From a Nissan Tiida to a six-figure business

Two rugby-playing brothers from Hamilton have built a garden care business that keeps growing while they chase their professional dreams in Japan and Auckland.

About six years ago, brothers Gideon and Malachi Wrampling went knocking on doors around their neighbourhood, looking for garden work. A neighbour just down the road said yes. The boys turned up in a small Nissan Tiida with their gear, a mate arrived with a ute to cart away the green waste, and four of them spent around six hours on the tools. It paid just $200.

It's a story they still tell with plenty of laughter. Last financial year, that same business turned over six figures.

“Looking back at that first job, how did we turn it into a six-figure machine? It's baffling now,” they say.

YoungBucks Garden Care began when Gideon was in his first year out of school, working jobs on his days off and weekends. Malachi pitched in at weekends while still at school, and more once he'd finished.

The idea had a strong backer from the start. Their older brother, Jotham, whose own rugby career was cut short by injury, encouraged them to build something on the side as an investment in their future. When they pitched him the idea, he bought them the equipment they needed to get going.

“Jotham made all of this happen with us and was a huge part of it all. And we wouldn’t be here without the support of our family and friends who supported and believed in us,” they say.

The name YoungBucks came from their sister. It was casual, but it stuck: a couple of young guys giving something a go.

As the business grew, so did their rugby careers. Both brothers came through the New Zealand U20s, Waikato NPC and the Chiefs.

By 2022, Malachi was out of school and the pair had a handful of regular jobs. Then, around three years ago, YoungBucks connected with Oyonnx, and the work really picked up. The timing was good. At the end of 2023, Malachi stepped up from the New Zealand U20s into the Waikato NPC side alongside Gideon.

2023 turned out to be a strong year for the business. It coincided with Malachi’s first Super Rugby contract too.

Oyonnx helped the brothers put real structure around what had started as a side gig. That included the business structure and operational systems, pricing and margins, IRD and financial requirements, contracts and agreements, and their Tōtika health and safety prequalification.

Asked for the advice that made the biggest difference, Gideon doesn't hesitate:

For Malachi, it was goal setting, both financially and in building relationships with other businesses.

“We set goals in rugby and we set goals in business, and it's the same sort of rush when you achieve them.”

The connections mattered just as much. An introduction to G.J. Gardner Homes opened the door to more work and ongoing maintenance contracts. About a year ago, Oyonnx connected YoungBucks with the Lodge maintenance team, and the business has since been completing work for Lodge across the Waikato, building the relationship on quality and consistency.

Then came the crossroads. Gideon signed to play professionally in Japan, and Malachi signed with the Blues. Keep the business going, or close the doors?

Rather than telling them to stay or go, Oyonnx helped the brothers map out what each option would look like, and whether YoungBucks could run without them on site every day. The answer was yes.

Today, Oyonnx runs the operational side of the business, handling job orders, invoicing and accounts. Sale is the main operator on the ground and brings in extra workers when the workload calls for it. Subcontracting arrangements are in place to keep everything running smoothly.

That matters, because the brothers' days are now taken up with training from 7.30am until 3 or 4pm.

“It's really nice in season when they take the stress away from footy,” Malachi says. “They've taken that burden off our shoulders so we can just focus on training and match day.”

Handing over the day-to-day was a relief, he says.

“Now I can have a big day of training or a game day and prep my week without anything outside footy on my mind. We still stay in the loop, but we can put our time into rugby.”

Distance hasn't meant disconnection. The brothers have a monthly catch-up with Oyonnx on Teams to review the previous month and see how the business is tracking. Quick questions go through a WhatsApp group chat.

It's an easy way for Gideon to stay involved from Japan, and for Malachi as he moves between Auckland and Hamilton.

“We've built a great system of trust with the team at Oyonnx,” they say.

For Gideon, the business is also a welcome break from the rugby bubble.

“It's refreshing to have something outside of rugby. It's healthy for us, because we're still growing as people and in business. It's personal development in a way.”

Malachi is contracted to the Blues until the end of 2027, and Gideon is in Japan until July next year. Wherever rugby takes them, YoungBucks keeps working.

Gideon sees a clear link between the two worlds.

“Business is a way for us to take the skills we've learnt in rugby, like working in a team, goal setting and problem solving, and use them somewhere else.”

From a $200 job and a Nissan Tiida to a six-figure business serving some of the Waikato's best-known names, the brothers have come a long way. They're not finished yet.

“Hopefully YoungBucks is just the start of the journey.”