Tough Telea has unfinished business

Above: Telea Seumanutafa in action last Saturday for Tawa against Hutt Old Boys Marist. This Saturday he returns to Jerry Collins Stadium for the first time since 2014 after playing 98 Premier games for Northern United, only this time to play Old Boys University in the Jubilee Cup semi-final. Photo by Jun Tanylaco Sports 

July 25, 2015, Tawa and Marist St. Pats are embroiled in a tight Jubilee Cup semi-final at Evans Bay Park. No quarter is given until something spectacular happens. Visiting lock Telea Seumanutafa explodes through the host's defence. Holding the ball in one hand, Seumanutafa eludes the last defender and crosses for a stunning individual try, his 16th of the season, and  suddenly Tawa carries all the momentum.

Shoulder, thumb, knee and ankle, Seumanutafa has injured almost every part of his body in a decade of Premier club rugby. With half an hour left in the semi-final, Seumanutafa’s body gives way again.

“I pulled a muscle in my foot and had to come off the field. I wanted to play on, but I couldn’t. It was so hard watching. I thought we were going to win,” Seumanutafa laments.

Tawa was beaten 25-23.

Seumanutafa started his sporting endeavours as a football player. He even represented Samoa at age group level, but Dad had different ideas for Telea’s future direction.

“My father Patini played rugby for Samoa . He said I should play rugby so I did,” Seumanutafa laughs.

Emigrating to New Zealand, Seumanutafa was a member of the 2005 Mana College First XV which narrowly lost the Premier I final to Wellington College. Mana had clawed themselves from the bottom of division II to contest the mantle of best First XV in Wellington.

There was no doubt who the best club in the capital was in 2006. Norths won the Jubilee Cup, but the rookie saw little game time, something that was a constant challenge during his nine-year tenure in blue and white.

“In 2007 we played Hutt Old Boys Marist in the semi-final and we had a dozen players named in the Wellington Lions. We were like what are we going to do? The Lions picks were rested. I played and we lost.” Seumanutafa recalls.

Still Telea managed 98 games and was involved in three Jubilee Cup triumphs. In 2012 he memorably scored four tries in a match against Hutt Old Boys Marist.

By day Seumanutafa is a joiner. He was working for Big Save Furniture when a close friend offered a tantalising proposal.

“He introduced me to Dave Banks who runs a joinery company and sponsors Tawa. He gave me a good job offer so I moved clubs.”

Seumanutafa believes there is little difference between Norths and Tawa, explaining many of the players at both clubs are old school mates, live close by and work together. One difference for Seumanutafa at Tawa though was more regular game time resulting in a breakthrough 2015 season.

“I was playing for Wellington 7s and was offered a chance to train for New Zealand and Samoa. I didn’t know what to do. It was a tough choice. I chose Samoa.”

In 2016 Seumanutafa played the North American leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series. But once again injury struck, curtailing any further international ambitions.  

In 2017 Seumanutafa’s primary ambition has been to help Tawa defend the Jubilee Cup. After a rocky start where the first three Swindale Shield games were dropped and five points docked for fielding an ineligible player, Tawa will tackle Old Boys’ University in the semi-finals this Saturday.

“I like our game plan. It suits the boys and me. We are aggressive and do lots of open running.” Seumanutafa enthuses.

On Monday the Wellington Lions selected their 42-man wider training group for the looming National Provincial Championship. Sitiveni Paongo, Taniela Koroi, Tolu Fahamokioa, James Coburn and Kemara Hauiti-Parapara were all picked from Tawa. Their semi-final opponents had no selections despite finishing top of the table.

“That’s the Wellington coaches call. I think our players deserve to be there. We respect OBU. It’s going to be a big game on Saturday, my first at Jerry Collins Stadium since 2014. I can’t wait,” Seumanutafa concludes.

Note: Telea is one of five siblings. His middle brother Francis has enjoyed a long career at Norths. Francis played his first Premier game for Norths in 2005 and celebrated his 100th in 2015. Francis represented Wairarapa Bush in 2006 and Horowhenua Kapiti in 2007 and is currently playing for the North's first grade team on a casual basis.