Three Yellow Cards in One Tournament, and Gordon Tietjens Loved It | Declan O’Donnell
ShedLife NZ with Jason & MatesShow Notes
From a sevens tournament with three yellow cards to the Ranfurly Shield and a Commonwealth Games silver medal, Declan O’Donnell has one of the most interesting careers in Waikato rugby.Declan thought he’d wrecked his chances when he picked up three yellow cards at a tournament in Australia. Instead, Gordon Tietjens loved his aggression, and a few months later he was scoring three tries in the Wellington Sevens final. Since then he has played for the Māori All Blacks, Waikato, the Chiefs and Taranaki, won a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Glasgow, and played rugby in the United States.This week, we welcome Declan into the ShedLife Studio for a great chat with Jason Davis about the sevens, Super Rugby, the NPC and what it really takes to make it, from the people who get you there to the injuries that nearly end it.It’s a conversation with someone who has been through the highs and the lows of professional rugby and still loves it.CHAPTERS00:33 Intro01:11 Three yellow cards and getting picked for Tietjens’ sevens05:28 Club hopping and the Mighty Team Cup academy07:09 First camp: beep tests, phosphate tests and the 80-60-4012:43 First tournaments and the Wellington Sevens final17:29 Growing up in Te Rapa and the 4am walks to training24:11 Hamilton Boys’ High and the start of a dynasty27:22 Rugby league temptation and the NRL pathway31:35 Loyalty, and turning down Canterbury35:19 The Commonwealth Games silver medal38:00 Tietjens, the golden era and the NZ rugby pathway41:33 Stepping up from club rugby to the NPC48:10 Getting called into the Chiefs50:17 The Devil’s Day and the mud run57:21 The marshmallows group and nutrition lessons61:03 Māori All Blacks, Jamie Joseph and the shoulder injury66:57 Injuries, rehab and looking after your body72:12 Inside the Commonwealth Games village73:06 Glasgow, the final against South Africa and the one that got away79:22 Moving to Taranaki and the knee injury93:37 Winning the Ranfurly Shield from 24-0 down98:25 The parade, and why provincial rugby matters102:25 Washington DC and rugby in the USA106:12 Why New Zealand players stand out overseas111:18 Life after rugby: study, teaching and the kids114:43 Wrap upABOUT SHEDLIFE NZShedLife NZ with Jason Davis is a Waikato-based podcast telling the stories of good people working hard.Every Sunday at 6:30pm NZ time, Jason sits down with athletes, coaches, community legends, tradies and business owners for long-form conversations about the moments that shaped them, the setbacks they got through and what they’ve learned along the way.Rugby, league, boxing, netball, arm wrestling, business and everything in between.Good people. Real stories. Useful lessons. Plenty of laughs.Find more from ShedLife NZ at https://shedlife.co.nzWatch on YouTube or listen through Spotify and Apple Podcasts under ShedLife NZ with Jason & Mates.#DeclanODonnell #NZSevens #WaikatoRugby #RanfurlyShield #CommonwealthGames
More from ShedLife NZ with Jason & Mates
The All Blacks came flying out against the Wallabies, but what happened to that attacking spark in the second half? And after a cracking Kiwis versus Kangaroos rugby league clash, how close are New Zealand to turning the tables on Australia? Jason Davis and Quentin Hill are back for another ShedLife NZ Sport Weekly Wrap, covering a massive weekend of New Zealand rugby, international rugby league, Heartland rugby, NPC finals, boxing and basketball.
From arm wrestling on school rubbish bins to playing Tai Kaliso in Gears of War, Maateiwarangi has one of the most unusual stories in New Zealand sport.Aotearoa arm wrestling champion since 2012, four-time and current Oceania champion, six-time Australasian champion, Arnold Classic champion in 2017 and 2019, AWE Intercontinental champion in 2023, and New Zealand’s strongest bench press at 262.5kg. Maateiwarangi has achieved plenty, but there’s a lot more to his story than what happens at the arm wrestling table.This week, we welcome Maateiwarangi into the ShedLife Studio for a great conversation with Jason Davis about arm wrestling, strength, tā moko, family, service and what it really takes to be the best in the world at something most people only know from a pub.This is a conversation with someone who went from arm wrestling for beers to a Gears of War audition, and who still believes the greatest life is one lived in service of others.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro and Maateiwarangi’s titles01:34 From arm wrestling to Gears of War08:28 Rubbish bin arm wrestling and growing up10:17 The documentary that changed everything12:20 Pub arm wrestling and the DJ who stonewalled him18:39 Sons of Samson and learning to pull25:19 How arm wrestling gave him direction28:40 Old man strength and arm wrestling’s Olympic past32:53 First trip overseas and pulling a legend39:10 Larry Wheels in Dubai43:29 Building a profile on social media47:40 The strongest thumb in New Zealand50:51 Bench press, Kiwi Strength and the 262.5kg57:46 Losing 20kg and rethinking his training1:00:41 Tā moko and finding balance1:02:59 Giving back and serving others1:07:10 Sponsors and how to start arm wrestling1:08:55 Camaraderie and the world’s best1:15:07 The story behind his name1:17:01 What’s next: India and Indian clubs1:19:40 Wrap upSubscribe to ShedLife NZ for more great Kiwi conversations, sport, lessons and laughs.#ArmWrestling #GearsOfWar #Powerlifting #NZSport #Aotearoa
#AllBlacks #NPC #Rugby The All Blacks answered all the talk about the Eden Park record with a statement win over the Wallabies. Did they just prove the fortress still stands? This week on ShedLife NZ Sport Weekly Wrap, Jason Davis and Quentin Hill (now a father of two, congratulations Quentin) break down the All Blacks’ big win over an Australian side that arrived on a six-game winning streak. The forwards stood up, the Barrett brothers were all back in the squad, and both hosts picked Jordie Barrett as their man of the match. Then the NPC and Heartland Championship get serious. Northland beat Tasman 26 to 21 to keep their fairy tale alive, Taranaki and Otago both won at home, and Canterbury ended Waikato’s season. The hosts talk through the semi-final picks, including Northland v Otago on Friday 16 October. In the Heartland semi-finals, Mid Canterbury beat Thames Valley, King Country beat North Otago, and Whanganui got home by a single point. Jason also takes us inside the Waitak Warriors’ first-ever season in their district rugby league competition. It took 10 weeks from the first training camp to a grand final against the undefeated reigning champions, Mercury Bay. The Warriors led at half time before Mercury Bay hit back, and the final finished 38 to 24. There’s plenty more across New Zealand sport. The Kiwis are about to kick off their league campaign, there was Bathurst heartbreak when the leader ran out of fuel, and the Black Ferns host France in Hamilton with a ticket giveaway. Jason also tells the story of a 120-year-old Sydney sports store and why backing your local team matters. IN THIS EPISODE 🏉 All Blacks smash the Wallabies and the man of the match 🏟️ Can the All Blacks do it again in Australia? The hosts’ score picks 🏆 NPC quarter-final results and semi-final picks 📍 Heartland Championship semi-finals and the finals line-up 🏉 Waitak Warriors’ grand final: 10 weeks from first training to the final 🌏 Kiwis, Tonga and Samoa ahead of the league tests 🏁 Bathurst heartbreak 🎟️ Black Ferns v France in Hamilton and a ticket giveaway 🛍️ Why a 120-year-old Sydney sports store loves Warriors fans 🏃 Local sport, upcoming events and backing your team CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and Quentin’s new arrival 01:15 All Blacks smash the Wallabies 05:41 NPC quarter-final results and semi-final picks 11:50 Heartland Championship semi-finals and finals picks 17:15 Waitak Warriors grand final 21:04 Kiwis and the Pacific nations 23:16 Bathurst and the Black Ferns v France preview 25:15 Sydney sports store and backing your team 28:18 Black Ferns score picks 29:18 Local sport and what’s coming up 33:00 Final thoughts The NPC is down to its last four, the Heartland finals are set, and the All Blacks head to Australia with momentum. Who are you backing this weekend? ShedLife NZ Sport Weekly Wrap is Jason Davis and Quentin Hill talking through the week that was across New Zealand sport. Rugby, league, NPC, local sport, picks and the stories we reckon are worth talking about. New episodes drop Monday at 6:30pm NZT as part of ShedLife NZ with Jason & Mates. #ShedLifeNZ #AllBlacks #Wallabies #BledisloeCup #NZRugby #NPC #HeartlandChampionship #NZSport
From representing South Africa to becoming a World Champion Silver Fern, Leana de Bruin has one of the great stories in New Zealand netball.
Can the All Blacks keep their incredible Eden Park record intact against the Wallabies?