Fresh Faces For Swindale Competition

Look out for a new wave of talent to stamp its mark on Wellington club rugby in the 2006 premier competition, which kicks off this weekend with the first round of the Swindale Shield.

New Zealand’s new domestic competition structure, players going overseas and retirements have all increased player emigration from Wellington’s club rugby ranks this season. Some familiar faces will be missing from the team sheets of several clubs this year. Upper Hutt appear to be the most affected by a player drain, with at least ten players from their winning Swindale Shield side unavailable, including forwards Mike Robinson and Nathan Russell (both retired), Justin Va’a and Joe Ritchie (England) and backs Cory Aporo (Bay of Plenty), Chris Puketapu (Canterbury) and Brad Baker (Australia).

Most other clubs have also lost key players from 2005, for example, Matt Egan (Marist St. Pats to Hawke’s Bay), Jacob Ellison (Northern United, Ireland), Misiluni Moananu (Poneke, Taranaki), Scott Leighton (Western Suburbs, Poverty Bay), Laifa Ta’ala (Johnsonville, work commitments) and Senior Moli (Tawa, Horowhenua-Kapiti).

The opportunity is ripe then for younger players to make the step up to premier rugby, such as players from the successful 2005 Wellington U19 side and promising Colts players from strong U21 clubs such as Upper Hutt and Johnsonville. There are currently seven Wellington players away with the New Zealand U19s for the opening month. Wellington Captain Victor Vito (MSP), Greg Tweedle (Upper Hutt), Scott Fugistaller and Adrian Barone (Wests), Chris Middleton and Nathan Foutuali’i (Norths) are all likely to feature at premier level this season.

Several new and returning players will strengthen the Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup too. For example, Norths openside flanker Tui Meavao returns from Manawatu, Tawa midfielder Malasia Mailo is back from Samoa, Poneke have the services of No. 8 Neil Meyer from the South Island and MSP can call upon veteran inside back Norm Broughton.

Given recent history, anticipate another season of surprises. Petone became the fourth club in as many years to win the Jubilee Cup last year, so fans of the other eleven premier teams will be hoping it’s their turn in 2006.

The first round kicks off on Friday night, with Norths hosting Avalon at Porirua Park, with the remaining five games at the earlier time of 2 pm on Saturday. Oriental-Rongotai play Tawa at the Polo Ground, Poneke play Hutt Old Boys Marist at Kilbirnie Park, Upper Hutt and Old Boys-University meet at Maidstone Park, Johnsonville and Wests square off at Helston Park, while the match of the round looks to be the Petone and MSP clash at the Petone Recreation Ground.