Team profile: Mixed Veges

The Mixed Veges are part of the fabric of Wellington lower grade club rugby, currently playing in the Reserve Grade Division 2 Allan Seerup Cup competition. This weekend, one of their number, Dan ‘Runner Bean’ Brown (pictured inset above), is playing his 300th game for the side. See below for a team profile and a chat with Brown on the eve of his milestone match. 

Clubs: Wests Roosters (2007-2016), Western Suburbs (1995-2006), Harlequins (1993-1994), VUWRFC (1986-1992).

Team name: Mixed Veges.

Home ground: The Cage, Ian Galloway Park.

Philosophy of the team? The Mixed Veges welcome players from all walks of life and we have diversity across the team. We consider ourselves to be a team that fosters whānau values and we encourage growth of friendships, growth of spirit and growth of character.
Team origins?  The Mixed Veges was formed in 1986 by a group of VUW students including John Campbell (Campbell Live – ex TV3). It has grown organically since then.

Competition currently playing? Currently we play in the Reserve Grade (Division 2). If we win this weekend we’ll make the finals. Last year we fought our way into Division 1 and made the semi-finals against the Johnsonville Cripples in a close battle. Poneke Ruffnuts defeated the Cripples in the final and took out the grade. The Cripples and the Ruffnuts have always been our biggest (literally) foe. We’ve only managed to beat the Ruffnuts once or twice over the years, they’re a very well drilled, experienced group of players. We have a fairly even score sheet against the Cripples, who we’ve always had a close relationship with. Every time we meet, we play for the Sandy Mounsey Trophy. Sandy was a great supporter of both teams and the wife of a Vege legend prop, Darrin Rhubarb Roberts. She was taken by cancer over 10 years ago.

Biggest Rivals? The Johnsonville Cripples. As mentioned, there’s always the Sandy Mounsey Trophy on the line. We have a huge respect for the Cripples as they’re a sort of team who will always welcome you back to their clubrooms and put on a feed and a few beers in the true tradition of old school club rugby.

We also have the Adam Djanowski Trophy up for grabs when we play against the OBU Teddy Bears. Adam Djanowski played for both the Mixed Veges and the Teddy Bears.

When The Mixed Veges were a VUWRFC team we once played against the Teddy Bears for the Ruru shield. We won the first half but not the game, so we’ve never lifted the Ruru Shield. In those days we also had memorable clashes against the Hutt Old Boys Moa Hunters and the Petone Police which were always epic battles.

We also have a bit of pride on the line when we play the OBU 69ers and the OBU Yardies who have combined with Righteous Brothers. Para-Plim are another team we hold in high regard as they always welcome us back to their clubrooms and are steeped in tradition.

The Mixed Veges have always considered MSP Internationals as a formidable opponent, who are very similar to the Ruffnuts in size and experience. In 2015 The Mixed Veges pipped MSP Internationals in the dying minutes of the game, making it the first time in this millennium that we’ve got one over the MSP Internationals.

Back in the early 2000’s we were in the Senior 3 competition where we had brutal rivalries against the Wellington Wolfpack.

What are the biggest matches of the year? Our biggest match this year might be this weekend against the OBU Pink Ginners. If we win we can make the final of Division 2.

An annual fixture that is always big amongst the Mixed Veges is the ANZAC game. The Vege Du Jour (Vege of the day) for this game get’s presented with the ANZAC mug. This mug was gifted to the Mixed Veges in 1998 by two Vietnam War veterans, Garry ‘Gazza’ Sutcliffe and Peter ‘Pedro’ Curr, who were Tunnel Rats in Vietnam. Garry and Peter were here to commemorate 40 years since the end of the Vietnam War. We met in the Featherston Pub on a Friday night before ANZAC day and invited them to come to our game on the Saturday where they gifted us a mug that they’d been presented by their squadron in the Royal Australian Engineers. This year the ANZAC mug was awarded to Rawiri ‘Watermelon’ Daniels.

What have been some of the magic moments? Over the years the Mixed Veges have been sponsored by various taverns around Wellington. Western Park Tavern, which is now the Speights Ale House, was the first home of the Mixed Veges when we were part of VUWRFC.

Richard Whiteside, was the publican back in the 90’s and always put a few jugs and some food on after the game. Richard passed away last year aged 47 and many Mixed Veges from that era were present to give Richard a good send off. There were many magic moments in the Western Park on Wednesdays after training and on game day.

Over the years we’ve also been sponsored and supported by Featherston Tavern, Sports Café on Courtney Place and the Willis Street Lodge. These days you’ll find a few Mixed Veges frequenting the Brooklyn Pub.

For the last 20 years the Mixed Veges have been on many overseas team trips. Fiji, Gold Coast, Mooloolaba, Melbourne, Rarotonga, Sydney and Brisbane. We try and achieve an overseas trip every two to three years these days and we encourage everyone to bring their families. We also try and have a game at every overseas destination. Last year we met the Brothers Club in Brisbane (John Eales’ club) where we had a good win and an even better after match. All these trips have been magic moments. A lot of fundraising goes on including hangi (sometimes three in a season), poker nights, meat raffles, TradeMe auctions and Lower Hutt market sales. If any of the team has any major jobs around the house we’ll often get a working bee together to contribute to the team fund.

Most of our team trips have been domestic. Traditionally, this is only for the boys. This year we’re off to Gisborne for our team trip and game. It’s called the Coast, Crest and Cactus Tour. The trip is to the East ‘Coast’ where we’ll be visiting Alf Turner, another past player, who designed the Mixed Vege ‘Crest’. We’re also commemorating the life of Bill ‘Wild Cactus’ Carpenter, who died in February of this year at the age of 48. Bill was a stalwart of the Mixed Veges and was heavily involved with the team for 25 years as a player, coach and honorary life member. Bill ‘Wild Cactus’ Carpenter will be missed.

In 2010 we celebrated 25 years of Mixed Vege rugby. Over 100 current and former players turned out. The old Vege Barbaas gave the young Veges a lesson in Vege Rugby that day. The game was followed by a wonderful after match and formal dinner where the ‘Gourmet Vege’ were named, a team selected from the best of 25 years of Mixed Vege rugby.

Team rituals and traditions? To receive a Vege name you must be given ‘Vege Du Jour’ which is ‘Player of the Day’. There are still players that are YTBN (Yet to be named).

On the Mixed Veges Crest are the Latin words ‘Non Puls Estote’ which means ‘Be Not Soup’. We also have a Mixed Vege haka called ‘Kore te Hupa’ which also means ‘Be Not Soup’. The haka is performed on special occasions, when the ANZAC Mug is awarded or at our prize giving when the ‘Vege Du An’ or ‘Vege of the Year’ is named. The haka is always performed on our overseas trips to tribute our hosts during the after match. Kore te Hupa was written and composed by Roy ‘Radish’ Hoerara and Waka ‘Walnut’ Poutu.

We all play in Number 2. This is in honour of our patron saint Sean Fitzpatrick who gave us permission to use his number when he attended an early training.

Who are the experienced players (games played)? 

• Roy ‘Radish’ Hoerara – 310 (54 years old)
• Dan ‘Runner Bean’ Brown – 299 (300 this weekend) 
• Phil ‘Tarragon’ Tanuvasa – 250+ 
• Andrew ‘Beansprout’ Henry – 200+ 
• Jonathan ‘Mango’ Morten – 190+ 
• Edgar ‘Eggplant’ Tulepu – 150+ 
• Baden ‘Basil’ Samoa – 150 
• Andrew ‘Mungbean’ McCulloch – 100+
• John ‘Cauliflower’ Campbell – 100+
• James ‘Hashish’ Henry – 100+
• Jason ‘Manuka’ Moses – 100+
• James ‘Swede’ Swindell – 100+
• Elia ‘Cous Cous’ Kyriacou – 100+
• Barry ‘Pickled Onion’ Ablett – 100+
• Joe ‘Lima Bean’ Lima – 100+
• Tee ‘Thyme’ Lima – 100+
• Bill ‘Wild Cactus’ Carpenter – 100
• Ray ‘Kernel Corn’ Simpson – Coach/Manager for 300+ games.
• Shayne ‘Black Bean’ Brown – Canadian international. Played for British Columbia against the All Blacks in 1989
• Other Mixed Veges have gone on to represent NZ in codes such as Aussie Rules, Waka Ama and Touch Rugby.

Who in your team has claims to fame outside of rugby?

• John Campbell (Campbell Live – ex TV3) was in the first Mixed Vege patch which started in 1986 out of Victoria University.
• Andrew Kovakovich – Comedian Actor.

In today's busy modern environment, how does your team maintain its player ranks and rejuvenate its player roster? By embracing whānau and friends and ensuring we welcome players from all walks of life, whether they have experience in rugby or not.

We also have a paparazzi photographer, Gina Jewell (Mrs Peanut) who turns up to take action shots of the team every Saturday. She then filters through them and puts them on the Mixed Vege Facebook page. Her husband, Glen ‘Peanut’ Jewell is the current captain of the Mixed Veges and just celebrated his 75th game.

Last word: The Mixed Veges would love to hear from anybody who is keen to play social rugby and don the Vege jersey. Contact Ray ‘Kernel Corn’ Simpson on 021 446 733.
Non Puls Estote, Kore te Hupa, Be Not Soup!

Mixed Veges Player Profile Daniel ‘Runner Bean’ Brown (300th game this weekend)

How and when were you introduced to the Wests Mixed Veges? At the age of 21 I was introduced to the Mixed Veges by James ‘Swede’ Swindells in 1994 when I attended my first training which was held on the fields of Wellington Girls’ College. This is my 22nd season as a Mixed Vege. 

What’s your Vege nickname? My Vege name is Runner Bean

Have you ever played for any other teams as well? I’ve played one off season in Vancouver in 1995-96 where I played for Ex Britannia Lions in East Vancouver.   I was one of five kiwis playing in their premier team which included my brother Shayne, who was a Canadian International in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 

Tell us about some of the highlights? There have been many highlights, which have included two Reserve Grade, Division 2 Final wins in 2000 and 2007.  Making the Division 1 grade semi-finals last year was also an achievement for our team. A major highlight how the Mixed Veges place a huge emphasis on whānau and friends.  Building the brotherhood.  It’s great to see all our wives and partners, our families and our kids on the side lines these days all supporting the games and then joining in with the off the field activities too.  The Mixed Veges welcomes and embraces families.

You’ll be dedicating your 300th game to former player Bill ‘Wild Cactus’ Carpenter?
When I run out this weekend for my 300th game I will be dedicating this game to Bill ‘Wild Cactus’ Carpenter and his wife Sherene, and children Ollie and Abby.  Wild Cactus was a great friend of mine who died suddenly in February this year.  He was a player, coach, manager and honorary life member of the Mixed Veges.   The Mixed Veges miss you Bill ‘Wild Cactus’ Carpenter.

Will you keep playing beyond this year? I will probably retire this year but who knows.  The mind is willing but the body is thinking about it.   I’ll keep supporting the Mixed Veges and help with the important stuff that goes on in the background.  I’d also like to coach or help manage my boy, Sonny's team at whatever sport or activity that he decides to do.  

Who are the people you’d like to thank on the eve of your 300th game? I’d like to personally thank Ray ‘Kernel Corn’ Simpson, who has been heavily involved in the Mixed Veges in a coaching, management and organising capacity for 300+ games.  The Kernel and his partner Wendy (Ms Corn) have always been there for me and are part of the backbone of The Mixed Veges.   John ‘Cauliflower’ Campbell also needs to be mentioned for his dedication over the years.  Roy ‘Radish’ Hoerara played his 300th game last year at the age of 53 and was accompanied on the field by his two sons, Jordan ‘Kidney Bean’ Hoerara and Uenuku Hoerara.  Jordan is now part of the Poneke Senior 1 team.  I’d finally like to acknowledge my wife, Dianne, who has always encouraged and supported me with my rugby habit and all the rituals that come with being a Mixed Vege.