Eight questions with the captain: Peter Sciascia MSP

Above: MSP halfback and captain Peter Sciascia (left) watches on as teammate Jackson Martin clears the ball from a ruck against HOBM in the Swindale Shield earlier in the season. Watching on are other MSP players Valentine Meachen (headgear) and AviataSilago (on ground).

Club: Marist St Pat’s

Home ground: Evans Bay Park

Current Super Rugby players: Victor Vito, Reynold Lee-Lo, Jeff Toomaga-Allen (all Hurricanes); Solomona Sakalia (Chiefs); Ged Robinson (Rebels)

Jubilee Cups won:St Pat’s Old Boys: 1949 (shared with Petone). Marist Brothers Old Boys: 1948,1950, 1960, 1962 (shared with Onslow), 1964 (shared with University). Marist St Pat’s: 1978 (shared with Petone), 1979, 1981, 1984, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008 (shared with Norths), 2009, 2012

Last year: Jubilee Cup champions

Swindale Shield this year: Fifth

Captain: Peter Sciascia

Position: Halfback


1. What is special about playing in the Jubilee Cup?

To be part of the top eight clubs in Wellington is an honour– it is some of the toughest rugby you can play. I reckon that is lost on some of the people in Wellington rugby circles – we have the best competition in New Zealand. When every team is up and going and can select the best players it makes for a true test

Nothing tastes better than drinking out of the Cup either!!!


2. Which club do you feel your team has the biggest rivalry with and why?

The eastern suburbs mafia - Poneke and Oriental Rongotai. Poneke have always been there and are always a tough match no matter how strong they are.

Ories have become the full package. As three clubs we also have plenty of mates versus mates and family versus family.


3. If you could choose one forward and one back, either current or past, to join your team for its Jubilee Cup campaign which two players would you select?

Jeff Toomaga Allan – Jeff offers a rock in the scrum and great work ethic. Jeff is also a natural leader and that would help me out.Chris Slade – We need depth in our midfield and an accurate goal kicker. Chris offers both and as he showed in the 2009 Jubilee Cup final he is a match winner. ?


4. Who are the fittest, the strongest and the fastest players in your team?

IsaacO’Connor and Andrew Wells are the fittest and strongest but also both have red hair.

I go alright but Liu Taituave is easily the strongest trainer the club has.



5. Who are the jokers in the team?

JP Tocker – does need to grow up but very funny.

Liu Taituave – very funny man – very easy to prank.


6. Does anyone in your team have superstitions or pre-game rituals before they take the field?

Our gear managers Soddy and Porky must have 6 jugs each of Lion Brown on a Friday night.

We all have to wear red socks to and from each game


7. Describe any special talents or claims to fame outside of rugby of a player or players in our team/club?

Jacob Taituave our young front rower is a very good singer. Check him out on You Tube

Our front rower Johnathon Hopgood also went very close to representing New Zealand in weight lifting.

8. How important are your club’s supporters in lifting your team and who is your number one fan?

The number one fan is John Gordon –The great life member that stands on the sideline and shouts out “Come on Red”

The fans are very important. At MSP they are loyal till the bitter end of each season and beyond. On a wind and rain swept Evans Bay Park they always turn up.