After nine seasons with North Otago, and the past six as head coach, Jason Forrest is stepping down from the Heartland side.
"It’s just time," Forrest said.
"It’s been a hell of a time. I’ve been involved with this team since 2007, started when I got back from overseas as a player right through to now.
"It’s been a long shift.
"You sit back and you look at the good times, and you look at the bad times, and you mix them all together."
Forrest, who played about 40 games for the Old Golds from 2007 to 2016, took over as Heartland head coach in 2019 after spending a couple of years as assistant.
Success came immediately when Forrest led them to Meads Cup victory in 2019, where they beat Whanganui 33-19 for the title.
It was a "fairy tale-type story" to start his venture — and then came Covid.
Heartland was scrapped in 2020, but North Otago and Hanan Shield neighbours South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury created a mini-competition as a substitute.
Heartland returned in 2021, and the Old Golds finished fourth; the Lochore Cup went on the line for the third and fourth playoff due to the pandemic.
They made the Lochore Cup playoffs in 2022 and 2023, but finished ninth this year to miss out.
Winning the Meads Cup will always be a highlight for Forrest, as will the culture and environment North Otago created this year.
"It’s one of the most unsuccessful seasons North Otago’s ever had, but for me, and the other management group, it was one of the most successful.
"There was just a really good vibe and just really gutted for this group, because they put in so much work and deserved to be somewhere."
Forrest was involved in Ranfurly Shield challenges against Otago, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay, and hosting Otago will long remain in Forrest’s memory for the atmosphere.
North Otago always had a high turnover of players each year, but Forrest took pride in the number of young local players coming through the ranks.
"That’s what it’s about.
"We probably went away from the whole young locals [scene] there for a bit.
"We’ve got to show these kids a pathway coming out of school, and get them into club footy, and get them into Heartland footy."
Forrest acknowledged Heartland rugby is "hard to coach", with players juggling work and families around their trainings and games.
He paid tribute to his various management teams for their "phenomenal" effort and support.
"Everyone I’ve worked with have been fantastic and all had North Otago at the top and just wanted to be successful."
As had the North Otago Rugby Supporters Club, a fanatical bunch whose support knows no barriers, travelling across country to support the Old Golds.
"You can’t put that into words.
"Where we go, they go. They’re the best that are going around and we thank them every week."
Heartland still had its place and unions were now better resourced, and teams such as South Canterbury reaped the benefits of player continuity.
But New Zealand Rugby still "don’t give us enough love", Forrest said.
"We’re ring-fenced. We don’t get to go up and down.
"South Canterbury [won] three years in a row and then don’t get any money from New Zealand Rugby to go and have a shield challenge.
"We just don’t get what we should ... we deserve more."
Forrest, who also works for the North Otago union as a development officer, felt the future was bright for North Otago and if the team could keep the core together, they would be in good stead for whoever took over.
He planned to coach Excelsior again, who he lead to the Citizens Shield this season for the first time since 1997, and his door was always open for whatever came his way.
"There’s some other opportunities out there at the moment. I don’t want to give up as a coach."
He was grateful to his family, North Otago chief executive Colin Jackson and everyone who had supported him during his tenure.
"You can’t thank those people enough."
