Local legend makes mark on touch world
With the support of ACC helping keep him on the field, touch rugby legend George Jahnke has carved out a remarkable career. He recently became one of only four New Zealanders to be included in the International Touch Hall of Fame.
Touch veteran George Jahnke is in his happy place when setting up the match-winning try or running a clinic with hundreds of kids. But ask him to talk about his achievements and he’s out of his comfort zone.
The 50-year-old from Wellington is the ultimate team man and individual accolades don’t sit easy.
But George (Ngati Tūwharetoa, Ngati Porou) has had to get used to talking about himself lately. He was recently inducted into the Federation of International Touch Hall of Fame at the Touch World Cup in Nottingham, England.
He was attending his eighth World Cup since making his debut for New Zealand more than 30 years ago when he was surprised by the honour, alongside Peter Walters (Auckland).
“I had no idea it was coming,” he says.
“To share that with all my New Zealand team-mates, who were crowding around and jumping on top of me, was a special moment.
“To be recognised alongside Pete, who we call Mr Touch and is a legend of our game, was a huge honour.”
There are now four New Zealanders in the Touch Hall of Fame – George, Peter, Sharlene Bannister-Plumridge and Kopae Irihei.
George received the award at the opening ceremony and was later honoured by his team-mates, who performed a haka for him back at their accommodation.
“I tend to shy away from moments like this in the spotlight. But, as we get older, we get less of these opportunities,” he says.
“Someone told me to value these moments and not to think about it as you, but more about the people who’ve helped you get there and invested in you – your family, coaches and people you’ve played with.
“It was emotional to reflect on all the people who’ve helped me.”
From humble beginnings to world success
George has a remarkable career to reflect on.
He’s the most successful Touch World Cup campaigner in New Zealand history, playing in eight World Cups – between 1995 and 2024 – and winning four gold and four silver medals.
He was a member of the New Zealand open team who made history in 1999, the first from this country to win a World Cup title, which remains a career highlight.
But his touch career had humble beginnings. His whānau was living in Turangi and didn’t have a car so the coaches picked him up for trainings and games around the Bay of Plenty.
“I’ll never forget what those coaches did for me,” he says.
“They believed in me and got me playing touch when I could’ve been out getting into trouble. That fostered a lifelong love for touch.”
The best thing about touch for George has always been the people.
“I was fortunate to play a lot of sports growing up – basketball, football, rugby – but I never experienced anything like the feeling of touch. You can be competitive or social but the key is the whānau and team environment – it’s different to every other sport.”
For George, who works for Touch New Zealand as Community Coaching Manager, the sport has been his life.
He sees his role as going full circle to pay back all the people who supported him as a young man.
ACC keeping players fit for touch
George says ACC has helped keep him on the field, supporting him through a host of injuries throughout his career.
ACC also funds the TouchFit 360 injury prevention programme, which provides guidance on how to improve performance by minimising the risk of injury.
The need for an injury prevention programme like TouchFit is significant.
In 2023, we accepted 9,000 touch-related injury claims at a cost of $18 million.
“It’s been great to see TouchFit grow around Aotearoa and it’s an important part of our game,” George says.
The ACC-supported TouchFit 360 injury prevention programme helps keep players on the field.
‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’
Despite achieving so much in his career, George isn’t ready to hang up the boots just yet.
He’s played 96 games for New Zealand but is still smarting from the team’s 13-7 World Cup final loss to Australia a few weeks ago.
“I’ve held the goal of earning 100 caps for a while now so that’s the next thing I want to achieve. And I’d love to win one more World Cup for New Zealand.”
George hopes to get that opportunity when New Zealand hosts the next Touch World Cup in 2028.
He offers some wise advice to any up-and-comers in touch around the motu.
“You can never replace that feeling of representing your country so, if you get that chance, grab it with both hands,” he says.
“I didn’t come from the most affluent background but where there’s a will, there’s a way. Make sure you give it your all.
“I’ve been fortunate to travel the world and make some amazing friends in this game I love.”
Helping you perform well through ACC SportSmart
As part of our ACC SportSmart programme, we partner with key sport organisations to deliver code-specific programmes, designed to enhance performance and minimise injury risk.
Our partnerships deliver sport-specific versions of ACC SportSmart. Through these partnerships, we educate players, coaches and referees about how to prepare well and perform at their best.
We have partnerships with several sports to deliver the following programmes: RugbySmart, NetballSmart, LeagueSmart, New Zealand Football Performance and Prevention, and TouchFit 360.
More information on these programmes is available on the ACC SportSmart page.
ACC SportSmart – Helping everyone get the most out of their game and stay injury free
