Aucklander Rocky Khan has created history by becoming the first player of Fiji Indian origin to don the black jersey.
Khan, 23, was recently named in New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens final 12 to take on the best in the HSBC IRB World 7s Series in Wellington.
Khan is believed to be the first Fijian of Indian ancestry and also the first Rotuman to represent New Zealand in 7s. “I feel very excited and very privileged to be part of this environment which has seen so many great names come through it, an excited Khan said. Khan was born in Auckland, and attended Edendale Primary school, Balmoral Intermediate, and Mount Albert Grammar School. He started playing junior rugby at the tender age of 6 for the Eden Rugby Club.
“Born the only child, I watched a lot of rugby on television which got me interested and with it being the national sport in New Zealand I started playing.” “I love playing the game because of the people you meet, the friendships you make and also the experiences you have,” he said. Connecting with Auckland’s growing Asian population is one of the New Zealand Rugby Union’s main goals for the next three years.
Revealing the organisation’s hope of broadening its horizons, chief executive Steve Tew said its future depended on it.
Asked if he would like to see an Asian represent the All Blacks, Tew replied: “We’ve got an Indian-Fijian [Khan] playing in the All Blacks Sevens. He’s certainly the first person with any Asian ethnicity playing in the black jersey as far as I know. We cannot be relevant in Auckland or New Zealand unless we accept the fact that there’s an increasing Asian influence in our population, so we need Asian people to want to play, coach, administer, watch and ‘wear’ our game. If we don’t get that right then some time in the future we’ll be irrelevant.”
Ensuring rugby was the sport of choice in wider Auckland was No.4 in a six-point plan for the NZRU, which has rebranded itself for “everyday” use as New Zealand Rugby. The change had coincided with the organisation’s move to new offices in Wellington and was seen as less “stuffy” according to research, Tew said.Khan played a lot of rugby during his school days representing the Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS) under 15s, Mount Albert Grammar 1st 15 and the Auckland rugby age group teams.
He has also played for the Auckland Mens 7s, the Grammar Carlton Rugby club and currently plays for the Ponsonby Rugby Club. He is currently studying sport and recreation at Auckland University of Technology and works part time for Touch NZ as a Development Officer and says that Wellington was the dream tournament to make his debut.
In fact, he is no stranger to the tournament, having spent the past two years in the stands. “I guess growing up in New Zealand you always dream of playing for the All Blacks, this may not be the All Blacks 15s team, but playing the for All Blacks 7s team is a great honour in itself.”
Two years ago, the Fijian selectors were keen to snap the Ponsonby utility up, but he decided to bide his time and, a few weeks ago at a national training camp, he finally convinced Gordon Tietjens to give him the nod.
“Khan is a player, probably the nearest to Tomasi Cama that I have with his knowledge and understanding of the game,” Tietjens said. “It’s always in the back of my mind that, if I lose Tomasi Cama early in a tournament, then I need someone to step into that position. “But Rocky potentially also could be huge in the game of sevens.”
Khan’s selection into NZ 7s team has not only made headlines in Fiji but he has also become an inspiration to the Indo Fijian rugby community back here at home, and this is what he had to say to them.
“You can achieve anything in life if you really want to. Just keep working hard, and doing something everyday that will help you achieve your goals and don’t stop doing it until you’ve reached that goal.” Khan joins Cama, Lote Raikabula, David Raikuna and Luke Masirewa as New Zealand players of Fijian descent. Tew said the NZRU would work with the three unions in the area - Auckland, North Harbour and Counties - to focus on secondary schools, the women’s game, and Asian population.