Age no barrier for touch rugby player
Looking after his body has seen one keen touch rugby player keep on achieving his fitness - and team goals - at the age of 74.
Barry Clausen has a deceptive turn of pace for a 74-year-old, as he sprints down the touchline to score in the corner for Canterbury.
It's this sort of form that has seen the Christchurch grandfather named in the Canterbury over-55 touch rugby team this season, as the oldest representative player in New Zealand. He competes with representative players who are 20 years younger.
"I don't know anything different, to tell you the truth. I just love it and have always done it. I'll keep on going until I peg it, I guess," says Barry, who has been playing touch for 25 years.
"It means a great deal for me to represent Canterbury. When the All Blacks talk about how special it is to put the jersey on, well it is the same for me with the Canterbury shirt. I have achieved my place through hard work and sacrifice and in that moment, I know the hard work has paid off."
It's the latest in a long list of sporting achievements for the man known as Bazza. He has played Masters rugby league since 2012 and represented New Zealand four times. He previously competed in judo and in his younger days played rugby in Japan.
He got into athletics after he finished with rugby and has been successful in the NZ Masters Games on the track in recent years.
He says to keep achieving and be named in the Canterbury over-55 touch team is a 'huge thrill'.
"I don't think I'm anything special. I am just part of the team and enjoy doing my bit. I just want to be selected on merit and do my team-mates proud."
Steve Wilkinson, the manager of the team, says Barry is an inspiration as one of the fittest in the team.
"Our team has genuine respect for Bazza, as a person firstly, and secondly as a player," he says.
"Holding his own against players who are 20 years his junior, in some cases, is a tribute in its own right. The fact that I'm unaware of anyone playing at this level that has even reached 70 shows how unique he is.
"His commitment to keeping himself in shape has been a big part to play in his ability to keep doing it. After all these years, he still has his pace."
Barry says the secret to his longevity and success is simple: he looks after his body.
"I stretch every day, and most nights I'm on my foam roller on the living room floor to take the stress out of my legs and hips.
"If I get injured, I make sure that I get professional help pretty quickly and after every game, I put my legs in cold water, which helps me a huge amount with my recovery."
Warming up for peak conditioning
Barry swears by the ACC TouchFit360 warm-up.
"I do the ACC warm-up every time I play. It's brilliant. It has definitely helped. I know that I have a 50% less chance of serious injury if I warm up properly. It just gets you ready to play because it's dynamic and game-specific. It's part of my weekly routine."
Isaac Carlson, ACC's Head of Injury Prevention, says touch is a unique sport that includes players of all ages and backgrounds.
"Barry's story shows again that touch is a sport for life," he says. "To still be playing a dynamic sport like touch and representing his province at the age of 74 is remarkable.
"Barry is a great example of what is possible if you look after yourself with good conditioning and if you warm-up properly and take time to cool-down and recover well. You can get a huge amount of enjoyment out of the game for a long time."
TouchFit360 works on conditioning for in-game movements such as contact, jumping, landing, and changing direction.
"If you follow the dynamic warm-up and take time to rest and recover, you're more likely to perform better and less likely to be sidelined with injury," Isaac says.
Barry says the feeling of competing at the age of 74 Is priceless.
"Every time I go to the nationals and I hear the music playing as I walk to the field, I ask myself: 'Have I done enough?' I always get on the field and tell myself that I have done enough, and it's a mental game after that."
Isaac says the focus of TouchFit360 is not just on the field. The programme recognises that sport is a powerful enabler of hauora (physical, mental, social, and spiritual health) and wellbeing and that touch plays an important role in the community.
Barry encourages all New Zealanders to get fit and active as it has made a huge difference to his mental wellbeing.
"People may be going through hard times or troubles in their life and playing sport and being part of a team can really help them through that. For me, sport has been a great way to alleviate pressure and enjoy life."
Touch Rugby statistics
ACC will invest $687,000 for the next three years into the TouchFit360 injury prevention programme.
In 2019, ACC had 10,594 new claims from touch-related injuries and spent $14.2m to help people recover.
TouchFit360 works on conditioning for in-game movements such as contact, jumping, landing, and changing direction.
