Otago duo help French team towards Top 14

You do not have to look hard in French or Japanese rugby to find players with links to Otago.

Throw a dart and odds are you will find a fringe Highlanders prop or an almost-forgotten midfield back who wore the golden O, but the story of Tony Ensor and Gavin Stark is particularly interesting.

The former South Otago stars are one win away from leading their French club, Oyonnax, back into the elite Top 14 league.

Oyonnax, based in the town of the same name on the hard eastern edge of France, finished top of the second-tier Pro D2 table by a country mile. But 30 games — the seasons are long in Europe — did not determine the champion. Oyonnax had to play Vannes in a semifinal, winning 26-21, and will meet Grenoble in the final tomorrow morning (NZ time).

Win that, or lose it but win a subsequent promotion-relegation game, and the former Otago outside backs will find themselves rubbing shoulders with glamour clubs like Toulouse, La Rochelle and Stade Francais next season.

TONY ENSOR
Age: 32.
Position: Fullback.
NZ career: Otago 2012-16 (34 games), Highlanders 2013 (one game), All Blacks Sevens 2014.

Ensor has played in front of some big crowds alongside some famous names — but the three highlights of his time in France do not relate to rugby.

He and partner Micheala left Dunedin in January 2017 and have since had three children: Remy (4) and Cora (2) were born on visits home, and seven-month-old Sonny was born in France.

Getting the balance right between fatherhood and rugby was important, and he owed a lot to his partner, he said.

"When we first had Remy, I had this feeling my rugby performance would drop, just because we’d be so focused on him and my sleep wouldn’t be that good.

"But you slowly figure that out. It’s all about the balance."

Ensor played a couple of years under former Highlanders coach Greg Cooper at Stade Francais before joining Oyonnax in 2019.

The town, just over the mountains from Geneva, was part of "Plastic Valley", including several factories making things like children’s toys, he said.

"There’s not much going on. Most of the players head away on a day off, either to Lyon or Annecy. There are really nice mountains and lakes not far away.

"But life is really just about rugby. In Dunedin, you had the nightlife and studies and the beach. Here, I feel like all we think about is footy, and it’s all about things to work on."

Ensor is still technically a fullback but he has played the odd game for Oyonnax at first five this season.

Pro D2 rugby was of a high standard, he said.

"It’s probably on par, in terms of physicality, with Super Rugby. There is more contact here.

"The skill set in New Zealand rugby would be a lot higher, and the rucks are a lot faster, but here there is a real big focus on contact and hitting and up the guts."

Ensor, who has one year left on his Oyonnax contract and "eventually" will come home, felt he had achieved everything he possibly could while in Otago.

"I was a battler. I don’t even know how I became a professional rugby player. I’ve been super lucky with the opportunities I’ve been given, and I don’t think I could have done any better."

GAVIN STARK
Age: 27.
Position: Winger.
NZ career: New Zealand Schools 2013, Otago 2014-16 (three games).

Stark has been in France since 2019, and — like Ensor — has already tasted the bright lights of the Top 14.

He spent three years with Biarritz, including one year in the elite league, before moving to Oyonnax this season.

"Getting promoted was pretty cool. Down in Biarritz, the supporters and the crowd and stuff is pretty unreal.

"When we got promoted, the whole town was just buzzing, and the six months after that was pretty cool," he said.

There had been huge drama as Biarritz played Bayonne in a playoff final, and scores were tied 6-6 after extra time. It went to a kick-off, and Biarritz No8 Steffon Armitage kicked the winning goal.

("The craziest game I’ve ever seen," Ensor said.)

There is a big squad and lots of depth at Oyonnax, so the former Otago pair do not play every week but still rack up plenty of games over a long season.

Stark was a nationally ranked sprinter while at Blue Mountain College, and while he is a lot bulkier and has a bit more facial hair, he can still scorch down the wing.

"I think I can still pull my weight with my speed. What’s different from when I was back in Otago is that I was working fulltime as a builder and trying to juggle that with being a professional rugby player, and that was hard.

"Coming to France, being able to just focus on rugby and recovery and looking after myself, I can see the benefits. I feel a lot more consistent and my body feels better.

"I’m happy that I got this opportunity. I’m really enjoying it."

Oyonnax is a typical French club that has players from Australia, South Africa, Ireland, England, the Pacific nations and Georgia. Fellow New Zealanders Rory Grice (No8) and Manu Leiataua (hooker) are also on the books.

Stark lives just around the corner from Ensor and the pair hang out regularly — "until the kids start crying, ha ha".

He also has one more year on contract at Oyonnax, hopefully to be spent in the Top 14.

"I want to continue playing for another couple of years after that. I’m pretty keen to go back to New Zealand eventually. I’m a qualified builder, so whether I do that, or potentially go into farming, I’m not 100% sure yet."

Stark has a French partner in Biarritz.