Apa Heemi to reach century for the Upper Hutt Rams on Saturday

When the Upper Hutt Rams Premier team is selected each week Apa Heemi’s name is invariably the first written down.

According to this website’s database, Apa Heemi (pictured above, centre helping to rally the troops in a recent match) has been in the starting fifteen in all his previous 99 Swindale Shield, Jubilee Cup or Hardham Cup matches for his club, at either hooker (twice), tighthead prop (23 times) or loosehead prop (74 times).

The man himself says he came off the bench a couple of times in the early days, but barring a couple of spells injured on the sideline, Heemi has nevertheless been a mainstay of the Upper Hutt club’s front row for the past several seasons.

This Saturday he plays his 100th Premier match for the Rams when he takes the field against Northern United at Porirua Park, an achievement the loosehead prop is proud of.

“It’s a big milestone, this is what I set out to do at the start of this year,” he said. “It hasn’t been done for a several years at our club; players either leave or make representative teams.”

Heemi said that loosehead prop is his preferred position, but he has always fitted in to suit the team. “Previous coach Mike Robinson asked me to tighthead prop for a while but I’m most comfortable at loosehead.”

Heemi is a local player, having lived most of his life in Upper Hutt and attended Heretaunga College; along with Upper Hutt’s current All Black Cory Jane.

He made his Premier debut for Upper Hutt in 2007, but before that he had tasted success in the Colts grade. “In 2005 I was in the Upper Hutt Colts team that was coached by Dave Rennie that won the grade.”

The Upper Hutt Premiers also won the Swindale Shield in 2005 and reached the semi-finals of the Jubilee Cup.

Heemi nominates one game against Northern United in 2008 as a career highlight. “We played Norths AKA the Hurricanes at Porirua Park. They started the match with all their Hurricanes and held a comfortable lead at halftime. They then subbed all their stars and we came from behind to beat them.”

Upper Hutt won 24-18 that day. Heemi packed down in Upper Hutt’s front row with hooker Joe Ritchie and tighthead prop Tim Fairbrother. He marked Hurricanes and Samoan prop Anthony Perenise.

Another highlight was the successful merger at the start of last year of Upper Hutt and Rimutaka. “Our first game as one club was memorable. It was lifting running out and seeing all the support from the Upper Hutt community. We were able to beat OBU to register our first win as the Rams.”

He said no one single team or forward pack sticks out about the rest, but nominates Marist St Pat’s as a wily opponent. “Every team in Wellington Premier rugby is tough, but MSP have always been especially hard for us to beat. I’ve been told we haven’t beaten them since 2002 and every game I’ve played against them has been hard.”

Heemi praises many people rather than individuals for helping him get to where he is now. “When I was coming up through the club I had a lot of hold heads who helped me out. Nearly everyone I have played with has played a part in helping me get to where I am.”

The Rams are sixth with three four rounds to play to finish inside the ‘top eight’ and make the Jubilee Cup for the second half of the season.

On Saturday the Rams play seventh placed Norths in a key mid-table clash. They then play OBU away, the Wellington Axemen at home at Maidstone Park and then the aforementioned MSP at Evans Bay Park.

Expect Heemi’s name to be the first one picked in all these matches.