17-07-2025
‘Hugely proud' of development work
Heartland coach Jason Forrest and captain Ralphie Darling lift the Meads Cup in Oamaru in 2019. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
Nearly 15 years ago, Jason Forrest got a tap on the shoulder.
After returning home from playing overseas, Forrest was asked by then-North Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Colin Jackson if he would be interested in coaching.
It was clear that was where Forrest — who was wrapping up his playing days as a halfback with Excelsior and the Old Golds — was heading, and Jackson was keen to utilise those skills throughout the region.
What started as a role as an activator in schools morphed into a fulltime role with the union, covering countless portfolios, from juniors to secondary school and rugby overall.
Tomorrow, the game development manager will say goodbye to the union as he steps down from his role.
"It's going to be really, really hard, actually," Forrest said.
"I've worked with phenomenal people over the 15, 14 years.
"The union's heading in a pretty good direction, but it's time.
"There will be some high emotions there — I've loved every minute of it."
Jason Forrest finishes up tomorrow with the North Otago Rugby Football Union after nearly 15 years. PHOTO: KAYLA HODGE
After initially helping out, Forrest officially joined the union in 2012 as the JAB officer, but got stuck into everything across the board.
It was a small team of Jackson, Forrest and Pam Anderson — "you just got on with it" — and he had fond memories through the years.
Watching Fenwick School reach the national Rippa rugby tournament, which was called "the world cup for Rippa", in the early days still remained a highlight, he said.
"You can name a heap, but it's just been fun.
"It's rugby — it's what I love to do."
That has never changed. He coached Excelsior through the years, but won his first Citizens Shield title with Maheno in 2019 and returned to his home club last year to lead them to the first of back-to-back titles.
Winning three Citizens Shields sat at the top of his list, alongside winning the Meads Cup as Heartland coach in 2019.
"The Maheno one was outstanding.
"But the last two are just a different feeling when you come back to your own club.
"The last two years has been pretty cool, and pretty special for me, and my family. My boys play for Blues now as well and my wife's on the committee."
The Old Golds have always been close to his heart.
After finishing playing, Forrest joined the North Otago support staff as a trainer, moving through the ranks to assistant coach and head coach from 2019 to 2024.
He won the Meads Cup in his inaugural year and regularly made the playoffs.
"The Heartland team, in general, has been a huge part of my life.
"Hugely proud of everything I've done within those roles.
"You have your ups and downs, that's for sure."
Coaching had been a juggle with work commitments, but Jackson supported Forrest and encouraged him to join the Highlanders under-20 staff.
"He was huge for me and mentoring me through all those years.
"Not just with all my work stuff, but with all my coaching stuff as well and giving me opportunities and opening doors for me.
"Just a great working relationship and just a great mate," he said.
Forrest, who has committed to coaching Blues in 2026, was still interested in pursuing coaching in the future, but acknowledged it was hard in New Zealand.
He believed the union was in good heart.
He took pride in there still being six teams in North Otago's premier grade — "there's a lot of unions around the country that don't have that, and bigger unions" — and junior rugby continued ticking along, a credit to the hard-working staff.
Construction of a new grandstand, attached to the Waitaki Events Centre which is being built, and new offices at Centennial Park in the future were a bonus.
"It's got a good future."
Forrest finishes up after the Town v Country clash in Maheno tomorrow.
He is joining Network Waitaki as an operations co-ordinator and is looking forward to spending more time with his family, wife Victoria, and children Hunter, 11, and Carter, 9.
