Some Experienced Players to Watch in club rugby 2026

• By Steven White & Scott MacLean

A feature of the start of every club rugby season are the new players joining the competition for the first time, and 2026 will be no different with a number of school leavers as well as a group of returning and new older players from other provinces to add to the appeal of this year’s Swindale Shield.

These players will be lining up alongside and against a number of experienced players with several seasons or more under their hoods who bring valuable experience of playing in the Wellington Premier competition week in-week out.

This year we have canvassed all 14 clubs and chosen a player from each club that fits that bill and who will be key players on and off the field for their teams. Listed below in finishing order from last year.

Hutt Old Boys Marist

Last Year: Jubilee Cup Champions

Player to Watch: Mika Alaifatu

The former St Bernard’s College player has taken a leadership role in the Eagles this year as they plot their Jubilee Cup title defence. After finishing third in the Swindale Shield, HOBM timed their title run perfectly with a big, hardworking forward pack integral to their efforts. Mika Alaifatu, wearing his distinctive red headgear was a force off the back of HOBM’s scrum, the Horowhenua-Kapiti representative and veteran of 10 Heartland Championship battles starts his eighth consecutive season with his club and has made 68 appearances for the Eagles. He will have plenty of like-minded experienced players around him who know what it takes to defend their Hutt Rec fortress.

Mika Alaifatu crosses for the Eagles against Paremata-Plimmerton in 2021.

_______________________________________________________________________

Tawa

Last Year: Jubilee Cup Runners-up

Player to Watch: Hemi Fermanis

Since 2013, Tawa have been one of the most consistent clubs in Wellington club rugby, always finding their best form at the right time. A common denominator in these sides has been the name ‘Fermanis’ on their teamsheets. Younger brother Hemi has been in the team since 2015 and has won two titles and one Player of the Final award. Humble off the field, Hemi Fermanis leads from the front on it, and he covers lock and flanker equally as effectively. As long as he is on the field Tawa are one of the toughest sides to beat.

Fermanis in the thick of the action – as usual – in this past weekend’s pre-season game against visiting Christchurch club Linwood.

 _________________________________________________________________

Paremata-Plimmerton

Last year: Jubilee Cup semi-finalist

Player to Watch: Tane McMillan-Parata

McMillan-Parata occupies a special place in the hearts of the Ngati Toa Domain faithful. A local kid from Hongoeka Bay, the last survivor of those difficult years when wins were hard to come by, and the man who lifted the Swindale Shield in 2023. Now closing in on 200 first-team games (191 and counting) in a club career that started when the top team was in the old Senior 2 grade, he’s covered every position in the loose trio and even filled in in midfield when needs dictated. The former captain still leads by example and while he might not start many games this season, his experience coming off the bench could be valuable for a side that struggled to close out matches last season.

 _________________________________________________________________

Johnsonville

Last year: Jubilee Cup semi-finalist

Player to Watch: Ha’amea Ahio

By their own admission, 2026 could be a rebuilding year for the Hawks, having lost several leading players to overseas or retirement. But captain Ha’amea Ahio anchoring the scrum and organising and rallying his troops up front is one likely constant for them this year. Helston Park is a difficult place for visiting teams to win at and Ahio will be looking to keep it that way. He enters 2026 as one of the most experienced players in the competition, having played 169 games (according to our database) combined for Johnsonville and previous clubs MSP and Ories – but likely around 200 as substitutions weren’t recorded prior to 2016.

Ahio leads his side at Helston Park last year. Photo: Andy McArthur.

________________________________________________________________________

Oriental-Rongotai

Last year: Swindale Shield Champions

Player to Watch: Declan Hay

Oriental-Rongotai had a perfect run to the first round title in 2025 with 13 straight bonus point wins, then were tipped over twice in the Jubilee Cup round. Hay made 12 of 15 appearances in 2026 for the Magpies, alternating between halfback and first-five and often coming off the bench to help close out several close wins. For that reason the 2023 Jubilee Cup winning fullback Hay is the sort of the player every squad wants and he starts his 11^th straight season for Ories after brief initial stints with both MSP and Johnsonville. Former St Pat’s Town student Hay is sitting on approximately 150 Premier caps (perhaps more taking into account pre-2016 bench appearances).

Declan Hay crosses for Ories in this 2021 game against OBU.

________________________________________________________________________

Upper Hutt Rams

Last year: Fifth in the Swindale Shield, beaten Hardham Cup finalists

Player to Watch: Todd Svenson

It was 100 seasons ago that Todd Svenson’s relation Kenneth Svenson was the leading attacking back in the competition and was an All Black (playing for the Athletic club). The Upper Hutt Rams first took the field in 2014 as the combined Upper Hutt-Rimutaka club and two Hardham Cup titles in 2015 and 2017 is their only title reward thus far. They let slip a decisive lead over Pōneke and were run down in last year’s final. Their supporters will be hoping this is their year for Swindale or Jubilee success and fullback Todd Svenson is one player that can make this happen if he stays fit and firing. When the Rams are on-song, Svenson often comes in hot as a gifted attacking player and he has proved many times he can turn the narrowest opportunity into tries and points. He enters 2026 having played 113 matches for the Rams since his debut at the start of 2018.

Todd Svenson scores a typical broken field try in his team’s 33-31 win over HOBM in 2022.

________________________________________________________________________

Petone

Last year: Sixth in the Swindale Shield

Player to Watch: Losi Filipo

Losi Filipo needs no introduction to club rugby crowds, the Wellington Lion (36 appearances) and current Hurricanes Hunters player is one of the most dangerous players in the competition. His pace and balance on attack make him a handful, and he could be set to reunite with the returning Lester Maulolo this season. Provided his forwards can provide enough quality ball and they stay fit and on the park, – having had some recent seasons hamstrung by collective injury issues – then Filipo could be a leading figure. Like Todd Svenson (above), Filipo is a former St Pat’s Silverstream star. His early career was hampered by off field issues (documented elsewhere) but he has made 56 Premier matches for Petone 2016-18 and 2023 to present (37 for Norths 2019-22).

Losi Filipo slices through against Ories in 2023.

______________________________________________________________________

Pōneke:

Last year: Hardham Cup champions

Player to Watch: Isaac Moe Jenkins

Pōneke have lost several established players this year, not least hard-running midfielder Caleb Robson to HOBM. Isaac Moe Jenkins is one player in the backline the team will turn to for continuity and for bringing the passion to the red and black jersey. Former St Pat’s Town player Moe Jenkins graduated from the Pōneke Colts to the Premiers in 2020 and is closing in on 100 appearances in 2026.Moe Jenkins has experience at fullback and on both wings but became a regular at centre last year where he ran in a clutch try just before halftime in the VC Hardham Cup final. Pōneke had trailed the Upper Hutt Rams 0-15 but came back to win 27-23. The red and blacks will be setting their hearts on the club’s first Jubilee Cup win since 2003.

Moe Jenkins scores his try in last July’s Hardham Cup decider.

________________________________________________________________________

Wainuiomata

Last year: Ninth in the Swindale Shield

Player to watch: Kade Tiatia

Several experienced Wainuiomata players have hung up their boots this year including double centurion Greg Lealofi and Andrew Wells. As well as new blood coming through such as Brayden Soi (third year this season) and this year Elijah Solomona and his brother Emmanuel from Upper Hutt, Wainuiomata will rely on their next group of experienced players to lead them on and off the field. This includes versatile prop Kade Tiatia. The former St Bernard’s College and Wellington Māori player is sitting on 98 Premier caps and his century is up in round three all going well. Tiatia will be called upon to anchor the scrum in Wainuiomata’s 80^th year and two decades and two Jubilee Cup final appearances after regaining their Premier status.

Kade Tiatia (left of shot) following the action closely in Wainuiomata’s narrow Swindale Shield loss to Old Boys University last year. Photo: Andy McArthur.

_______________________________________________________________________

Old Boys University

Last year: Tenth in the Swindale Shield

Player to Watch: Malo Tevita-Manuao

This year the OBU Goats will be debuting a group of highly talented and credentialled school leavers, but if they want to ensure last year’s 10^th place finish was an anomaly they will also be turning to their wiser heads. Tevita-Manuao‘s name has been on both college and club rugby teamsheets for over a decade, spending four years in the Scots College First XV before graduating to Premier club rugby, first for Ories in 2019 and for OBU since 2020. It hasn’t been plain sailing for Tevita-Manuao having had injury setbacks and playing in the shadow of Callum Harkin and others but last year he was an automatic starter when fit, mostly at second-five. Another player who will be closing in on 100 games by season’s end.

Tevita-Manuao in action in the same game (as above) last year for OBU against Wainuiomata. Photo: Andy McArthur.

________________________________________________________________________

Marist St Pat’s

Last year: 11^th in the Swindale Shield

Player to Watch: James Zino

It’s been 14 years since Marist St Pat’s last won the Jubilee Cup and the only direct connection to today’s MSP Premiers to that triumph is assistant coach Bernie Upton who played in it. They did make the 2021 final (beaten by Tawa) and lock/No.8 James Zino is one of few players in the current squad to have played in that final. Zino made his debut for the club in 2013 and last year brought up his 100^th match for the Premiers. He has also played a number of matches for the Premier 2s as a player and captain. Zino reunites with his former St Pat’s XV coach Brendon Reidy who is back as head coach. Expect him to lead from the front this year.

Zino on the attack in last July’s Hardham Cup fixture at Evans Bay Park between MSP and Norths.

________________________________________________________________________

Northern United

Last year 12^th in the Swindale Shield

Player to Watch: Olano Afutoto

A decade and a few days after Northern United unveiled a plaque at Porirua Park for the late Jerry Collins, the club will be looking for a new talisman to lead them through this year’s Wellington club competition. And that player could be Olano Afutoto, home grown openside flanker who starts his eighth straight season at the Porirua club. Olano was in the squad but didn’t play in the final of the team that won the 2019 Jubilee Cup final. He became a regular Norths player in 2020 and in 2025 returns as captain. Last year he missed a bunch of games in the middle stages of the season and his absence in these games was a reason why they won 2, loss 11 and finished 13^th.  When playing the Porirua College student support worker was in good form and made the Best & Fairest Team of the Year.  Afutoto will be adding to his 78 caps for the Norths Premiers.

Afutoto heading for the corner at Jerry Collins Stadium last year against Paremata-Plimmerton. Photo: Stewart Baird. 

_______________________________________________________________________

Wellington Axemen

Last year: 13^th in the Swindale Shield

Player to Watch: James Tuiatua

In recent seasons the Axemen have lacked continuity of players week-to-week and thus consistency. One player though who has been a constant in their often transient line-up since moving across from Marist St Pat’s is James Tuiatua. The No. 8, flanker and occasional hooker is a hard-nosed former Wellington Lion (four games in 2017) and Wellington Samoan representative who will be starting his 11^th season in the competition and third for the Axemen. If the Axemen can improve and continue to make the ‘Graveyard’ at Hataitai Park a tough place for visiting teams to win at then they will be primed to climb up the standings and push for the Jubilee Cup in July.

____________________________________________________________________

Avalon Wolves

Last year: 14^th in the Swindale Shield

Player to Watch: Site Timu

The Wolves have been rooted to the bottom of the table for several years, but some off-season talk is they have some new players to add much-needed depth to their roster that new head coach Siu Anae has assembled. There are still several well-known Wolves players at Fraser Park, including Site Timu. Timu actually started on the wing and at fullback in 2013 for Hutt Old Boys Marist, before taking three seasons off and starting his Avalon career in 2017. Since then, he has been a true servant to his club having played 79 matches and will be looking to push for another big season with the Wolves. With a young backline, they will be relying on him to pass his experience on to help grow the next wave of players coming through.

________________________________________________________________________