Wellington Club Rugby “Rookie” Team of the Year 2025

Above: Some new players that made their marks on Wellington club and representative rugby this year, from left to right: Johnny Falloon (OBU), David Leota Johnson (Ories), Preston Moananu (MSP), Sione Baker (Pare-Plim), Dom Ernst (HOBM), Luke Bidois (Tawa). 

A team chosen by consensus from contributors based on players who have caught our attention this year in various matches throughout the club and representative season.

As always with these sorts of articles, some players are included here are slightly out of position and some positions have more players to choose from than others so other promising players have been left off the line-up. Loose forwards are an example of both.

Also, not all are young players (then we could just name the Wellington U19s) but all can be considered rookies in Wellington Premier club rugby this year.

1.Hamish Huggins (Pōneke)

The first of two players in this line-up to have come over the hill from the Wairarapa to make Wellington home in 2025. Huggins made his Premier debut for Pōneke as late as round 10 off the bench against eventual champions HOBM but went on and played seven straight matches including five starts. He showed he could play tighthead prop or loosehead, where he played in the Hardham Cup final. Wellington U19s prop.

2. Geordie Bean (OBU)

Contradicting our introduction above, it could be a stretch to put Bean in the rookie class! In fact, he made nine Premier appearances for OBU in 2023 and 2024, a number that has ruled a couple of other players out in this paper squad. But former Wests Junior Bean graduated from a bit-part Goats player to  establishing himself as one of their first picks and a captain in his team in some games this season. Then carried on his good form in the Centurions as part of their just completed successful campaign. At home playing prop as well as hooker too.

3. Alex Hewitt (Upper Hutt Rams)

A leader in last year’s Upper Hutt Rams Colts side and in the Wellington U19s and sadly lost his father and former All Black Norm Hewitt. Returned in 2025 to play most of the year at tighthead prop for the Rams and he came up with a number of big plays and some strong carries with ball in hand in all games he played. The Rams will be hoping 2026 is their year and players like Hewitt will carry them through.

Alex Hewitt running strongly for the Rams. Photo: Andy McArthur.

4. Preston Moananu (Marist St Pat’s)

First year player for the MSP Premiers this year and played most of the season and slotted in like a glove into their side and in Premier rugby in general. The St Pat’s Silverstream school leaver won his club’s Most Outstanding Age Grade Player award at their recent awards and was recently part of the Wellington U19s. At home at either lock or blindside flanker. A good lineout forward and with ball in hand in broken play. A player that MSP can build their future around.

5. Johnny Falloon (Old Boys University)

Tall timber from Rathkeale College joined the playing through Swindale-Jubilee champions OBU but perhaps didn’t expect to be a pack leader in some mid-season games with the already rebuilding Goats depleted through injury and other commitments such the as the NZU tour. Came up for air at the deep end having shown resilience and skill, this extra experience helping shape him as a main player in the Wellington U19s in their campaign. A player for the future in higher levels as well as club rugby.

6.  Logan Wakefield (Petone)

Another player who was not exactly a rookie but was new to Wellington club rugby in 2025. Played most of his games at lock for Petone but came to Petone at the start of the season after captaining Wairarapa-Bush at #6 in his fourth season in Heartland rugby. His experience and consistency helped Petone win several tight matches this year. Now headed to greener pastures and playing in Ireland.

UPDATE: Since publishing this, there were messages asking about why no Cody Lokotui. Fair point – he wasn’t overlooked he was one of the first names on the first list drawn up –  but wasn’t initially included here because we thought he had played several matches for his Wellington Axemen club in 2024 thus making him a second year player. Not true! Former Scots College No. 8 Lokotui was playing his first season in Wellington club rugby since returning from Christchurch and has since played for the Centurions and now the Wellington Lions. So a spot should have been reserved for him in this loose forward group. adding his name in after the fact as super-sub in this line-up!

7. Luke Bidois (Tawa)

Followed a long line of players down to Wellington from Gisborne Boys’ High School, most recently before him Braith Ingram the previous year, and he joined the Tawa side who were seemingly rebuilding this year. But he started in 10 games at openside flanker for the Tawa Premiers and quickly found his feet in Premier rugby. Played some big minutes at the end of the season and in his maiden Jubilee Cup final. Wellington U19s flanker.

8. David Leota-Johnson (Ories)

Previously a  leading player in the Ories Colts, he played four Premier games in 2024. Returned to the Magpies in 2025 and starred throughout the season with a number of barnstorming performances. Predominantly at openside flanker but can be No. 8 for the purposes of this team. An explosive and terrific link player.  One half of the pink panther duo, along with Connor Tuifao, in the Centurions team in recent games in which they piled on the points.

9. Mike Brown (Pōneke)

Good competition at halfback with players coming through such as Brown, Jake Lawson (OBU), Sukulu Cama (Johnsonville) and Kian O’Connell (HOBM), but we have gone with Mike Brown, the player who came down from Hastings Boys’ High School to join Pōneke and the Wellington Academy earlier this year. A good passing game and always looking to put his side on to attack, Brown won the Hardham Cup in his first year. Wellington U19s halfback.

Mike Brown gets his pass away in the Hardham Cup final. Hamish Huggins (#1 in our paper team) looks on at the ruck. Photo: Tane Nathan.

10. Eden Govind (Tawa)

In April Petone and Wellington age-grade rugby lost the services for 2025 of last year’s college player of the year Thompson Tukupua. In his absence others stepped up to take their chances. Two who started in the Wellington U19s were Tawa’s Eden Govind and the Rams’ Liam Slight. Both players made three appearances only in Premier rugby in 2025, with our starter here Govind spending most of the year in the Tawa Premier 2s. Out of the exciting Tawa College First XV, Govind is at home at fullback and at first-five. Wellington U19s.

11. Sione Baker (Paremata-Plimmerton)

The former Mana College star outside back returned to Wellington at the start of 2025 from a stint living and playing in Southland to join the Paremata-Plimmerton Premiers. He scored two tries on debut in the opening round and he was away. A consistent performer for the Hammerheads this year, often on the right wing (with speedster Louis Northcott on the left) or at fullback in some games. Scored seven tries, not bad when his halfback Esi Komaisavai scored 20! Currently playing club rugby in the Netherlands.

12. Kapu Broughton-Winterburn (HOBM)

Otaki’s Kapu Broughton-Winterburn joined the HOBM Eagles and Wellington club rugby for the first time in 2025, as an incumbent Horowhenua-Kapiti representative and club rugby champion with his home club Rahui. He went on to score 12 tries this season for the Eagles including one in their final win over Tawa. Broughton-Winterburn played games in most positions in their backline but is second-five here. Wellington Lions debut in the NPC.

Kapu Broughton Winterburn with the try in the corner in the Jubilee Cup Final. Photo: Stewart Baird.

13. Ifeanyichukwu Nnebechukwu (Pōneke)

The Pōneke Premiers under coach Ross Bond always played attacking rugby and their Hardham Cup win on home soil at Kilbirnie Park was good reward. Ifeanyichukwu Nnebechukwu epitomised their style in his maiden full season of Premier rugby and was always looking for work and he set up a number of tries and scored 10 himself. At centre in this paper team but often played elsewhere in the backline.

Ifeanyichukwu Nnebechukwu crashes through to score against Norths earlier this season.

14. Josh Love (Upper Hutt Rams)

12 tries for the Rams this year, four more than teammates Emmanuel Solomona and Leon Tuiloma, who jointly scored the next most. Two matches off the bench early in 2024, this was Love’s first full season in Premier rugby in Wellington and he proved he was one of the best finishing outside backs in the competition with speed and skill when the tryline was in sight. The 2024 New Zealand Falcons AFL representative scored a memorable last-gasp match-winner at home against Petone, amongst other highlights.

Josh Love with the try int the Hardham Cup final. Photo: Andy McArthur.

15. Dominic Ernst (HOBM)

The most exciting little guy in the competition. Ernst graduated from the HOBM Colts to the Eagles Premiers and started in 15 of 16 games for the Eagles this year. This included 13 run-on games at fullback where he was to make numerous counterattacks from the back and score and set up a number of tries including scoring a popular one in the Jubilee Cup final.

IMPACT PLAYERS

16. Semurana Fepule’ai (Ories)

Second year out of Scots College, Fepule’ai played rugby league in Australia in 2024 before returning home and jointing Ories for 2025. He started the season in the Colts but through injury was called up to the Premiers and started several games. A dynamic hooker and a player for the future for his club. Wellington U19s.

17. Corban King (MSP)

Hard working first year prop who joined Marist St Pat’s out of the Wellington College First XV this year. Five Premier appearances in 2025. Wellington U19s. Selected in the New Zealand U18s team in September.

18. Sam Thomson (Petone)

Former Paraparaumu College No. 8, then moved to Silverstream and played lock in his last year of school in 2024. Promising club season for Petone teams and a strong finish to the year locking the Wellington U19s scrum with Johnny Falloon.

19. Louis Magalogo (J’ville)

Another first-year player in Wellington club rugby but having arrived from Dunedin and several seasons playing in Otago competitions. Johnsonville’s openside flanker this year, he was into everything from the opening whistle of round one. Loves a good try celebration of his own tries (seven this year) and those scored by others.

Louis Magalogo (centre) celebrating a big moment in the opening match of the year and on his debut in Wellington club rugby.

20. Jordan Chapman (Axemen)

Former St Pat’s Town First XV flanker and 2022 captain, Chapman returned to Wellington club rugby from the rugby league code having been in the Canberra Raiders system. Joined the Wellington Axemen and finished the season with the Wellington Centurions.

21. Liam Slight (UHR)

Won the 2024 First XV Premiership with St Pat’s Silverstream, as back-up to Thompson Tukupua, and joined the nearby Rams this year. Played a full season, mostly in the Colts but two starts on the left wing for the Premiers.  Wellington U19s, although injured in the match against Hawke’s Bay.

22. Dante Ford-Tuveve (MSP)

Former St Pat’s Town midfielder Dante Ford-Tuveve had a promising start to his club rugby career at Marist St Pat’s, and he played 10 Premier matches, which included starts at both second-five and centre. He was then selected primarily as a right wing for the Wellington U19s and continued his good form. Big and strong and quick on his feet.

23. Hunter Andrew (Pōneke)

Joined the Wellington Academy and Pōneke out of Lindisfarne College as a 2024 member of that school’s First XV that finished third in the CNI competition. Twelve caps for Pōneke this year including starting on the right wing in the Hardham Cup final. Wellington Centurions U18s.