Young players ascendant in Jubilee Cup Finals

Five instances in the past 15 years when teenagers made leading contributions in Jubilee Cup final winning teams.

2010 – TJ Perenara (Northern United)

TJ Perenara balanced his school homework with rugby trainings for Northern United over the 2010 winter and it paid off in early August when the Mana College student was named Player of the Final in the Jubilee Cup decider at Wellington Stadium.

In 20 games, Norths achieved a 17-win, one lost and two-drawn record, scoring 819 points and 123 tries. Perenara’s snappy passing, abrasive defence and incisive running close to the ruck at the foot of a dominant forward pack were all on display in this game as Norths overpowered Pōneke 24-5 in what was the most recent final to be played in Wellington city.

Perenaea won 25 out of 27 games with Norths in a span from 2010 to 2022, scoring 11 tries. His last game was the 2022 Jubilee Cup final win – a long gap between wins during which he established himself as a leading professional player.

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2014 – Chase Tiatia (HOBM)

Chase Tiatia played 35 games for Hutt Old Boys Marist, scoring 34 tries and registering 24 wins. He scored against every club in 2014, his debut senior season out of St Pat’s Silverstream.

Tiatia made an immediate impact with the HOBM Eagles in 2014, primarily playing on the wing. He scored two tries in his debut match during the pre-season Marist Spillane tournament, setting the tone for an explosive season. He went on to score a competition-leading 17 tries in 21 appearances for HOBM.

Tiatia was thus a leading figure that took the field at home at the Hutt Rec for the 2014 final, Tiatia scored one of the two tries in the tightly contested 14-11 final win over Wainuiomata at the Hutt Rec as HOBM came back from 0-8 at halftime. Off the field, Tiatia’s vibrant personality was evident when he dyed his hair bleach blonde for the decider, causing a stir with his family, particularly his mother, who was more focused on his hair than the victory.

Later that season he played three games for the Wellington Lions, including two starts at first five-eighth, and subsequently moved on to play for Bay of Plenty and for the Chiefs and Western Force in Super Rugby.

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2015 – Wes Goosen (Old Boys University)

Wes Goosen was known as the Ice Man amongst some OBU supporters for his cool, calm style and clinical finishing ability. As a 19-year-old centre, second year our of Wellington College, Goosen showcased his speed, footwork, and try-scoring ability, appearing in 14 games and scoring 11 tries for the OBU Goats in 2015.

His performances were instrumental in OBU’s campaign, which culminated in their first-ever Jubilee Cup title in the amalgamated club’s history. A defining moment came in the 2015 Jubilee Cup final against Marist St Pat’s (MSP) at Porirua Park. With the score tight, Goosen scored a crucial try late in the game by plucking a high kick from replacement first five-eighth Danny Tuistala out of the air, helping secure a 30-27 victory.

Goosen made the Wellington Lions for first time in 2015 on the back of this season for OBU, and from there earned his maiden Hurricanes contract in 2016. He went on to win a second Jubilee Cup with OBU in 2017 and scored two tries in the 2018 final, and played 44 games overall, for 34 wins and with 33 tries.  He also won the Jubilee Cup final with OBU in 2017 and 2018, scoring  two tries in 2018.

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2019 – Kienan Higgins (Norths)

Kienan Higgins was second year out of school at St Pat’s Silverstream when he lined up in Northern United’s midfield and marked the Umaga-Jensen twins, Thomas and Peter, in Wainuiomata’s team. Higgins was a leading player for his side in the decider at the Petone Rec as they won 25-16 with newly minted All Blacks flanker Du Plessis Kirifi (older) leading the way in the forwards.

In a decider dubbed the ‘blue collar battle,’ it was Norths’ greater polish, dominant scrum and suppression of the Umaga-Jensen twins which were the telling factors.

Second-five Kienan Higgins was an instrumental creator and his sleight of hand, created the most dramatic try of the match. Young lock Waylon Baker was put in the clear and charged 30-metres to the line after Higgins performed a deft offload when tripped to the surface after a short break.

Higgins, who had won a Premiership and ‘Grand Slam’ of Traditional wins with St Pat’s Silverstream in 2017 with a 17-1 record, played 32 matches for Norths, winning 23 of them and scoring 18 tries. He later moved across to Hutt Old Boys Marist where he was playing for them earlier this year.  He has also won two Maddison Trophies with Taradale and been part of Hawke’s Bay Ranfurly Shiled winning teams.

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2024 – Harry Irving (Old Boys University)

The most recent final – with Old Boys University beating Tawa 27-21 in a typically bruising and tense decider. OBU’s halves combination of Kyle Preston and Callum Harkin (Player of the Final) rightly got much of the limelight for their final and season performances, but Harry Irving was a young gun in the pack who played a composed, mature game beyond his years.

In fact, it was only a little of 12 months prior that Irving was captaining Scots College to the 2023 First XV Premiership on the same ground at Jerry Collins Stadium.

During the 2024 season, Irving was a key contributor to OBU’s success, helping them secure the Swindale Shield and the Jubilee Cup, the latter being their fifth title in a decade (2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2024). This culminated in him scoring  a crucial try in the final.

After leading 10-0 early, OBU were trailing 10-14 late in the first half when Irving charged down an exit kick and scored to put them back ahead. The second half would be sapping just watching as Tawa led 21-20 late before OBU’s winning try a couple of minutes from time.

Irving went on to make this year’s New Zealand U20s, making his international debut against Argentina.