Yet, the recently capped Maori All Black now finds himself firmly in the thick of the Rebels’ 2019 Super Rugby plans.
Having played 36 games in the last three seasons for the Brumbies, Abel was released from the final 18 months of his contract and consequently returned to New Zealand to play for Auckland in their successful Mitre 10 Cup campaign. At 29 years of age and wanting to continue pursuing a professional rugby career, Abel was left to decipher what was going to happen next.While Abel was ecstatic to join the Rebels and have another opportunity to play Super Rugby again, it was very different to the two options he originally had in mind.“A month ago, I was getting back from the Māori All Blacks tour.After I left the Brumbies, I thought that was it in terms of playing Australian rugby,” Abel said.“From there I thought I’d either stay in New Zealand or go overseas.“Staying in Australia was something I didn’t see or coming to Melbourne was something I didn’t see either.”While the aspect of continuing his professional career in Australia is pleasing, Abel is also fulfilled sentimentally by returning to the place where he spent part of his childhood.
Originally born in Orange, NSW, Abel moved down with his family to Melbourne at six years of age, spending four years growing up in Victoria’s capital. Abel’s connection to Melbourne’s rugby culture runs deep, having played for Altona Rugby Club’s junior sides and his father playing for Dewar Shield side Powerhouse.One of the fondest memories of his time in Melbourne is when one of his family members started a basketball team in the city’s northern suburbs.In an eerie coincidence, Abel’s family-founded basketball Club shares the exact same name as the Super Rugby club he now plays for.“My family has a basketball Club here called the Rebels,” he said.“My grandmother started it when we were young. My uncles got into trouble as kids and she started it to get them off the streets.”A return to Melbourne is a vast culture shock from where Abel spent his November, when he toured the America’s with the Maori All Blacks.
Abel appeared in all three games for New Zealand’s indigenous side, showcasing his ability as an uncompromising hooker.However, while he was thrilled to earn one of the highest achievements of his rugby career, Able says the real highlight from the tour was the ability to connect deeply with his heritage and learn more about what it means to be Māori.“Every day is devoted to understanding yourself, your people, where you’re from, your history and what influence that can have in your life,” he said.“We do a Wānanga (Maori learning) every day where we are learning and taught by a Kaumātua (tribal elder) and everyone shares a lot about themselves.“It’s awesome to have that experience and marry those things into rugby and see the effect it has on the way that you play, the way that you approach games and the way that you approach the people you represent.”With such an experience under his belt, Abel hopes he can use it to continually better himself in 2019.
Abel will face serious competition for a spot in the starting 15 against fellow hookers Anaru Rangi, Jordan Uelese and Hugh Roach. And while some would expect Abel’s mantra to be a ‘you against me approach’, the front rower says his first instinct will be to learn with the club’s hookers and then grow his skill set with them“There’s a lot of quality and everyone’s very different to what they bring,” he said.“I’m of the opinion that we are working together to make each other better and we compete to be at our best.“I’m a massive fan of helping the other hookers and learning off them and then we compete.”
