, on our way to France for the World Provincial Championship. Also, I was fortunate to play with Sam Scott-Young and Geoff Miller, David Wilson, and the backline was Peter Slattery and Michael Lynagh and you know Time Horan and Jason Little… Paul Carozza Mark Conners and Greg Martin - the teams fullback.

Do you find yourself at Ballymore much these days?

Yes, now and then I go and watch games there. I still love going there - it’s the traditional ground for the Queensland Reds.

You have played 11 games for Fiji. Can you remember the experience of what it’s like playing for your country?

Yes, thank you Tom. I first played for Fiji in 1985, that was my first ever tour, to Wales and Ireland! I played in the second test, against Wales.

I was also fortunate to represent Fiji at the first ever World Cup, in 1987. Fiji reached the quarter final. And also, I played at the second World Cup, in 1991. I really enjoyed my few years, representing my country. And man - going to the two world cups - I will never forget that!

That leads me straight to my next question! What was your favourite memory from playing in the World Cup events?

Favourite memories… 1987 was a difficult year because just before we went to the World Cup, Fiji had its first coup! So it was a difficult year. But we did our best to put aside what was happening back home and concentrate on playing rugby. I can say that because of our love for rugby, we put aside everything, enjoyed everything, and we made the quarter final.

Rugby completely changed people’s perspectives of what was happening back home. They heard us on the radio, and fortunately we got as far as we did and came 5th on the ladder.

Beating Argentina would be a favourite memory! There were four teams in the pool - we were in the same pool as New Zealand, Argentina and Italy. We beat Argentina, making us second in the pool. That’s why we were able to reach the quarter final.

What are some of the things you’ve done in your life, since you retired from rugby?

Since retiring from rugby, I went to Bible School and now I am a minister, or a pastor. I was working to support my family and studying for 6 years part-time… And after that, I looked after a church called Faith City Church for 15 years until last last year and now we are with Majestic Church. 

What advice would you give to younger players that are wanting to play rugby professionally?

Yeah - I’d say if you want to play professionally, if you are given a chance to play rugby, you should grab it with two hands. You have to look after yourself, because your rugby career, it’s short, without injuries, maybe 10-15 years, so you have to be disciplined with your body, with your training, and also with eating the right food as I said before. Also, it is good to be in a winning culture.

There’s two things that I can say - you can be an asset or a liability. The Queensland Reds want to see a player and say: “This guy: he’s a good player, he listens, he trains well, and he plays well, because he disciplined himself…” that is an asset.

But a liability… if you don’t listen to the coach, you don’t look after yourself, you’re always coming late to train, those things will make you a liability.

For example, Queensland Rugby, they’ll look at you and say “are you an asset, or are you a liability?” If you’re an asset, they’ll look after you. You’ll play better, and you’ll bring sponsors to come and support.

Whenever I talk to young rugby players, that what I talk to them about. Are you an asset or a liability.

If you are a liability, the coach and the manager will say “mate, thank you very much for your time, we don’t need you anymore.” But if you are an asset… they’ll renew your contract before it finishes. They’ll say “we would like Taniela Tupou to stay…” because he’s an asset. Samu Kerevi is an asset.

So remember those two words. Asset, or liability.

What advice would you give today’s professional rugby players, regarding life after rugby?

Life after rugby. Yes, that’s very important Tom. Most players now not only play rugby but are doing other courses also. Some are studying at uni… you can blend those two together, while you’re playing professional rugby. Because after professional rugby, there is a career for you. Your rugby career is short… without injury, it might be 10, 12 or 15 years. That’s why it’s important that you do something outside of rugby, study business courses… John Eels is a big businessman, Jason Little and Tim Horan too… Michael Lynagh has his own business, David Nucifora and the other players that I played with and the players I played against, they’re doing great things now in society, after rugby.

This is something I’ve started asking the players… back in the day, what was your favourite post-game meal?

(Laughs) Tom, I can say that I was also disciplined with food. I always love a nice, juicy steak, potatos, salad and a few chips (laughs).

Thanks a lot for coming and catching up. As I like to say, once a Red, always a Red!

Thank you Tom. It’s an honour to come and meet you. And that’s true, once a Red always a Red! I believe that 2023 will be the year of the Reds. They will do better this year - with us supporting!

The Reds Super Rugby season kicks off on Saturday February 25th against the Hurricanes in Townsville!