Tomasi's Ton this Saturday

Above: Tomasi Palu playing his 99th game for Old Boys University last weekend against Northern United, a team he also played for between 2009-13.

Richard Newsome was a Wellington College old boy and Billygoats stalwart whose life tragically ended in 2014 when he fell down a flight of stairs.

Throughout his life the 42 year old maintained Old Boys University would again win the Jubilee Cup, a prize that had eluded the club for five decades. Newson was a friend, mentor and manager of Tomasi Palu.

"Nearly every time I saw Richard he would tell me OBU would win the Jubilee Cup. I used to laugh it off, but something inside of me told me he was right and that's why I decided to comeback from Doncaster in 2015." Palu recalls.

Palu turned down another two year contract in England as well as offers to play in France to return to the capital. That would have seemed like a crazy idea in 2005, the year he debuted for OBU. The Billygoats failed to win a single game in the Swindale Shield. What changed while Palu was at Norths initially and then overseas?

"Personnel was a big one. We are lucky to have an awesome coaching stuff with the likes of Jamie Williams and Mike Barnes, who I played with, helping out. We have also attracted better youngsters than we used to." Palu believes.

Legendary All Black halfback and Rugby Development Officer Dave Loveridge has been another key figure.

"Trapper's been here since I started. He brings a huge knowledge of the game and is still teaching the young ones how to drink. When the beers are too expensive in the Cambridge he sneaks out to the car park and sinks some beers from the bottle store." Palu hysterically laughs.

August 1 2015 and Newsome's prophecy is realised. OBU beat Marist St. Pats 30-27 in the Jubilee Cup final at Jerry Collins Stadium. Palu played in the reserves replacing Bay of Plenty halfback Luke Campbell.

"That was a huge day for the club. Everybody put in so much effort and to get the rewards was hugely satisfying." Palu acclaims.

Joe Hill scored two tries in the decider and won the Jim Brown Medal as player of the match.

Hill and Palu both celebrate their 100th matches for OBU this Saturday in Round 10 of the Swindale Shield against Wainuiomata.

"Joe Hill's nickname is chaos. He brings great knowledge and experience to the club, but he causes chaos on the field and even more off it." Palu laughs.

Chris Teo, Darryl Gore, Seminar Manu, Ian Kennedy, Con Williams, Thomas Fleming and Jonathan Fuimaono are the other Billygoats to have reached a ton of games.

Palu's consistency has earned him 35 games for Wellington and helped OBU to an 8-1 start this season. Is another 2015 success story brewing?

"I think it's too early to tell, but we are happy enough with the way we are going We've had a lot of injuries, but we have managed to build depth which was a problem last year." Palu responds.

Palu has been capped three times by Tonga. He came off the bench in their famous 19-14 win over France at the World Cup at the Westpac Stadium in 2011.

"That was a big night and morning in Courtney Place. We couldn't make the next round, but we had nothing to lose. Our coaches Chris Boyd and Toutai Kefu came up with a great game plan and we sensed France was getting tired with 20 minutes to go when we were supposed to." Palu reflects.

Tomasi’s older brother, David Palu, was also a Tongan international. He played 14 tests between 2002-2007 and appeared in the 2003 World Cup. For the past two years David has been working for the ANZ Bank in Melbourne and his 14 year old son Divad is in the Rebels Academy and ranked second in his age group for shot put and discus in Victoria.

During the day Tomasi is a stay at home dad. He has two daughters and is married to Jamilah Gupwell -the former shooter for the Bay Of Plenty Magic and Central Pulse netball franchises.

Palu concedes his younger ones tire him out, but he stresses he has plenty of rugby left in him. Palu warns he might even pull out some old party tricks if he scores a try on Saturday.

"I used to be a break dancer, my brother even went to the World Championships. If I score a try this weekend I might pull out the windmill. I will make sure I have my man-bun platted down so it doesn't fall out." Palu chuckles in conclusion.