Leni Apisai: Youngest in the Pride

Above: Young Lion Leni Apisai playing for Northern United recently in their Hardham Cup semi-final against Avalon.

The Ricoh Wellington Lions will kick off their 2014 ITM Cup campaign against Waikato on Saturday in Wellington.

The Lions roster has suffered major pre-season setbacks with injuries to key playmakers, notably returning five-eighth Riki Flutey, out with a season ending injury.

The return of local boy Jason Woodward eases those woes after gaining Super Rugby experience with the Melbourne-based Rebels over the past two seasons.

Debutant hooker, Leni Apisai, is the youngest in the pride at just 18 years of age. Apisai will share the hooking role with James O'Reilly, a product of this years' New Zealand under-20 squad.

Lions and Hurricanes hooker Motu Matu'u is another struck down by injury and relinquishes his jersey to the young guns this weekend. However, Matu'u's presence and guidance has been valuable to Apisai in the lead-up to his debut this weekend.

"Definitely Motu [Matu'u] and Brad [Shields], I try and get some knowledge off them to help me improve," Apisai said.

Head coach Chris Boyd appeared unflustered by his youthful contingent and sees it as a positive step for the future of Wellington rugby, with the local talent rising through the ranks.

The injury toll is not something Boyd is looking to dwell on in preparation for Waikato.

?"You get on with it, we've picked what we think is the best team available," he said.

"It's a great opportunity for all of them, Leni is certainly the youngest and there's a rich vein of talent."

"There are a lot of provinces that don't have their most senior players so that next tier of players down, which are your established Super [rugby] players that can come in and bring experience, knowledge and leadership to the ITM Cup are certainly crucial."

Those players the Lions will be looking to lean on are skipper Brad Shields, Reg Goodes and Highlander, Shaun Treeby, in the midfield, however, he doesn't see the prospect of Waikato as a great difference between his pack which should beckon a tight fixture first-up.

"We've seen the Waikato teams have had their three games and they're not vastly different than we are in the fact that they've got a lot of guys that don't have a lot of caps, they've got some really talented players in that group," he said.

Apisai, the young rake, will lead from the front despite being only months out of schoolboy rugby.

"I was pretty shocked, turning 18 this year I wasn't really expecting it, [selection] I was more focussing on the under? 19 tournament but to get the call from Watty [Richard Watt] was pretty exciting."

He remembers watching the Lions play with his family from a young age and, like many of us, dreamed of playing rugby professionally for Wellington.

?Apisai began showing real talent for the game throughout College, initially attending Aotea from 2009-2012 before moving to Wellington College in 2013, his final year.

Vice-captain for both sides, Leni showed his true potential as both a leader and player and his hard work was rewarded by selection into the national secondary school's side in 2013 where they went on to beat Australia 17-16.

?"It was probably the hardest game I've ever played" remembered Apisai.

"You get a taste for the semi-professional environment and you sort of want it even more."

His rapid rise to professional rugby has been one of many to stake their claims for higher honours after a gruelling club rugby competition for Norths. He believes the step-up from College is evident but he has been more than up to the challenge.

"It's a lot more physical, I started off playing colts because I was injured over the summer but I managed to work my way up to the prems and bench for them a few times and then get a couple of starts."

Of course, Norths narrowly lost the Hardham Cup final to Poneke but Apisai isn't dwelling in the past.

"It wasn't what we had planned but that's rugby you've got to live with it," he said.

?His debut selection came as a real surprise to Apisai but he has been rewarded after some strong appearances throughout pre-season.

"Pretty excited, a bit nervous, but these last two pre-season games I have been fortunate enough to start."

?Outside of rugby he is giving back to his former College, Aotea, where he helps with student mentoring and teacher aide work; teaching being a potential interest for him outside of the game.

?There is one man in particular Leni owes a lot of his early success to.

"My uncle, he makes sure I stay on track and always taking me to my trainings so I always look up to him and thank him for what he's done for me so far."

This weekend's round one clash is his firm focus at the moment with the young squad clearly exuberant and raring to go.

"I'm expecting a physical encounter; they have some big boys up there [Waikato]" he said.

No doubt this match will feature many stars of tomorrow as young talent from both sides will be on display.