
The 2023 Wellington club rugby season kicks off this coming Saturday. Round one Swindale Shield teams will be named here in the Draws & Results section (above) on Friday by the noon hour.
As usual there’s plenty of player movement between clubs and players coming into senior rugby from school. There’s also the usual smattering of players from elsewhere in New Zealand and overseas, but there’s also been a large exodus this year, particularly to overseas and to the 13-man code.
The information is as provided by the clubs with some obtained from elsewhere, so may not represent a complete list.
AVALON
Also known as: Wolves
Colours: Maroon and Blue
Playing out of: Fraser Park Sportsville, Lower Hutt
Coach: Thomas Kiwara, succeeding Logan Ili
Gains: Ryan Nepia (Returning), Thau Taape, Pablo Farreira, Enos Palamene, Ilai Maravu
Losses: Akuila Alatini (Retired), Neru Lafaele (Suspension, season), Chris Lafaele, Teofilo Paulo (HOBM), Moo Falaniko (HOBM), Jordan Sului (Petone), Daley Ena (Australia)
Super Rugby: Asafo Aumua
HUTT OLD BOYS MARIST
Also known as: The Eagles
Colours: Green, Red, and White
Playing out of: Hutt Recreation Ground
Coach: Justin Wilson Sr (Kent Harris returns to Director of Rugby role)
Gains: Teofilo Paulo (Avalon), Moo Falaniko (Avalon), Lise Soloa (Auckland), Harrison Boyle (Otago/Major League Rugby), Justin Wilson Jr (Wainuiomata)
Losses: Matt Sleith (Retired), Fritz Rayasi (Upper Hutt), Heremoni Nepo (Auckland), Vili Tauofaga (Australia), Jordan-Glen Bradbrook (UK), Jason Hoffman (UK), Fereti Soloa (League), Anthony Utanga (League), Oakley Edmonds (League)
JOHNSONVILLE
Also known as: Hawks
Colours: Dark and Light Blue hoops
Playing out of: Helston Park
Coach: Jason Adamson
Gains: Anthony Pettett (Injury), Jack Taulapapa (Hiatus), Mike Faimalo (Injury), Morgan Williams (Otago), Andy Ellis (Overseas), Billy Bryce (Australia), Finlay Sharp (UK), Regan Herbert (UK), Joe Little (UK), Paul Stack (Ireland), William Girardin (France)
Losses: Serge Hollis (Coaching), Tevita Falekakala (Injured), EJ Roebeck (Year Off), Rodney Roebeck (Norths), Olly Paotonu (Australia), Koloa Aisake (Australia), Levi Grace (Australia), Sam Green (France), Jed Mitchell (Canada)
MARIST ST PAT’S
Also known as: The Red Machine, Scarlets
Colours: Scarlet jersey, white shorts, dark blue and green socks
Playing out of: Evans Bay Park, Kilbirnie
Coach: Fa’atonu Fili
Gains: Andre Hart (Injury), Cavunailoa Yabakivou (Jville), Makaere Wiki (Northland), Grecia Taele (Auckland), Sanasco Crichton (Southland), Jack O’Brien (St John’s Hamilton), Francis Mettrick (Town), Elysium Tolova’a-Stanley (Town), Ben Higgs (Town), Nathan Carr (Town), Dallas Natoli (Town), Loto Va (Well. Coll), Kobe Lolesio (Basketball)
Losses: Josh To’omaga (Injury), Vince Sakaria (Injury), Ano Kapeli (Work), Ami Paongo (Work), Hans Pama (Auckland)
Super Rugby: Billy Proctor, Aidan Morgan
NORTHERN UNITED
Also known as: Bulldogs
Colours: Blue and White with Red trim
Playing out of: Jerry Collins Stadium at Porirua Park
Coach: Grainger Heikell
Gains: Gerard Faitotoa (Australia)
Losses: Blake Rogers (Unavailable), Losi Filipo (Petone), Dale Sabbagh (Pare-Plim), Luke Kapene (Pare-Plim), Jendrick Masoe (Pare-Plim), Sione Baker (Southland), Junior Time-Taotua (Australia), Jayden McCarthy (Australia), Noah Ironside (Australia), Jackson Garden-Bachop (Japan)
Super Rugby: TJ Perenara (also injured), DuPlessis Kirifi, Connor Garden-Bachop, Leni Apisai
OLD BOYS-UNIVERSITY
Also known as: The Fighting Billygoats, Goats
Colours: Green and white hooped jerseys with black collar and black shorts
Playing out of: Rugby League Park
Coach: Anthony Rehutai
Gains: Ish Perkins (Canterbury), Jackson Wright (Canterbury), Frank Anderson (Otago), Louis Calvert (Otago), Douglas Perrers (Australia), Graeme Bartlett (UK)
Losses: Matt Eathorne (Injury), Dominic Ropeti (Ories), Josh Gimblett (Hawkes Bay), Tobias Christensen (Auckland), George Faainga (Australia), Tiaki Fabish (Spain), Wes Goosen (Scotland), Veikoso Poloniati (France)
Super Rugby: Caleb Delany, Taine Plumtree
ORIENTAL-RONGOTAI
Also known as: Ories, O-Tide, Magpies
Colours: Black and White hoops
Playing out of: Polo Grounds, Miramar
Coach: Mason Malagamaali’i
Gains: Manase Sului (Injury), Dominic Ropeti (OBU), Ethan Rangi (Jville), Johnny Maiava (Wgtn), Daniel Tafili (Wgtn), Alex Ropeti (Auckland), Isaac Bracewell (Hawkes Bay), Ronaldo Seumanufagai (Southland), Salesa Seumanufagai (Town), Joshua Semu (Well. Coll), Braedyn Togi (Rongotai), Pharell Gray (Rongotai), Enesi Tuilaepa (Rongotai), Nehemiah Akeripa (Taita)
Losses: Whetu Henry (Retired), Anthony Samuela (Study), Ethan Webster-Nonu (Pare-Plim), Chops Taituave (MSP), Alex Fidow (Australia), Saia Paese (Australia)
Super Rugby: Ardie Savea, Julian Savea, Xavier Numia
NZ Sevens: Roderick Solo
PAREMATA-PLIMMERTON
Also known as: Pare-Plim, The Hammerheads
Colours: Black with Yellow and Red hoops
Playing out of: Ngati Toa Domain, Mana
Coach: Gerard Fasavalu
Gains: Luke Omeri (Year Off), Dale Sabbagh (Norths), Luke Kapene (Norths), Tony Coburn (Wgtn), Ethan Webster-Nonu (Ories)
Losses: Teariki Kie Tonga (Retired), Mitch Taupau (Work), Fuli Kupa (Work), Tana Tusa (Injury), Matt de Terte (work), Jonty Boyd (Tawa – coaching), Taisson Lealaisalanoa (Australia), Kayden Muller (Australia), Jayden Keats (UK), Eli Moata’a (League), Konelio Feaunati (League), Rikeli Grey (League)
PETONE
Also known as: Villagers
Colours: Navy Blue jersey with White shoulder saddle
Playing out of: Petone Recreation Ground
Coach: Ryan Piper
Gains: Bailee Laurenson-Tupai (Injury), Losi Filipo (Norths), Jordan Sului (Avalon), Lionel Taito (Stokes Valley), Tei Miti (Stokes Valley), Stanley Solomon (Well. Coll), Ben Kershaw (Silverstream), Connor Tuifao (Silverstream), Lennox Easthope (Silverstream), Connor Vlas (Silverstream)
Losses: Jack Ross (Retired), Pek Cowan (Retired), Jacob Gooch (Injury), Iona Apineru (Injury), Mitchell Southall (Injury), Ta’amilo Va’a (Injury), Sam Blackburn (Year Off), Julius Masoe (Poneke), Ben Brooking (Wai-Bush), Tupou Sopoaga (Australia), Zeke Sopoaga (Australia)
Super Rugby: James Blackwell, Peter Lakai, Riley Higgins
PONEKE
Also known as: Street Kids.
Colours: Red and Black hoops
Playing out of: Kilbirnie Park
Coach: Reggie Goodes
Gains: Julius Masoe (Petone), Matawhero Wakefield-Sciascia (OBU), Tevita Vatuvei (Waikato), Harry Semple (Thames Valley), Ratu Bishop (Tasman), Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia (Otago), Jahzeel Marais (Overseas), Cameron Pryde (Scotland), Carlos Hihi (Gisborne Boys), Sam Meo (Well. Coll), Moli Taulogo (Rongotai)
Losses: DJ Taoipu (Manawatu), Pakai Turia (Australia), Jimmy Hewitt (Australia)
Super Rugby: Dane Coles
TAWA
Also known as: The Wolfpack
Colours: Blue, Red and Gold
Playing out of: Lyndhurst Park, Tawa
Coach: Steve So’oialo
Gains: Tony Solomona (Otago)
Losses: Lipa Saveatama (Injury), TJ Fermanis (Family), Ben Aumua-Peseta (Canterbury)
Super Rugby: Pepesana Patafilo, PJ Sheck
UPPER HUTT RAMS
Also known as: The Rams
Colours: Black with Maroon, Gold, Orange, and Black quarters
Playing out of: Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt
Coaches: Adam Campbell/Matt Lee
Gains: Fritz Rayasi (HOBM), Jacob Beaumont (Petone), Nic ‘Apikatoa (Hawkes Bay), Soli Malatai (Wai-Bush), Senio Sanele (Silverstream), Toby Mallon (Silverstream), Emmanuel Solomona (Silverstream), Tavis Polglase (Silverstream), Devon Sopoaga (Well. Coll), Abraham Fletcher (Well. Coll), Zion Fuiava (Town), Flynn Morgan (Upper Hutt Coll.)
Losses: Tafa Tafa (Wai-Bush)
Super Rugby: Dominic Bird
WAINUIOMATA
Also known as: Wainui, the Nui.
Colours: Black and Green
Playing out of: William Jones Park
Coach: Daniel Smith
Gains: Zane Humphrey (Injury), TJ Va’a (Injury), Mikade Fono (Upper Hutt), Josh Robertson-Weepu (Otago), Ma’a Tauaneai (St Bernard’s)
Losses: Uale Mai (Retired, again), Justin Wilson (HOBM), Pala Mailangi (Australia), Jarimar Schuster
Super Rugby: Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ruben Love
WELLINGTON
Also known as: The Axemen
Colours: Black and Gold
Playing out of: Hataitai Park.
Coaches: Dion Waller
Gains:
Losses: Tony Coburn (Pare-Plim), Johnny Maiava (Ories), Tom Robertson (UK)
Wellington haven’t replied to our request for information.
WELLINGTON RUGBY REFEREES
2023 Premier Panel: Jamie Fairmaid, Zarne Johnson, Charlie Harris, Ethan Loveridge, Daniel Mangin, Hamish Mexted, Luke Pearce, Tomas Roche, Jack Sargentina, Matt Thomas, Ben van Berkel
Losses: Mike Fraser (NZR Professional – retired), Lauren Jenner (Italy), Steve Newson (stepped down), Ryan McLean
