Former Ashburton College First XV captain Harry Ferguson in action. Photo Ashburton Guardian.A big weekend of rugby looms for former Ashburton College First XV captain Harry Ferguson.
The lively flanker is hoping to take the field for his University of Canterbury club side against Lincoln University in the final of the division one Canterbury Metro Trophy on Sunday.
Ferguson, 20, has spent the past few weeks on the sideline with a hematoma but is cleared to play in the big final at Rugby Park. He has been a regular starter at flanker for University this season and is hoping his good form prior to injury will allow him to win his spot back.
University last won the trophy in 1990 and the students beat Sydenham last Sunday to set up the clash with Lincoln University. They upset Lincoln University 29-27 earlier in the competition so the scene is set for an epic final.
Ferguson was a gutsy performer for the Ashcoll First XV. He first played for the team in 2013 as a Year 12 student; the side that year qualified for the top four co-ed national playoffs in Rotorua. In 2014 he was captain of the side.
He says the Rotorua experience remains a highlight of his Ashburton College playing days, along with a rare win over Christ’s College.
The secondary school competition was a good build-up to rugby in Christchurch and he joined the University Club in 2015, when he started studying towards a four-year degree in forestry engineering.
He played in the premier colts team that year, on the wing … a little quiet for a player used to being in the thick of the action.
The following year he was back at flanker and this year he has impressed the div 1 coach, after a stellar season with the University sevens side. He has scored a couple of tries over the course of the club season – his first resulting from his first touch of the ball ever in the div 1 competition.
University has some high profile players. Ferguson has played alongside Israel Dagg – “it was pretty fun running on with an All Black” - and was disappointed to be injured when Kieran Read took the field for them during a club match. Read has also been to some trainings and Ferguson said his presence was huge for the team.
This week the side will train as usual on Tuesday and Thursday and have a light training on Saturday. They’ll be watching the Crusaders v Chiefs game together on Saturday night and arriving in style on a bus to Rugby Park on Sunday.
Ferguson plans to be in the action.

By Linda Clarke © AshColl Alumni - 25 July 2017