A trophy to cherish

The family of Lane Penn are very proud, but in an understated way, the late Wairarapa-bush legend will be honoured this afternoon with the first contest for the Lane Penn Trophy.

Penn’s widow, Jill, will be at Greytown — along with several family members — to present the trophy to the winners of the Town and Country series final between Greytown and Eketahuna.

Penn’s son, Steve, who manages the Eketahuna team, said the family was quietly chuffed by the great recognition from the union.

“The old man was pretty understated in a lot of the ways he did things, and it would carry it on in that sort of tradition,” Steve explained.

“The way it’s being done is exactly how I think Dad would have wanted it. It’s just a good club trophy, and I think it would right down his alley.”

Lane Penn’s involvement in Waibush rugby started in the mid-1960s, when he represented Wairarapa on the wing, after previously representing Taranaki.

He went on to coach Gladstone to championship victory in 1980 and took over the reins of Wai-bush from Sir Brian Lochore in 1983, coaching the side for four years, including fourth place in the 1985 NPC first division.

He served as an All Black selector from 1988 to 1991 and was also assistant coach to Alex Wylie.

Lane Penn was elected vice-president of the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1999 and president in 2001.

He died in 2014, aged 74, following a stroke suffered while working on his Opaki farm.

Victory for Eketahuna would be of great significance to Steve Penn, but, that aside, all his father would want is for the game to be played in the right spirit.

“As long as it’s a game where both teams can hold their heads up afterwards, I think that would be appropriate

from our point of view.”