Ken keeping MSP in contention

Ken Kapeli wasn’t supposed to play the 2016 Jubilee Cup final, but the Marist St Pat’s halfback ignored doctors’ advice and battled through the last 30 minutes as a substitute.

“I broke my wrist in January. It happened in a tackle during a pre-season game against Tawa,” Kapeli recalls.

“I didn’t realise it was broken and played on which made it worse. A few days later I was ruled out for the season. By August it was a lot better, but it still wasn’t right. Before the Jubilee final we had an injury crisis. I was desperate so I played,” Kapeli continued.

MSP was beaten by Tawa 24-20. It was the second time Kapeli had finished bridesmaid in the decider. In 2015 he started in the narrow 27-30 defeat to Old Boys University.

On Saturday, Marist St Pat’s confirmed their place in the 2018 Jubilee Cup by defeating Poneke 42-28, at one stage trailing 12-22. James Procter scored two tries and Kapeli provided a steady hand.

“The street kids against the Catholics are always a big battle. They started really well playing the same game plan as us. When we changed things a bit we started to get on top. It was a tough win,” Kapeli reflects.

How does MSP compare at present to the two sides that reached the Jubilee Cup climaxes?

“We are a young team building depth. We’ve lost over 400 games of experience with Peter Sciascia and Fa’atonu Fili not playing Premiers anymore. They are still around the club and a great help, but we’ve got to learn to be positive on the field without them,” Kapeli responds.

February 2017 wasn’t a fruitful time for Kapeli. Once again he broke his wrist and only played one Swindale Shield match - a 35-7 win against the Upper Hutt Rams in April.

“The biggest thing I learned when I was injured a second time was to try and stay fit. It’s not easy when your movement is restricted and you get down, but if you keep fit it’s easier to comeback,” Kapeli observes.

Kapeli enjoyed an eventful First XV career at St Pat’s Town. In 2010 he was a part of the 125th First XV that won 18 out of 21 games and was the first Town team to topple Silverstream in the annual traditional since 1997.

In 2011, somewhat humorously, Kapeli was the first player in the world to be asked to remove full length skins after World Rugby introduced a new law about long garments. It happened at halftime during a nationally televised fixture. Additionally Town ended a half decade losing streak to Wellington College during Kapeli’s three year tenure in the team.

“Town was an awesome time. It’s amazing to look back and think guys like Matt Procter, Eric Sione and Donald Brighouse have played professional rugby,” Kapeli enthused.

It wasn’t all sweetness at Town with two teammates Kitiona Petelo and Josh Hinaki tragically passing.

“I think about Kitiona and Josh every day. They were like brothers and I feel very blessed to have played with them. They are two of the many great people I’ve met playing the game,” Kapeli reveals.

Another passing that deeply affected Kapeli was that of Oriental-Rongotai stalwart John Mears. Mears was a close friend of the family and the reason Kapeli spent his first senior season at Ories.

“I have family at both MSP and Ories and was torn about which club to go to. I promised John I’d go to Ories so I honoured that promise. When he died I went back to MSP because that pledge had been taken care of,” Kapeli explains.

This weekend MSP tackles Ories at Evans Bay Park. The Magpies need two wins to crack the top seven. Kapeli is in line for his 11th appearance on the trot. He has scored two tries.

“Ories is a special game. It’s real physical and they are always tough to beat,” Kapeli says.

Ken is an apprentice builder and keen musician. His older brother Luliano Kapeli was a member of MSP’s 2012 Jubilee Cup winning team. Ken’s father Seugali’i works in Marine fitting and mum Ulima is a printer. The Kapeli family is of Samoan heritage.