Amo Goldsmith off to the Worlds - Old Boys Touch on the World Stage!
Edited from Stuff:
Timaru painter-decorator Amorangi ‘Amo’ Goldsmith says he has played touch rugby “forever”.
It has paid off.
The 35-year-old has been picked to play in the New Zealand men’s 30 and over touch team at the Touch World Cup in Nottingham, England, next year, the pinnacle event for the sport which is held every four years.
“I got invited to the trials in Auckland about five weeks ago. There were about 26 of us there. It was the first time I had trialled for New Zealand.”
A halfback/first five-eighths, Goldsmith followed his brother Hamiera and his mates into rugby and then sevens.
“It would be Old Boys on Thursday nights. I played 15s for South Canterbury under 21s."
Goldsmith returned to Timaru two years ago while continuing to play in Christchurch’s touch competition over the summer months.
Amorangi Goldsmith is continuing to play 15s rugby for Old Boys Bs and also coaches the side.
He says touch rugby is a full-on sport with 40 minute games and teams of six. He is a “middle” player.
“It’s very fast, and you need a lot of fitness. I’m loud out on the field, I communicate, and I’d say I’m a good teammate.
“You have to know your role. You can’t have a lot of superstars out there.”
He has plenty of time to prepare for the World Cup. The event will be held in July next year when he says, “I’ll be primed and ready”.
The Touch World Cup will be hosted at the University of Nottingham’s Highfields Sports Complex between July 15 to 24, 2024. Categories include men's open, women's open, mixed open, men's 30s, women's 30s, mixed 30s, men's 35s and men's 40s.
Article added: Friday 01 September 2023
