Akira Ieremia carrying family name into Wellington Lions

Akira Ieremia made his Wellington Lions debut last month in the opening Ranfurly Shield defence of the year against Horowhenua-Kapiti in Levin, joining a select group of father-son duos to pull on the Wellington jersey.

Father Alama played 65 times for Wellington between 1992-2000, culminating in him winning the National Provincial Title in his last year.

Talking to Huddy Sports this week, Akira said this was a special moment for him and his family.

“That was one of the main reasons why I loved putting that jersey on for the first time, being able to do so after him,” Ieremia said. “Being able to do so in a Ranfurly Shield match too made it all the more special.”

Wellington won the Horowhenua-Kapiti match 68-7 and then tamed South Canterbury in another Ranfurly Shield defence 67-21 a week later.

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Ieremia has since come off the bench for the Lions in their first two NPC matches, against Manawatu in Palmerston North and Otago in Dunedin, and could be in line for a home debut this Saturday against Southland and next Wednesday against Tasman in back-to-back Ranfurly Shield defences.

“It was my first time playing down there in Dunedin, an awesome experience playing under the roof and great to get the win,” Akira enthused.

The Lions beat Otago 28-5, but still had to work hard for their second win conceding two tightheads in the last quarter and a try to Jack Leslie (son of John Leslie) with only a few minutes remaining. There was a sparse crowd in attendance.

Father Alama made his All Blacks debut in Dunedin in 1994 in contrasting conditions, lining up at centre in front of packed terraces at the old Carisbrook ground against the Springboks. He played 40 times for the All Blacks, after previously playing a handful of tests for his home nation Samoa including against the All Blacks in 1993.

Against Manawatu, the Lions had to ground it out for 65 minutes before finally breaking through to score their only try through second-five Peter Umaga-Jensen.

Whilst his father was a midfielder – who scored the first professional try in New Zealand rugby, for the Hurricanes in the first match of 1996 – Akira Ieremia has mostly been known in the past few seasons since his Premier debut in the first round of 2020 as a blindside flanker.  He has played 32 of his 48 Premier club rugby appearances in the 6 jersey.

“I don’t have a preferred position, I just get a number thrown on my back and just go and play rugby,” said the understated Ieremia.

“I am enjoying playing lock. I’m able to learn from guys like Dom Bird and Caleb Delany.  It’s good to play alongside Caleb after playing against him in club rugby.”

Ieremia also has a background in volleyball, skills that he has transferred to the rugby field and in the lineout and aerial contests.

Ieremia is handling the step up from club rugby to the NPC well.

“Compared to club rugby, the NPC is definitely a lot faster. You have got to be more alive and, on your feet, to compete against these fast teams.”

Ieremia joined Tawa in 2020 after playing for the St Pat’s Silverstream First XV who won a Wellington Premiership in 2018 and were narrow runners-up to Scots College in 2019, Ieremia scoring an intercept and runaway try in the final (as shown below, credit Mike Lewis Pictures).

“Being able to score a try and help with a try assist in the final is memorable for me, Ieremia said.

“It was just a great culture in that team as well and it is good to follow a lot of the guys who are now playing elsewhere and it’s good to see many are doing well now.”

Why did he join Tawa? “I was a Paremata-Plimmerton for most of my Junior years but I was at Tawa in my last year before starting secondary school. So I just thought when leaving school and what club to join that I would go back to Tawa and pick up from where I left off there.”

Ieremia was Tawa’s starting blindside flanker when they beat Marist St Pat’s 36-7 in the 2021 final at the Hutt Rec. “I didn’t really know the importance of the Jubilee Cup, it was so new to me, but experienced guys like Tito Ioane and Randall Bishop taught us what winning it means. So to get one under my belt in my second season was a proud achievement.”

He was also at blindside the following year when Petone pipped them 15-12 in an epic semi-final in 2022.

“It is awesome to be around all the boys. Win or lose, we have a good culture at Tawa and a great bunch of boys and coaches. Credit as well to Thomas George who has helped me throughout my career.”

This coming Saturday the Lions play their first NPC match at home, and also their first Ranfurly Shield defence against NPC opposition of the year when they host Southland at the Hutt Rec. Southland hasn’t won yet in 2023, but was fiercely competitive in a 21-29 loss to Waikato, conceding a penalty goal with the last play. Last weekend they had a 15-15 draw with Northland (who beat Wellington in 2022) after extra time.

On September 15, 1920, Southland famously ended Wellington’s longest tenure of 16 defences with the Ranfurly Shield with a 17-6 victory at Invercargill. Southland has had seven successful challenges for the Log of Wood and enjoyed 30 wins in 75 matches since their first challenge in 1906.

Southland’s most recent tenure with the Ranfurly Shield was in 2011. They beat Canterbury 22-19 in Christchurch with James Wilson kicking a 77th-minute drop goal. Future All Blacks flanker Elliot Dixon was so chuffed with the success he missed the flight back to Invercargill. When it snowed, he was four days late to training. Challenges from Counties Manukau (22-14) and North Harbour (25-23) were repelled before Taranaki proved too strong.

Two years earlier Southland had upset Canterbury 9-3 for the Shield and repelled six challengers in 2010.

The most memorable defence was a 16-12 victory over Otago. Dixon remembered, “Half the terraces were Otago supporters, the other half Southland. People were throwing cans at each other. I was getting love on one side of the field and a ribbing on the other.”

Jamie Mackintosh, Jason Rutledge, Chris King, Tim Boys, Josh Bekhuis, and Robbie Robinson were players of real backbone and substance for the Stags at the time.

Southland’s challenge on Saturday represents the start of the Lions ‘Storm Week’ and they then host Tasman at Wellington Stadium next Wednesday. Wellington beat Tasman 26-20 in their first defense of the 2008-2009 tenure.

Alama is currently the attack coach for the USA Eagles’ national side.  Outside of rugby, Akira is a roofer.

Wellington v Southland Ranfurly Shield Matches

1920: Southland 17 – Wellington 6

1921: Wellington 28 – Southland 13

1930: Wellington 12 – Southland 3

1931: Wellington 36 – Southland 13

1938: Wellington 3 – Southland 10

A few father-sons to play for Wellington

• Hercules and Alan Wright
• Eric and Paul Tindill
• Graham and Alan and Murray Mexted
• Phil and Matt and Billy Proctor
• Jock and Michael Hobbs

The day Wellington teams re-took the Ranfurly Shield off Southland and beat the All Blacks