When ex-All Black Andy Ellis was offered the chance to leave New Zealand to extend his playing career in the United States, he couldn’t resist nibbling the bait.
Ellis didn’t officially retire when he left Japanese Top League club Kobelco Steelers early last year, a result of Covid-19 cutting the competition short, but he knew the finishing tape was in sight.
A discussion with wife Emma left the pair agreeing that his days of getting paid to chase an oval ball may be complete, and entering rugby afterlife seemed imminent.
“When we finished in Japan Emma and I were like ‘we are pretty happy to pack the boots up now’,’’ Ellis, who turns 37 on February 21, said.
“But we also said that if a really cool opportunity came up in a place like London or New York, that would be great for one last adventure with the family.’’
A couple of weeks after that conversation Ellis was approached to play for Rugby United New York (RUNY) in the Major League Rugby competition; the pros and cons of leaving the safety of New Zealand for the States, where the death toll from the pandemic has surpassed 465,000, was weighed up before they decided the risks could be mitigated by common sense and sound decision-making.
“Obviously it’s pretty challenging with things like Covid and things like that, but the opportunity was too good not to jump at really,’’ Ellis said. “So here we are.’’
Ellis knew the team’s coach, Greg McWilliams, from when the latter had assisted Robbie Deans with a Barbarians side, and the prospect of being involved in a club based near New York was too appealing for the 28-test halfback to ignore.
A deal was struck and last week Andy and Emma, along with their 2 children, began their 7-day quarantine period in an apartment in Hoboken, a New Jersey city on the Hudson River with views of the Manhattan skyline.
Wearing a face mask, social distancing and being tested for Covid-19 on a regular basis will now become part of Ellis’s routine.
“You wear a mask everywhere. With the rugby team there are pretty strict protocols and you get tested twice a week,’’ Andy Ellis said.
“I suppose it is run like a lot of the American sports such as NFL and basketball.
“Hopefully by the time summer rolls around here, they are on top of it and we can venture out more and more at that point. In the meantime we will stick to our bubbles with everyone that is here. It is just about being careful and smart.’’
