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Wellington Maori playing in annual Te Tini a Maui tournament this weekend

Club Rugby | 27 February 2014 | Wellington Maori Rugby & Steven White

Above: The Wellington Maori team with the Tirikatene Shield, following last year’s extraordinary come-from-behind 52-51 win over Canterbury Maori last September in Christchurch.

Te Upoko o te Ika (Wellington Maori Rugby Team)?are competing?in the annual Te Tini a Maui Rugby Tournament in Palmerston North this coming Saturday and Sunday. The tournament features 10?senior and women's sides from Wellington, East Coast, Manawatu, Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Whanganui, Horowhenua- Kapiti, Wairarapa Bush and Hawke’s Bay.

Regional Maori Rugby Tournaments are also being played for in Te Waipounamu (South Island) and in Te Hiku O Te Ika (Northern) over the weekend. At the conclusion of three tournaments, representative teams are selected to compete in next weekend’s inter-regional tournament in Christchurch.

Te Upoko O Te Ika sides have been preparing over the last week for another battle with whanaunga?up the line. Last year the senior side lost in the dying seconds to Manawatu. There’s a? good mix of seasoned players and youth in the side and the team is motivated to turn the tables this time around.

Maori Rugby tournaments are a great opportunity to see Maori players express their flair, passion and whanaungatanga. Old friends and foes battle on the paddock for 80 minutes and celebrate the special place Maori rugby has in our communities.?

He aha te mea ki ahau i tenei ao, maku ki atu, he tangata he tangata, he tangata What is the most important thing in this world, it is people it is people it is people.

The Wellington Maori (Te Upoko o te Ika) Men's squad for this weekend is:

Forwards: Kenny Anderson, Whetu Henry, Ryan Nepia, Jo Hopkins, Luke Flett, Richard Wasley, Shahn Eru, Arapeta Nikora, Louis Karl, Parata, TJ Fermanis, Steve Aki, Rakaai Maxwell.Backs: Campbell Woodmass, Issac Mariner, Eamon Tawiwhirangi, Glen Walters, Daley Harper, Tama Makamaka, Mike Williams, Jason Love, Randall Bishop, Deina Morete Coaches: Paul Wharakura, Andrew Wharakura. Trainer: Stratford Adams. Managers: Tane Landon-Lane, Clinton Whiu

The Men’s (Tane) division is split into two divisions of three teams, with all teams are scheduled to play two games. Wellington (Te Upoko o te Ika) plays Whanganui at 12.30 on Saturday and Manawatu at 2.00 pm on Sunday. The four-team Women’s (Wahine) pool sees two games on Saturday, with the two winners and the two losers in two games on Sunday. All games are 30 minute halves.