Festival of Rugby set to get underway this weekend

Above: Down and dirty. Action from last year’s inaugural Festival series, won by the Wellington Maori team.

Wellington’s top Premier players will be in action again this weekend as the Wellington Festival of Rugby kicks off for its second year.

The three-week tournament was introduced last year to provide further representative opportunities for those guys playing well at club level, and is made up of a Wellington Samoan and Wellington Maori team, along with City and Suburbs teams.

From the tournament, Wellington Development coach Matt Lee will select his 2015 team to participate in the Hurricanes’ region development series matches.

Lee said the festival had been highly successful in its inaugural year, and he expected much of the same in 2015.

“We’ve seen this season there’s a lot of talent in Wellington at the moment and I can imagine it’s been a hard job for Earl Va’a and co to pick their final Lions squad this year, due to that depth.

“If it’s anything like last year, it’ll be a great tournament where all four teams will be highly competitive. It’s awesome for the guys as it gives them something substantial to play for after their club seasons wrap up.”

Lee and his fellow selectors Riki Flutey and Kas Lealamanua will name their final Wellington Development team at the conclusion of the three week tournament.

“I suspect we’ll have a hard job picking our team for 2015, but it’s something we’re really looking forward to and can’t wait to see this festival get underway.”

Wellington Maori are the defending champions.

Last year’s results were:

Round 1
Wellington Maori 37 - Wellington City 31
Wellington Suburbs 22 - Wellington Samoans 15
 
Round 2
Wellington City 15 – Wellington Samoans 10
Wellington Maori 12 – Wellington City 8
 
Round 3
Wellington City 32 - Wellington Suburbs 28
Wellington Maori 32 - Wellington Samoans 22 

The draw for this Saturday’s opening set of matches at Lyndhurst Park is:

• Wellington City v Wellington Samoans; Lyndhurst Park 1:00pm
• Wellington Suburbs v Wellington Maori; Lyndhurst Park 2:30pm

Teams:

Wellington Samoans
Otto Rasch (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Vince Sakaria (Marist St Pat’s)
Attila Va’a (Wainuiomata)
Daley Ena (Northern United)
Valentine Meachen (Marist St Pat’s)
Zeke Sopoaga (Old Boys University)
David Filipo (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Taamilo Va’a (Petone)
Josh To’omaga (Marist St Pat’s)
Galu Taufale (Poneke)
Telea Seumanutafa (Tawa)
Greg Foe (Poneke)
Greg Lealofi (Wainuiomata)
Ray Trevaranis (Poneke)
Danny Tusitala (Old Boys University)
Jack Taulapapa (Johnsonville)
Ken Kapili (Marist St Pat’s)
Fa’atonu Fili (Marist St Pat’s)
Nua Fono-Hunt (Upper Hutt Rams)
Ryan Setefano (Marist St Pat’s)
Aukuso Tuitama (Oriental-Rongotai)
Paulo Aukuso (Oriental-Rongotai)
Tau Mamea (Wainuiomata)
Afa Fa’atau (Oriental-Rongotai)
Belgium Tuatagaloa (Petone)
James So’oialo (Tawa)
Isaiah Petelo (Marist St Pat’s)
Ben Tuitua (Oriental-Rongotai)

Wellington Maori
Apa Heemi (Upper Hutt Rams)
Whetu Henry (Oriental-Rongotai)
Jonathan Fuimaono (Old Boys University)
Api Parata (Paremata-Plimmerton)
Anthony Ellis (Wellington)
Heemi Fermanis (Tawa)
Gabe Papuni (Marist St Pat’s)
Tuakana Metuarau (Oriental-Rongotai)
Sam Wasley (Upper Hutt Rams)
Louis Karl (Johnsonville)
TJ Fermanis (Tawa)
Tane Parata (Paremata-Plimmerton)
Raakai Maxwell (Petone)
Jared Kahu (Petone)
Sheridan Rangihuna (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
James Proctor (Oriental-Rongotai)
Greg Mullany (Poneke)
Jared Henry (Oriental-Rongotai)
Marvin Karawana (Wainuiomata)
Tu Umaga-Marshall (Tawa)
Te Wehi Wright (Old Boys University)
Mike Williams (Johnsonville)
Trevor Marama (Oriental-Rongotai)
Randell Bishop (Tawa)
Ambrose Curtis (Oriental-Rongotai)
Frankie Bryant (Marist St Pat’s)
Jackson Garden-Bachop (Northern United)
Andrew Ellis (Oriental-Rongotai)
Jamie Norman (Upper Hutt Rams)

Wellington City
Finbarr Kerr-Newell (Old Boys University)
Morgan Poi (Old Boys University)
Stu Simonson (Old Boys University)
Adam Stewart (Wellington)
Nemani Waaka (Marst St Pat’s)
Nick Harrison (Marist St Pat’s)
Liam Hallam-Eames (Oriental-Rongotai)
Saimon Lomaloma (Oriental-Rongotai)
Augustine Escalona (Old Boys University)
Sam Johnson (Poneke)
Pau Halafihi (Oriental-Rongotai)
Isaac O’Connor (Marist St Pat’s)
Teariki Ben Nicholas (Old Boys University)
Lucky Tuiatua (Oriental-Rongotai)
Joe Scheres (Poneke)
Luke Campbell (Old Boys University)
Sean Hay (Oriental-Rongotai)
Henry Mexted (Scots College)
Hamish Buick (Old Boys University)
James Waddell (Old Boys University)
Peni Nabainivalu (Wellington)
Hanipale Galo (Old Boys University)
Joe Hill (Old Boys University)
Paddy Hughes (Wellington)
Hayden Whelan (Oriental-Rongotai)
Blake Neve (Paremata-Plimmerton)
Konelio Feaunati (Northern United)
Corey Lawrence (Johnsonville)

Wellington Suburbs
Eli Hunt (Upper Hutt Rams)
Marcus Roil (Petone)
Gerard Faitotoa (Northern United)
David Va’a (Wainuiomata)
James Coburn (Tawa)
Lotu Nuku (Tawa)
Matt Treeby (Tawa)
Kane Leaupepe (Johnsonville)
Eduarn Struwig (Petone)
Glen Angus (Wainuiomata)
Mateaki Kafatola (Petone)
Mitch Clarke (Old Boys University)
Mitchell Markov (Upper Hutt Rams)
Josh Hrstich (Petone)
Murphy Taramai (Upper Hutt Rams)
Cam Ross (Wainuiomata)
Tomasi Palu (Old Boys University)
Declan Hay (Johnsonville)
Pakai Turia (Poneke)
Rob Aloe (Johnsonville)
Mike Lealavaa (Wainuiomata)
Tomasi Alosio (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Teru Time (Wainuiomata)
Brandon Laursen (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Max Pearson (Upper Hutt Rams)
Faraimo Nofoaiga (Tawa)
Fereti Soloa (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
James Kusel (Hutt Old Boys Marist