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He's the 16th man for Wanganui's champion rugby team Marist and head of security at the Caltex
service station on Victoria Avenue, where he works for a few hours each morning.

He's a rugby nut, a single man ... and he's intellectually handicapped.

He's Peter Howard. You might have spotted him in the photo of the celebrating Marist huddle in Monday's Chronicle.

Three years ago Peter was made the team's "gear manager" by coach Karl Hoskin.

Filling the water bottles, making sure the jerseys are in tip-top order - that sort of thing.

Hoskin said Peter had become a key component in his side's set-up.

"I'm 40 now and as far as I can remember Peter has always been around the  club," Hoskin said.

Peter reckons he hasn't missed a Marist senior game in more than 40 years.

Not even for the flu? "Nup, never."

He has seen a lot of players come and go. He rates Trevor Olney, Dave Kereti, Anton Willis, ("he's a cop in the city now"), Tasi Sua as some of the best to don Marist colours.

Of today's crop, winger Cameron Crowley is right up there.

They're just some of the young blokes whom Peter has watched grow and develop over the decades.

But while the faces change, other things don't. Such as the  camaraderie. That team spirit has never been stronger, he says.

He's seen Marist win a few titles too. Saturday's win over Kaierau was extra special. The following day he celebrated his 64th birthday.

He'll be back next winter. Marist can count on that.

Aside from rugby, he's also a devoted Cliff Richard fan and was in New Plymouth in February to watch his concert.

"It was fantastic. I've always been a big Cliff and the Shadows man."

Peter, who has a learning disability, is also grateful to his bosses at Caltex for the work they provide. He's now the self-appointed head of security there.

"I've never been one to sit around and be lazy. I've never wanted to have anything to do with drugs and things like that.
I just love being active, being busy," he says.

The Marist rugby team will vouch for that.