Our Tez; All Black #1214

AN IMMENSELY PROUD Piopio/ Aria community has followed the rise of local rugby hero and now All Black, Cortez Ratima, through school and regional rugby, and now we have been watching as he plays his first games for our national team.

And while the rest of us watch with excitement and pride, his mum Deiresa Marshall also has a bit of trepidation. “I get so nervous. When you watch him on the field, compared to all of those big guys, he looks so little even though he’s not. My heart beats so hard and I am thinking ‘have a good game but don’t get hurt’ – mum’s anxiety.“

His recent game in San Diego had him in great form, diving for a try against Fiji before hitting the deck and a concussion. He is hoping to get back and up and running by next game. Deiresa says Tez has blended in well with the team, lapping up the time he spends training with the experienced players, but loves coming home to be with his family – partner Phillipa and son Kyvie as well as the rest of the whanau back in Piopio/Aria.

Cortez’s dad Peter-Lee Ratima said his son always had the knack for rugby, even as a four year old. “It was just a matter of time really. He chose rugby over motorcross which he was also pretty good at.” Peter-Lee says he is still in a bit of shock over his boy being named in the team, despite it being a part of the strategy they put in place years ago where being an All Black was a goal for Tez to aspire to. “The key is to make it a realistic goal and implement short term plans and processes towards a long term plan. I am actually still trying to come to terms with it. It’s been a pretty awesome journey to watch.” Peter-Lee said one of the perks of being an All Black’s dad is all of the new friends that want to suddenly talk to him.

Cortez’s parent’s encouraged him to finish a diploma in Business Management, so he would have something for after rugby. But Deiresa says Tez still has big plans. “His end game is to be a G.A.B., a Great All Black. He doesn't want to just stop at being an A.B., and I know he will do it because he puts the work in. He always gives it a hundy. He made a lot of sacrifices, we all did to get him to where he is, but when you sit
back and look at where he is now, it was all worthwhile. “