Like many offspring of shearing contractors, Ryan ‘Chugga’ O’Neill grew up around his father’s sheds, cleaning up as a youngster before moving on to shearing himself.

The 18-year-old has since traded his wool shears for hair clippers and is more than halfway through a barbering apprenticeship with Tu Meke Hair in Alexandra.

Chugga (who got his name not for any drinking habits but because his older brother couldn’t say chubby when they were both wee kids) said he first started cutting hair for his friends.

“Mostly I learned off YouTube and doing mates’ hair,” he said.

Under Dunstan High School’s Gateway Employment programme, Chugga went half a day each week to Tu Meke, observing and helping out around the salon. Tu Meke owner Tim Riwhi said Chugga started full-time about a year ago doing his barbering apprenticeship.

Chugga O’Neill works on a client’s hair at Tu Meke. PHOTO: Supplied

“A barbering apprenticeship is quite different to hairdressing,” Tim said. “Barbers will start cutting hair quite early on.

“Chugga’s on track to becoming fully qualified by May of next year.”

Chugga is also a keen rugby player and was named Colt Of the Year by the Alexandra Rugby Club in August while playing for the Alexandra Armadilloes. He now plays for Otago Country.

Chugga is not yet sure where he wants his barbering skills to take him, whether he will one day have his own shop or to travel with his skills, but he’s in no doubt his family is proud of him choosing a career away from shearing. 

“They wanted me to do something else,” he said. “That will always be there for me.”

Chugga O’Neill shows the skills that had him named Colt of theYear by the Alexandra Rugby Club. PHOTO: Supplied

While shy when talking about himself with the Central App’s reporter, Tim said Chugga is a different person at the barber’s chair.

“It’s good to see the community vibe Chugga has with his clients,” he said. “The old guys who like to come and talk rugby with him and shout him a beer after games.

“That’s really good to see as a boss.”