Brothers and sisters in rugby

Above: Tawa and Samoan international players Steven (left) and James (right) pictured with each of their own two boys and their proud parents. Photo courtesy of Tawa Rugby.

UPDATED FRIDAY: In recent years rugby playing brothers the Waldroms, the Nonus, the Ellisons and the Saveas have established themselves as household names in Wellington.

As well as geographical ties, all Wellington’s rugby clubs have strong family links. Not least Tawa who, including the So’oialos, currently have no less than four sets of brothers directly affiliated to their Premier Jubilee Cup squad and several others playing through the grades.

Halfback Steven So’oialo has recently been joined in the Premier squad by younger brother James, the pair following in the footsteps of oldest So’oialo brother Sam who played for Tawa in the 1990s.

Steven (38 Tests for Samoa) and Rodney (62 Tests for the All Blacks), who played his club rugby for the Wests Roosters, have also recently been followed into international rugby by younger brother James. James has played Seven internationals for Samoa since 2011 and played against South Africa last month.

The So’oialos, who all attended Mana College, have been regular names on Wellington club rugby teamlists for over a decade and a half.

Steven also started out with the Wests Roosters and he and Rodney won a Jubilee Cup title with Wests in 1998 - beating Sam So’oialo’s Tawa in the final. More recently, James won a championship title, in 2010 with Northern United.

Last Saturday against Old Boys University, Steven? and James So’oialo were the starting halfback-first five-eighth combination for Tawa and Steven said was the first occasion that the two had played alongside each other.

“It was good to play with James outside me for the first time, especially looking back 10 years or so to when I was playing Premier rugby and he was a kid on the sideline watching me play. I was overseas myself playing for Harlequins in London for six years and before that for Orrell in Wigan for two years, so I missed most of his First XV rugby at Mana College and his early senior rugby when he was at Norths.”

Steven said that James has recently signed with the Pat Lam-coached Irish side Connacht for a year, and is heading back off overseas anytime soon once his visa has been arranged. “His availability for Tawa for the rest of the season is a week-by-week thing.”

Younger brother Rodney recently played for the Classic All Blacks. “It was good to see Rod on TV playing for the Classic All Blacks in Fiji, looking fit as always. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s out there doing some secret training somewhere, running up and down the Wainuiomata hills.”

On Saturday there were three sets of brothers on the field at the same time for the Tawa Premiers. “As well as James and I, we had the Koroi brothers Taniela and Joketani and TJ and Ezra Fermanis in the team."

“Then there’s also the Treebys, hooker Matt and midfielder Shaun if he becomes available once he finishes with the Highlanders, and several other brothers playing throughout the lower grades such as the Senior 1 captain Toa Madar and his brother Elvis. It’s a really family orientated club.” ?

Steven explained that Tawa’s family ties also extend to the junior club. “I’ve got two boys who play for the Tawa junior club, so have Junior Togia and Livingston Finau and some others as well.”

The So’oialos are just one of many sets of brothers and sisters (and cousins) currently playing club rugby in Wellington. Other clubs to field many siblings include Northern United, Oriental-Rongotai, Poneke, Wainuiomata and Petone whose Senior 3 side has a heavy brotherly composition.

In addition to siblings playing together for the same team or same club, there’s also numerous father/son/brother coach-player duos and father/mother/brother son administrator-player duos, as well as many other instances of fathers playing Senior rugby and their sons/daughters playing for the junior club.

See below for a comprehensive list of current sets of brothers playing Senior rugby in Wellington in 2013, listed by club alphabetically. Disclaimer: These are as thorough as possible, with requests made to clubs at short notice. If there are more names to add or amendments to be made please comment constructively below or email editor@clubrugby.co.nz and we’ll make the changes.

Hutt Old Boys Marist

Nick and Jason Risdon (both Premiers)
Elia and Enoka Fonoti (both Premiers)
Alexis? (Premiers) and Peter (ex-Premiers; Senior 3 coach)
Lake (Premiers) and Rei (Senior 1s) Manaia

Kava (Senior 1s) and Daniel (Coach of the Colts) Vulu

Ope Peleseuma (Premiers) and Sala Peleseuma (Senior 1s).? Sister Althea Peleseuma plays Wanui Womens.? Another Brother, Junior Peleseuma, plays Colts at Upper Hutt.
Polonga Pedro (Premiers) and Poese Pedro (Colts)
Matt Time (Senior 3 / Ex Premier) and James Time (Senior 3 Coach). They are first cousins of Peter and Alexis
Valu Malaki (Senior 3s) and Tene Malaki (Colts)?

Alex Wood (Senior 1) and Bevan Wood (Colts)

Johnsonville:

Mao and Tovio Apolo (both Premiers)
Jacob and Ethan Rikihana (both Premiers)
Aaron and Clayton Franklin (both Senior 2s)

Marist St Pat’s

Jacob and Liu Taituave (both Premiers)
Johnathon (Premiers) and Willie (Senior 2s) Hopgood
Valentine (Premiers) and Edwin (Reserve Internationals) Meachen
John Mollo and Paul Mollo (both Senior 2s)

Northern United

John (Premiers) and Patsy (Premier Women’s) Schwalger
Simanu and Leitu Sa (both Premier Women’s)
Brenda, Helen? and Tiana Collins (all Premier Women’s) Sisters of Jerry Collins
Francis and Telea Seumanutafa (both Premiers/Senior 1s)
Johnny (Premiers) and Jesse (Senior 1s) Teleaga
Margaret (Premier Women’s) and Newress (Colts/Premiers) Fotuali’I
Alapati (Premiers) and Mealofa (Senior 1s) Leiua
Kaisa and Lima Leota (both Senior 1s)
Nick and Simon Butler (both Colts)
Faifili (Premiers) and Sanita (Premier Women’s) Levave
Nene and AJ Va’alepu (both Premiers)
Api (Premiers) and Illiki (Senior 2s) Naikatini
Scott (Senior 1s) and Richard (Senior 1s coach) Higgins

Rimutaka

Jimmy (Premiers) and Dylan (Colts/Senior 3s) Grindrod


Old Boys University

Zeke and Lima Sopoaga (both Premiers)
Andrew (Premiers) and Tim (Colts) Smith

James and William Corcoran (Senior 1s)

Oriental Rongotai

?Whetu and Jarrod Henry (both Premiers)
Mark and Dan (both Premiers) and Jack (Senior 3s) Reddish
Pau and Kelepi Halafihi (both Premiers)
Afa (Premiers) and Peter (Senior 1s) Fa’atau
James and Leo Liua’ana (both Premiers)
Ben (Premiers) and Kelly (Premier Women’s) Tuiatua Lucky (Premiers) cousin of Ben and Kelly
Julian and Ardie Savea (both Premiers) Paulo Aukoso (Premiers) cousin of Julian and Ardie
Steve (Premiers) and Frank (Senior 1s) Fa’atau
Keith, Laifa and Sene Ta’ala (Senior 1s)
Charles (Premiers) and Mat (Senior 3s) Paese
Tuga and Pama (both Senior 1s) and Annie (Premier Women’s) Mativa Fa’atonu Fili (Premiers) cousin of Tuga, Pama and Annie
Fiu and Derek Gibbons (both Senior 3)

Petone:

Josh (Premiers) and Jarrod (Senior 1s) Hrstich
Randy and Anthony Liuvaie (both Senior 1s)
Joe Hopkins (Premiers/Senior 1s) and Josh Nanai (Senior 2s)
Nelville and Sam (both Senior 3s) and William Masina (Senior 1s)
Mark (Senior 3s) and Kim (Premiers, Manager) Masina
Mati, Naph and Junior Sulusi (all Senior 3s)
Joe and Steve Makisi (both Senior 3s)
Ty and Josh Tasola (both Senior 3s)
Patrick and Fuifui Muaau (both Senior 3s)
Tuputau and Alofa Tuisamoa (both Senior 3s)
Bruce (Senior 3s) and Faalau [Junior] Taumaoe (Senior 1s)
August (Senior 1s) and Joe (Senior 3s) Collins Brother Willie Collins plays for HOBM Premiers.

ames Kauri and Wiremu Robinson (both U85kgs)
Mike and Caleb Tregaskis (both Senior 2s)
Mika and Na’I Saena (both Senior 2s)
Quentin (Senior 1s/2s) and Jayson (Colts)
Luke and Gene-Paul Flett (both Colts)
Tom and Josh Williams (both Colts)
Popo and Oliva Sialau (both Colts)

Seth and Tem Forbes (both Colts)

Jonathan (Premier Coach) and Nick (Presidents) Cleland

Brad Shields and Jack Ross (Premiers) Cousins

Also: James Saoele (Petone) and Tiso Saoele (Wainuiomata) are brothers currently playing Premier rugby for two different clubs.

/’
Poneke

Sam and Hennie Tui (both Premiers)
Cam (Premiers) and Scott (Senior 1s) Garvie
Misipalauni and Fa’atoto (both Premiers) and Helen (Premier Women’s) Monanau Misiluni is CCO
Evan (Premiers) and Talia (Reserve Grade Ruffnuts)
Jack (Senior 1s) and Conal (Colts) Casey-Potter
Paris and Perseus Fasitua (both Reserve Grade Ruffnuts)
James and Mike Manttan (both U85 kgs)
Kyle (U85kgs) and Marc (Colts) Sacklin
Cole (Premiers) and Mitch (Colts) Stewart
Jacob (Senior 1s) and Connor (Colts) Strang
Anthony and Matthew (both Reserve Grade Ruffnuts) Father and son
Serena (Premier Women’s) and Jared (Reserve Grade Ruffnuts) Curtis
Margaret (Premier Women’s) and Alatise (Senior 2s) Vaiouga

Stokes Valley

Chad Pikari (senior 2) and Jade Pikari (85s)

Tawa
There are more, but including:

Jono (Premiers) and Nick (Senior 1s) Boyd Uncle Matthew is Premiers coach; father Chris former Premier player and coach
Steven and James So’oialo (both Premiers)
TJ and Ezra Fermanis (both Premiers)
Lotu (Premiers) and Matt (Senior 1s) Nuku ?
Thomas and George George (both Senior 1s)
Toa and Elvis Madar (both Senior 1s)
Jeff (Premiers) and Edmund (Senior 1s) Makapelu
Taniela and Joketani Koroi (both Premiers)
Livingston (Premiers), Mike and Phillip (both Senior 3s) Finau. Father Levi is Senior 3s coach; Levi’s grandson is Siaosi Finau-Lealiifano (Premiers)Matt and Shaun Treeby (both Premiers)

Upper Hutt

Ray and Solomona Sio (both Premiers)
Max and Nick Pearson (both Premiers)
Aiden and Jason (Premiers) and Jared (Senior 1s) Woodward
Josh (Premiers) and Eli (Senior 1s) Hunt. Nua Fono-Hunt currently overseas, but Upper Hutt’s 7s captain
Calem and Marcus Sua (both Colts)
Grant and Colin Toilolo brothers (both Colts)


Wainuiomata

Justin and David Va’a (both Premiers)
Genesis (Premier), Kaio (Junior), Andrew and Anthony Mamea (both Senior 1s)
Fa’atau, Isaiah (both Premiers) and Esata (Premier Women’s) Mamea cousins of the above Mameas
John (Premiers), Steve and Eden (both Senior 1s) Monu
Dion and Greg Leolofi (both Premiers)
Daniel and Nuu Olive
Norm and Arnold Fa’aliga
Blaize, Dwight, Erich and Gaylin Tuisila
Amaru, Gabby and Nancy (both Premier Women’s) Amaru
Naz and Leah (Premier Women’s) Uila
Tumua and Sisi (Premier Women’s) Tuala-Le’afa
Herbert Faitele (Senior 2s) and Virginia Faitele (Premier Women's) Brother is Brian Faitele (Petone Senior 3s)


Wellington