Rugby: All Blacks coach call highlights 500-game celebration for Sumner stalwart Robbie Timo

If you've have woken up a bit sore after some Saturday sport and still feeling a bit worse for wear, spare a thought for Robbie Timo.

The 55-year-old prop has played his 500th game for Sumner - 30 years after his first game for the Christchurch rugby club.

The milestone even has the All Blacks coach celebrating.

Never mind the Notebook, Pride and Prejudice or even Romeo and Juliet, for Timo, playing for Sumner was love at first sight. Five hundred games later, that love still remains... despite all that's changed.

"Well, there's no more rucking, which is a shame," he said. 

Thirty years after his first game for the club, Timo has notched up the feat in a men's division two match. He's unsure how many games he played for other teams, but for the veteran front-rower, there's only one that matters.

"Just the club is such a great place and great club to play for," he said. "If you just look around, the hills, the beach, everything... it's just a great community to play for.

"A lot of those guys I played with have got sons and they're playing now. Playing against them is quite odd, because they'll say, 'You used to play with my dad' and I'll think, 'Oh yep'.

"It's certainly come around."

Sumner club president Matt Wood feels there's three ways Timo can be described.

"No.1, humble... No.2, dedicated... No.3, secret karaoke star."

Whether it's coaching, volunteering or even singing, Timo's still involved all around the club. A teacher by trade, several moments stand out.

"When we had a div three final and Razor was playing... he was an All Black at the time." 

Now the All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson's kept in touch.

"He said I'd be playing until I'm 50, which I've done and still going," said Timo. "Good to get a phone call from him this morning."

While he knows he may not get a different sort of call in a week, when Robertson names his first All Blacks squad, Timo's next goal is clear.

"Retire in one piece, happy in the knowledge that everything's been done."

That would certainly be worthy of a love song.

If you've have woken up a bit sore after some Saturday sport and still feeling a bit worse for wear, spare a thought for Robbie Timo.

The 55-year-old prop has played his 500th game for Sumner - 30 years after his first game for the Christchurch rugby club.

The milestone even has the All Blacks coach celebrating.

Never mind the Notebook, Pride and Prejudice or even Romeo and Juliet, for Timo, playing for Sumner was love at first sight. Five hundred games later, that love still remains... despite all that's changed.

"Well, there's no more rucking, which is a shame," he said. 

Thirty years after his first game for the club, Timo has notched up the feat in a men's division two match. He's unsure how many games he played for other teams, but for the veteran front-rower, there's only one that matters.

"Just the club is such a great place and great club to play for," he said. "If you just look around, the hills, the beach, everything... it's just a great community to play for.

"A lot of those guys I played with have got sons and they're playing now. Playing against them is quite odd, because they'll say, 'You used to play with my dad' and I'll think, 'Oh yep'.

"It's certainly come around."

Sumner club president Matt Wood feels there's three ways Timo can be described.

"No.1, humble... No.2, dedicated... No.3, secret karaoke star."

Whether it's coaching, volunteering or even singing, Timo's still involved all around the club. A teacher by trade, several moments stand out.

"When we had a div three final and Razor was playing... he was an All Black at the time." 

Now the All Blacks coach, Scott Robertson's kept in touch.

"He said I'd be playing until I'm 50, which I've done and still going," said Timo. "Good to get a phone call from him this morning."

While he knows he may not get a different sort of call in a week, when Robertson names his first All Blacks squad, Timo's next goal is clear.

"Retire in one piece, happy in the knowledge that everything's been done."

That would certainly be worthy of a love song.

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