Kerr-Newell packing punch for Old Boys University Premiers

The Cambridge Hotel is an iconic watering hole in Wellington. It's been in operation since 1883 and presently thrives as the home bar of Old Boys University.

Premier prop Finbarr Kerr-Newell is general manager, and with the Billygoats having won 17 games in a row including last seasons' Jubilee Cup, the bar has been bouncing of late.

"There have been some very special nights both behind the bar and as a patron. I can't really go into details, but occasionally clothes get left behind," Kerr-Newell laughs.

2015 was a breakthrough year for Kerr-Newell. Not only did the Billygoats win the Jubilee Cup for the first time since 1966, but the loose-head prop made his debut for Wellington off the bench against North Harbour. The Lions won 43-0, a record triumph against that province and only the second time in history that North Harbour had been held scoreless.

"It was pretty special to get a run for Wellington and bench a few games. I try to balance work and rugby as best as I can. Jason Dean and Jeremy Smith at the Trinity Group have been very supportive. It wouldn't matter if I was playing Senior 2, they would still back me to the hilt," Kerr-Newell acclaims.

In 2010 Kerr-Newell made his premier debut against Norths, that season’s champions. The result was a resounding defeat. Losing was something that became familiar for the Billygoats. In 2011 and 2012 they were regulated to the Premier 2 Hardham Cup, but Kerr-Newell insists the culture of the club has always been strong and the recent run of success has been a few years in the making.

"The culture of the club has always been really good. Our coaches Jeremy Little, Jamie Williams and Paddy Gough have stuck with us and there a lot of people behind the scenes who put in a lot of hours. This and the addition of some really exciting young talent has contributed to our recent success."

In 2013 the Billygoats made the Jubilee Cup semi-finals and lost to eventual champions Tawa. In 2014 they were fifth. Last year they staggered into the Jubilee Cup rounds, but only after gaining two points on a successful appeal in a dispute involving scrums and Tawa.

"The first round last year was really tough. We lost a lot of guys to rep selection and injuries. When we got our best team on the field and started winning things felt good and we couldn't really stop."

"A lot of people say the competition is too young, but if you look at guys like Wes Goosen and Marino Mikaele-Tuu they are dominating. The support young players get now is so much better than what it was when I was their age. I think the young guys add a lot to the competition," Kerr-Newell says.

Scrummaging has evolved significantly in Kerr-Newell's career.

"The balance between safety and competition is a hard one. Removing the pause has meant most scrums are over in ten seconds now, but there is a lot more tension."

"Whetu Henry [Oriental-Rongotai] is the toughest prop I have marked. He is so strong and carries a lot of mana with the players and the referees."

Between 2002 and 2006 Kerr-Newell was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School. He played three years in the First XV and identifies a win against Hamilton Boys' on the Gully as a highlight.

Kerr-Newell attained a Bachelor of Arts in political science at Victoria University and has risen from glassy to general manager at the Cambridge.

His father Roger worked on the Hutt City, New Plymouth and Rodney councils while his mother Kate is a former librarian and presently a museum curator in Perth.

Kerr-Newell has played 14 games for Wairarapa Bush and this week made his debut for the New Zealand Universities in their 64-0 win against Poverty Bay. He enjoys diving and hunting in his spare time. Who does he believe are the biggest threats to hunt down the Billygoats this season.

"You can never discount anyone, but Ories was the sternest test we have had so far. We play Wainuiomata [on Saturday] and Tawa in the coming weeks, those sides are looking strong."