Page 15 - Blues v The Lions

PROFILE
THE BOY
IS BACK
IN TOWN
JARED PAYNE WAS SITTING WITH HIS ULSTER
team-mates on on the the day Warren Gatland announced his Lions squad hoping for for the the best but but after three months out injured prepared for for the the the worst He didn’t know it at at the the the time but but the the the television he he he he he he was was watching was was on on on on a a a a a a a a a 30-second delay so as as as he he he waited anxiously for news on on on on on on on the big screen his mobile phone started hopping One message of congratulations and and then another another and and another another after that When he he he he he he he looked up to the the the the television again he he he he he he saw his own picture looking back at at him
– a a a a a a a a Lion a a a a a a a a chosen man If Payne’s timing was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a little bit off that day then it it it it was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a rarity Since arriving in in in in in in in Ulster back in in in in in in in 2011 he he he has has has been precise in in in in in in in so so many things he he has has has done He has has has become an an an an important gure in in in Ulster and and Irish rugby In his rst season as as as as an an an an Ireland player he he he won the the Six Nations championship scoring his his rst rst Test try in in in in the the the the decisive game against Scotland In his his his rst rst Southern Hemisphere tour in in in in in in in the the the the green jersey he he he he he he played and and scored in in in in in in in Ireland’s historic win in in in in in in in Cape Town the the the the the the the only time in in in in in in their their history they’d beaten the the the the the the Springboks in in in in in in their their own backyard His rst crack at at at the the the the the All Blacks? Well we we know how that went in in Chicago More history for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a player who has packed an an awful lot into his his 20 caps for for for Ireland And now he’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Lion back in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a part of of of the world where it all started for for him
Payne says some of of of his earliest rugby memories are out of of of Papamoa near Tauranga – simple days as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a kid running around out in in in in in in in bare feet chasing a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a rugby ball dreaming of being Christian Cullen but not knowing what life had had in in in in in in store for him
This was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a boy who had had obvious obvious talent – that much was was was obvious obvious from from his his days at at Nelson College He was was an an an exciting runner from from from centre an an an an intelligent player from from fullback a a a a a a a a a a a a a a New Zealand Under 21 He He played played for for Waikato and and and and then then the the the the the Chiefs He He moved on to to Northland and and and then then the the the the the Crusaders After that he he he he he he played played for for for for the the the the the Blues before exiting for for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a new life in in Ulster a a a a a a a a a a a a a tough decision as as it it was a a a a a a a a move that took him
away from his home – Jared Payne’s journey to the international rugby arena has been anything but normal From New Zealand Under 21 to the green of Ireland now he he he returns to where it all began – and this time he’s wearing red WORDS: TOM ENGLISH
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 15