Regan roars into Lions after Jubilee Cup Final MVP

Hurricane Wes Goosen was a surprise and rare starter for Old Boys University in the Jubilee Cup final on Saturday. Second five-eighth Regan Verney had never played alongside the accomplished centre and recalls their first meeting about tactics.

“Wes is a class player so I said to him I’ll play off you. Wes replied, ‘I hear you've got some game so I’ll play of you.’ I managed to hit some gaps and together we worked well.”

Verney was such a success he became the first midfield back to win the Jim Brown Plate as Player of the Final. Aptly Brown himself was a Wellington midfielder. Verney made a break which directly led to OBU’s third try and sealed the 32-19 victory by finishing off a spectacular break by Jono Ihaka in the grandstand corner.

“I was pretty dusty,” Verney laughs when he his phone rang at midday on Sunday. The Wellington selectors were on the line and Verney had been called into the Lions alongside teammates Will Mangos and Teariki Ben-Nicholas.

“I’m starting the pre-season game against Tasman on Thursday. I’ve had one training so things are happening quickly, but this is a big opportunity for me,” Verney enthuses.

Verney may have at last found his niche. He explored the opportunity of a professional rugby league career, but was unable to grasp an NRL contract.

“I went to Australia when I was 15 and signed with the Penrith Panthers. I made the Under-17 development and Under-18 pre-season squads, but to be honest I am a mummy’s boy so I missed home. I tried to get a deal with the Warriors, but that fell through too.” Verney reflects.

In 2013 Verney played a season of Taranaki club rugby for New Plymouth Old Boys before the league desire resurfaced. A stint with the Cowboys was a fruitless endeavour and Verney decided fulltime work was the only option.

“My family was living in Kapiti until they relocated to Wellington four years ago. Dad is a builder so in February I started a construction apprenticeship,” Verney explains.

Verney had a contact at Northern United which nearly lured him to Porirua, but his best friend Patrick Hausman’s case to join Old Boys University was more convincing.

“I turned up to one practice and Paddy Gough said come back so I did. One of the big reasons for our success is clarity. Even when our roster was changing a lot the game plan is very clear and everybody knows what they are doing,” Verney acclaims.

Verney wasn’t entirely certain throughout the season. Initially he wasn’t a regular starter so he decided to spend three weeks sightseeing in New York. Later he injured his thumb, returning off the bench in round five of the Jubilee Cup against Oriental Rongotai. He made such a big impression he collected points in the Dominion Post best and fairest competition.

“I guess that was a turning point. We had a few injuries and so I had to step up. That performance gave me a bit of confidence,” Verney theorises.

Verney started every game thereafter scoring two tries in the 56-22 win over Wainuiomata and dominating the semi-final against Tawa at Jerry Collins Stadium where he also scored a try.

Wellington plays Tasman in Seddon on Thursday at 2.30pm. The match is a fundraiser hosted by the Awatere Rugby Club to raise money to pay for insurance costs following last year’s earthquakes. It is unclear if this contest carries first-class status.

The final Wellington Lions Squad for the Men’s NPC competition is named on Friday.

Jim Brown Plate Winners since 2004

2004: Tamati Ellison (Northern United)
2005: Earl Va’a (Petone)
2006: Lua Vaoloaloa (Northern United)
2007: Nick Risdon (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
2008: Chris Middleton (Northern United)
2009: Peter Sciascia (Marist St Pat’s)
2010: TJ Perenara (Northern United)
2011: Iani Pahulu (Oriental-Rongotai)
2012: Jeff Toomaga-Allen (Marist St Pat’s)
2013: Steven So’oialo (Tawa)
2014: Steven Bradshaw (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
2015: Joe Hill (Old Boys University)
2016: Junior Togia (Tawa)
2017: Regan Verney (Old Boys University)