Big Q&A with retiring Jackaroos lawn bowls star Nathan Rice
Australian Jackaroos veteran Nathan Rice has announced his international retirement. Brett Wilkie goes one on one with Rice.
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JACKAROOS veteran Nathan Rice has announced his international retirement, effective at the end of the 2019 Multi-Nations tournament on Sunday at Broadbeach.
Rice, 40, made his debut for Australia in 2004, before going on to amass 271 caps across 16 years for his country, including three Commonwealth Games, one World Championship and four Asia Pacific Championships.
Originally from Launceston and based at Club Helensvale since 2002, Rice has enjoyed a decorated international career, with four Commonwealth Games medals and two World Championship medals to his name, along with three Asia Pacific Championship gold medals, with the most recent coming at the 2019 edition on the Gold Coast.
Rice’s decision allows him to spend more time with his wife Kirsty, and two children Levi and Mia, away from the rigours of the Jackaroos schedule.
His announcement comes after Karen Murphy signalled the end of her illustrious international career recenlty, with both players to represent Australia together for the last time at the 2019 Multi-Nations.
How did you get involved in bowls?
Around 1996 when I was 16, my dad Sooty was drinking socially at Mudgeeraba Bowls Club and they had a bowls open day, so about 5 mates and I from the Mudgeeraba Redbacks Leagues Club decided to go over and try it out. I then got a traineeship at the bowls club with greenkeeper Trevor Crompton until they put me on as an apprentice. After improving my bowls game, I then transferred my apprenticeship to South Tweed to further my career in the game as Australian stars Kelvin Kerkow and Steve Glasson were playing there at the time. When I became a fully qualified greenkeeper Brett Wilkie got me a job at Club Helensvale on the greens in 2002 where I am still working and playing today.
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What other sport would you have loved to have had a crack at?
I was good at basketball when I was a kid so probably that, I just played at Nerang High School but not in competition. I love watching the NBA and LeBron James who is my sporting idol.
List your career highlights and why.
The 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games because it was my first Games, it was in Australia and the opening ceremony was at the MCG. Also, the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games was a highlight too because it was my home Games here on the Coast.
Who is the best bowler you have seen and why?
I would have to say Rob Parrella in his prime. I loved watching him play when I was young, he was exciting to watch. You just never knew what he was going to do next and liked entertaining the crowd. He was always very accurate with his drives which has always been a weapon of mine over the years.
Who have been your best and worst roommates on tour?
Barrie Lester has to be my worst because he just never stops, and my best would have to be Aron Sherriff because he is a clean freak and he is always cleaning up after me!
What’s the funniest thing you have done in the sport of bowls?
Probably the time I fell over trying to bowl at Helensvale’s premier league training after a Corporate Charity day at the Prawn Farm! I had a fair few beverages during the day and decided to join in the team practice when I returned to the club. Much to the entertainment of my teammates, they urged me on to have a big drive and I hit the deck mid delivery! All caught on camera, which has been replayed numerous times to the amusement of many people.
Yes, I was there that day and also seen the footage that was taken, it was hilarious!!
Being so close to the World Championships at your home Club Helensvale next year, I thought you may have tried to reach that before retirement?
It was in the back of my mind for a fair while. My kids are growing up fast, my son has just started playing cricket and it won’t be long before my daughter will be looking to do something. I have lost the drive and passion of playing at the highest level as it takes a lot of commitment. This includes many trips away from home with representative games, camps and tournaments, through in regular reporting, planning and training on/off the green. I didn’t want to keep going when I knew I didn’t want to be there. That’s not fair on the team and coaching staff, they have all been a great support when making this decision.
After 16 years in the Australian Squad it will be weird for you not being involved.
Definitely. It’s been a big part of my life for so long and I have so many great memories. As I mentioned above it takes a lot of time and commitment, being away with the Jackaroos has become like a second family to me, so I will miss that interaction and wish them all the best. It will be weird now watching from the sideline, especially with major events coming up on the Gold Coast. I will be there supporting in full flight.
What are you plans after retirement?
Spending more time home with my family and hopefully playing a little more golf.
Have you got a bucket list of things to achieve away from bowls?
Not really, but one would be to get my golf handicap from about 15 to single figures. Eventually I would be keen to become the head greenkeeper at Club Helensvale when Luke Wade retires.
What will you miss the most?
The honour of playing for Australia, knowing you are representing your Country with 200,000 bowlers nationwide was always a dream come true and an honour. When I got the opportunity, I grabbed it with both hands and cherished every game as you never knew when it was going to be your last, as I always told myself “I’m living the dream”.
What’s a key piece of advice or information that has helped you achieve so much in the game? And who provided it?
Not sure about key advice but being brought up the right way from my parents, keeping a level head both when bowling and while you’re off the green definitely helped me get to where I am today.
What advice would you give to up and coming players?
To be a good sport, respect your opposition and everyone around you. I like to treat people how I would like to be treated. It means a lot to have the respect of people around you.
What’s the most important mantra you’ve lived your life by?
“It is what it is” sometimes things are out of your control, only worry about what you have control of.
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Do you have any regrets throughout your career?
I stuffed up while on tour with the Australian Under 25 team a long time ago and I was lucky enough to get another chance a few years later. I definitely learned my lesson as I lost my Australian colours and had to fight very hard to get back in the team. I always vowed to never make the same mistake again.
You have been at Club Helensvale working as a greenkeeper since 2002, what changes have you noticed in the game since then?
The bowls are a lot tighter now, so the game has become much more aggressive. Players are much younger in the higher echelon of the game now than they used to be and tactics have changed with a more attacking style of game being played.
If there was one change or enhancement to the sport you would make, what would it be and why?
The game is heading in the right direction like BPL and UBC being quicker and more exciting. As long as they continue down that path then the game should continue to grow.
You have travelled to many parts of the world for bowls, outside of Australia, what’s your favourite ‘bowls’ destination and why?
Fiji, I played for QLD vs Fiji in Suva as well as a couple of tournaments. It’s a great holiday destination with wonderful people where I have made many friends. I played in Zimbabwe in 1999 with the Australian Under 25 Team, we got to go on a Safari where we were in a hut watching the wild animals which was amazing as I loved them. We had all these amazing animals like wildebeest, impala and antelope gathering around the water hole near the hut. We were meant to be quiet until I got excited and said “wow look at that”, all the animals ran away and I wasn’t real popular with the group! We also seen a big black rhino and a giraffe close up in the wild which was pretty cool.
I have heard a few rumours of you forgetting important items when packing for tours?!
I forgot to pack my bowls once, luckily, I got to the Brisbane International airport early because it gave Graham Brittain who was driving and my dad enough time to drive my bowls up with seconds to spare before check-in closed! I also packed two left foot bowls shoes once! I had two pairs of bowls shoes the same, so without looking I just grabbed two shoes. Lucky my partner was coming over to watch so she brought my left foot bowls shoe over to NZ!
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Last but not least, how did your nick name “Lurch” come about?
Everyone thinks it comes from the Adams Family TV Show but it actually comes from my old boss from when I was an apprentice greenkeeper at South Tweed, my old boss Phill “Slugger” Allen started calling me that because of the way I lurched around at work.
Congratulations on an amazing International career. You must have some special people you would like to thank.
There is a lot but obviously my Family first, Len Brunt and Club Helensvale, Steve Glasson and the Bowls Australia HP team, the Jackaroos, Henselite and all my friends who have supported me over my career.
On behalf of the Bowling Community, congratulations on an amazing International career and we wish you and your family all the best for the future, and good luck with getting that golf handicap down!