New horizons: Canterbury’s Zach Gallagher reflects on his move to the Hurricanes
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If you had asked lock Zach Gallagher a few years ago where he thought he’d be in 2025, he never would have guessed the Hurricanes.
Gallagher’s a Cantabrian through and through; born and raised in Christchurch, Head Boy at the prestigious Christ’s College, a double major graduate from Canterbury University, and until recently, a key member of the Crusaders' forward pack.
“It’s pretty surreal to be honest,” Gallagher remarks on his move to the Hurricanes, “I loved my time at the Crusaders, and learnt so much from some of the best, but it felt like the right time for a challenge and to throw myself into a new environment and a new way of looking at the game.”
Conversations with the Hurricanes’ coaching staff fuelled his excitement. “They’re doing something special here,” he says with enthusiasm. “The vision for the team and the energy within the group is contagious. The pre-season environment has been great so far, and I’m really looking forward to what’s to come.”
Though the move to Wellington is a significant change up for Gallagher, his ties to the capital run deep. His great-uncle, Allan Hewson, is a Wellington rugby legend, having played for the province from 1977 to 1986. He also represented the All Blacks from 1981 to 1984 and has deep connections to the Petone rugby club.
Rugby has been the dream for as far back as Gallagher can remember, although he’s the first to admit it didn’t always seem attainable.
“I was pretty small as a kid,” he jokes, “It wasn’t until my later years in high school that I had a bit of a growth spurt and cracked the 1st XV.”
But rugby wasn’t the only sport on Gallagher’s radar. He also excelled in rowing, clinching age-grade medals at the Maadi Cup. For Gallager, rowing’s a family tradition. His mother, Kris, represented New Zealand in the sport, and many of his childhood memories are filled with time spent in Twizel, attending camps and regattas.
“Mum was a rower, so naturally we spent a lot of our childhood around rowing events. I’ve still got a lot of love for the sport; rowing brings a real sense of comradery within your team and a lot of time spent away on camps really instils that.”
Gallagher’s team-focused mindset appears to have translated seamlessly into the rugby environment. Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw has been impressed by his ability to adapt and settle into the team, both on and off the field.
“Zach’s transitioned into the team really well. It’s pretty obvious that he’s been putting in the work, coming out on top as the fittest forward in our fitness testing pre-Christmas. More importantly, he’s come in and been himself, settled into the group and is really starting to contribute to the environment.”
“We feel really excited to have him in the group, and he seems to be enjoying it. You see it often with players when they come into a different environment under a different coaching group, it can be really refreshing, and he’s got a spring in his step. We’re looking forward to getting him out there in a few weeks’ time.”
The Cantabrian will be aiming to make his Hurricanes debut against his former team when they face the Crusaders in Round 1 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition, February 14.
