Chairpersons Update

One of the biggest Saturdays in the Tukapa Calendar for 2023 is upon us.  This week we see all teams at home against Southern and the start of Junior rugby with over 200 kids taking to Sanders Park from all over Taranaki. With all this rugby on we also have Old Timers Day with the bar opening at 12:00pm, followed by David Macleod speaking about his time on Taranaki Regional Council and how he built his company Line Power up over the years. A little-known fact about David and Line Power is that without this man we would not have our new LED lights.  He saved us 10’s of thousand dollars with his gear and guys that stood the poles up for us. Please show him the respect he deserves and listen to what he has to say.

Southern has been playing some great rugby across all grades and is up near the top of each table, but I am sure our Tukapa fellas are up to the task to bring home some wins. I do have a slight side wager with the fellas that for wins across the club, the Chairman will shout a keg on Saturday.

Live streaming this week

The Riddlez Live Streaming team is back to full capacity this week so we are expecting a quality production. You can view the Live Stream on the Tukapa Facebook page or TRFU Ch3 on youtube. The broadcast starts at around 2:35pm.

Post Match

After the games at 5:30pm we will have the speeches followed by the presentation of the Harry Boswell award for Volunteer of the Year, followed by Life Members that we added at our AGM in November.

I hope to see you all at Tukapa on Saturday for what will be a great club day.

Netball

Also on Friday night at 6:30pm see both Tukapa Netball Premier teams playing on Court 1 & 2 at the TSB Stadium - be sure to get up there and support our ladies.

Your Chairman Scotty, Blue and White for Life.

Chairpersons Update

Another Friday and the countdown is on for the games this Saturday. We have our Snr Thirds starting their season off with a bus trip to Okaiawa. The boys have put in the hard yards off the field in their pre-season training and have all turned up the shape of great thirds players and will be looking to make the semis this year. Big thanks to Rebo and Greenie for once again rallying the troops together. Also, we welcome James on board as Manager.

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Our other three teams all head to Inglewood. The Colts have a top of the table clash with Inglewood and will be keen to start well. Our B’s are building well with only the one loss to Clifton and have named a strong lineup. Our Premiers welcome Brad from Southland who will come off the bench and we will also see Josh our South African lock back from concussion. We are very pleased as well to have Jacob released from the Blues and able to start in the midfield. Thank you Jacob for always making yourself available for your club.

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This weekend Greenie and I are away with the cooked chooks bbq team in Matakana above Auckland so will be watching from the trailer and through text messages. Good luck to all teams.

Next week is Old Timers Day and we want to see you all at the club. If you know of anyone that should be there and won’t see social media or email please pass on the message. We also encourage you to bring your wives, partners, and girlfriends along as this is a “Club Day” and we want everyone to come along and enjoy themselves. We will also welcome our two new life members at the after-match speeches.

Your Chairman Scotty Blue and White for Life

Chairpersons Update

Sorry guys the world is a busy place and I have been slack on the Newsletter side of things but here we go with our weekly update.

After two weeks of games and some great rugby played the Gardiner Plumbing Colts had a bye the first week and a good win last week over Clifton. The Colts have great numbers this year and are working hard at trainings. Their culture is strong and I can see this year they will be near the top. Well done to Zinny and Jared on getting these boys to where they are and we can’t wait to see how the season will pan out.

Our NZ Sparky B’s are still trying to round up players to get a strong 22 out there each week. They have 34 registered but need all 34 to start showing up to training. With a big win over Spotswood United in week 1 and a close loss to Clifton in the last 20 mins last week these boys are also looking to back up last year and go one better. Be sure if you are keen to play B’s you get along Tuesday and Thursdays at 6pm or talk to Bailey Walsh or Jack Deluca. These fellas have given a lot of time to the B’s and let’s support them.

Our Lion Brown Snr 3rds are yet to start the season but have been training well both on the field and in Ash’s - be sure to come for a trot with them on Thursday at 6pm and a can afterwards.

Our Egmont Seeds Premiers had a strong game against Spotswood United to lock up the Dan O’Brien Shield and then a loss to Clifton but they played a much better second half and we can see their young backline once clicked will cut a few teams in half. The Clifton game was Lucas Halls last game for Tukapa as he has signed a deal with Carina Tigers in Aussie. We thank Lucas for the service he has given to the club. It all started with a crayfish and 5 years later two Championships and a rookie of the year award. I am sure one day we might see him back in the blue and whites.

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This week sees a big milestone for our Dependable Prop who Loves Tukapa. Not many guys who are only 24 have won 4 Championships as a player in Premier rugby and now also notched up 100 games. Our Man Brendan Dent will do this on Saturday as he runs out for his 100th against Coastal.

Brendan left school during 2015 and started working life as a chef. Before long he joined Tukapa as a young 18 year old under the guidance of Laurence Corlett. Some people say Denty may have even been Laurence’s son, but truth be told Denty is the son of Paddy, a hard working and one of the toughest players to come out of Eltham Rugby club. Be sure if you shake Paddy’s hand, you hold on tight. Denty’s 1st year at Tukapa saw him start regularly in the front row and the year of 2016 Tukapa was written off by a lot of people because of all the young Francis Douglas players we had starting. Going into the final against an unbeaten NPOB team at Yarrows Stadium and a tackle from Ice Tuifua gave Denty his 1st Championship as a 18 year old. The party went on for a few days with Denty there every step of the way. 2017 Denty went through a Skater boy stage but that’s ok he still had a love for propping and again featured most weeks in the front row. Again another final on Yarrows against Coastal saw Adrian Wryill crash over in the 83rd minute to give Denty his 2nd championship at 19 years old. From here Denty held the scrum up well and his ball runs with those crazy eyes and exhaling were a pleasure to watch. Denty has played for Taranaki under 19’s and Taranaki B’s and in the 2018 season pushed hard to be included in the Taranaki Academy being the form prop in club rugby. Denty has become a real leader of the Tukapa Premiers and was a huge part in both championship wins in 2020 and 2022. Denty is that man you write down 1st on the team sheet, he is Mr Dependable. I touch wood as I say it, but Denty goes week in and week out with little to no injuries. And hand on heart I reckon Denty is no where near done playing for Tukapa. He is a man that could go 150 games for his club that he loves. We thank Denty’s family for letting him come to our family at Tukapa and also Renee for becoming part of our family. If you are looking for the family during the game they can always be found just past the green containers usually with Tukapa beanies on and cheering our fellas at the top of their lungs. Enjoy Saturday Brendan I am sure we will all be with you to help celebrate the 100.

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Ok so this Saturday we play for the Eaton Cup for the 1st time at home and I know there are a lot of Craig’s ex rugby mates who will line the deck and toast to Craig. Tukapa are yet to lose this cup to Coastal and hopefully this Saturday is no different. Come and Celebrate the Eaton cup, Denty’s 100 games and then stay around for the Premiers Crab racing fundraiser. The beer will be flowing, the soft drinks are loaded and we are in for a big night Saturday, be sure to stay around and support your club over the bar. Hit Jan up and get those Social memberships paid as well. Every bit counts to keep Tukapa on top as the club every one wants to be.

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It’s my first home game given Myself and Greenie were away cooking for the Spotswood United games and we can’t wait to catch up with everyone and have a great night.

Cheers Scotty Siffleet your Chairman and Blue and White for life

Chairpersons Update

Well here we go, the bus is loaded and we are off to Poneke. With a mixture of A’s, B’s and Colts we will see the following boys pick up their first cap for the Egmont Seeds Premiers:

Josh Platford	Arrived from South Africa
JC Smit	Had a few years off rugby and a top CrossFit Athlete
Jono Scherpens	Moved to New Plymouth for Work
Jacob Morrison	A stand out in Tukapa B’s Last year
Ethan Lobb	A standout utility back from the College
Patrick Howlett	A young up and coming Prop from NPBHS
Reegan Aarsen	1st game last week for Tukapa Colts and showed some real skill, from Matamata
Thomas Stokes	Been in our Colts set up and really starting to kick on

Zemba Cup

As most long serving members would know, the Poneke game is a long standing tradition that has been played for many years, and the Zemba cup is a very sought after cup that both clubs always want to hold.

The Zemba Cup, is contested between Tukapa and the Poneke Club (from Wellington) at Senior A level, and its origins go back to 1939 when Mick Zemba, a Wellington-based former Taranaki resident donated the trophy as a prize for what was then the new pre-season fixture between the two clubs. The interruption caused by WW2 meant it was only played for twice before resuming after the war on an annual basis. The Zemba Cup match was then played pretty much every season on an alternating home and away basis until 1992, usually at Easter Weekend before club rugby competitions got underway.

After the 1992 Centenary match (won at home by Tukapa 19-7), the match was played on only a handful of other occasions in the mid to late 1990’s before the fixture lapsed. It has been revived as a fixture spasmodically in recent decades. Until revived again recently, the final Zemba Cup match for many years was played at the Rugby Academy in Palmerston North on 17 March 2009. The discontinuation after 2009 was largely due to changes in the club rugby structure which saw club competition matches beginning in late March rather than late April, with the result that the pre-season window for traditional fixtures became a lot more constricted. Weekend work requirements as well as cost factors also played a part in pre-season away trips becoming a thing of the past.

As a result of Tukapa deciding to cease attending the Spillane Cup tournament, the Zemba Cup fixture was reinstated in 2019 when Tukapa once more hosted Poneke at Sanders Park, with Poneke running out the winners in a very close match. Last season Tukapa travelled to Wellington for the match but again Poneke prevailed in what was another close encounter.

For the record, the Zemba Cup has been contested on a total of 51 occasions, with Tukapa winning 21 matches and Poneke 30.

Paul Meuli

The game is sure to be a great test leading into the season and I am sure with Bryan Boulton and myself leading the after-match activities, we should go well in the off-field games too.

Keep an eye out on social media for updates and there is also talk it will be live-streamed on the PONEKE facebook page.
Kick-off is at 2.10pm at Rugby League Park.

Our Colts are playing a three-way game at Inglewood’s TET stadium against the Southern Colts and Inglewood Colts with kick-off being 12:30pm.

The following week sees the 1st round get underway for Premiers, B’s and Colts with a big one first up with Dan O’Brien day at home. As we all know it's one we don’t like to lose. Our Snr 3rds don’t start for another 4 weeks but have been training hard on a Thursday.

We are now heading through Stratford with just Mikey to pick up in Hawera then a straight trip to the Cambridge Hotel. Keep an eye on social media for all the weekend’s updates.

Your Chairperson Scotty Siffleet, Blue and White for Life

Chairperson's Update

Pre-Season Game Update

The kegs are full and we also have Steinlager NZ Ultra on tap now. Be sure to come and watch our Gardiner Plumbing Colts take on FDMC 1st 15 in a friendly. Our Premiers take the week off after Pio Pio pulled out. See you all at 12:30pm for Kick off.

Premiers Wider Squad Named

Below is our Premier Wider group, we currently have 2 too many forwards so that will decrease before the season starts. We are still hoping to have one more midfielder join us.  

Tom Edwards
Brendan Dent
Scott Mellow
Patrick Howlett
Ricky Riccitelli
Liam Bernet
Luke Dravitski
Patrick Syme
Shay Hill
Mike Nyssen
Alex Perry
Josh Platford
Josh Keech
Chris Jollands
Mairenga Laapo
Nathaniel Peters
Josh Hopkins
Christian Faave
Jacob Morrison
Campbell Woodmass
Cullen Luckin
Jono Scherpens
Keahn Tipu
Mason Porteous
Lukas Halls
Cameron Campbell
Luke Taplin
Rory Ward
Reegan Aarsen
Ethan Lobb
Lagen Kumeroa
Brendan White
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Looking forward to catching up with you all this Saturday at 12:15pm

Your Chairperson Scotty Siffleet, Blue and White for Life

Chairperson’s Update

Welcome to the 2023 season of Tukapa Rugby. Leading into Christmas I was crazy with work and ran out of time to get the updates and newsletters out to you, so I have a lot to cover.

1^st up we had our 131st AGM and welcomed two new life members to our Club – Bryan Boulton and Bryan Edlin.  These guys have been long-time servants to our club and are well deserving of the title.

On the Executive, we have maintained all our 2022 members and in 2023 the Club Officers and Committee members are:

Patron:	Brian Hunger
President:	Lindsay Thomson
Vice President:	Bryan Boulton
Club Captain:	Daniel Green
Club Administrator:	Jan Holdt
Chairman:	Scott Siffleet
Junior Convenor:	Darryn Jones
Treasurer:	Tom O’Connor
Executive Committee:	Reece Hannam
Executive Committee:	Darryn Jones
Executive Committee:	Dan Johanson
Executive Committee:	Jack DeLuca

You will see that we have had a change in Patron and wish Peter Coles all the best in his move to Auckland … at least the Jersey colours are still the same Pete!

Tukapa Darts Club

If you have been up to the club rooms recently you may have noticed the dart boards. We now have a Tukapa Darts Club that meets on a Monday night at 6:00pm, all are welcome to play.

Coaching Appointments

Moving into who’s where and who’s who on the field this year we are very lucky to have all our Coaching spots filled and a lot of helpers around our teams.

Lion Brown Snr 3rds
Reece Hannam
Daniel Green
James Ledwith

Gardiner Plumbing Colts
Daniel Sinclair
Jared Werder
Trent Theodore

Nz Sparky B’s
Bailey Walsh
Kris Moller
Jack Deluca

Egmont Seeds Premiers

Head Coach:	Nathan Lawrence
Ass Coach:	Dylan Juffermans
S&C Coach:	Max Betham
Technical Support:	Corbin, Ethan, Hayden
Physio:	Georgia Keech
Manager:	Dan Johanson
Ass Manager:	Brendan Bloeman

Premiers 2023

Boys have started getting into their work, with Max Betham getting the boys fit and getting around each other for some preseason training.   There are a few changes with Beast taking a role at TRFU, Proud Tukapa man Dylan Jufferman has stepped into the forwards’ role, and Max will do Strength and Conditioning throughout the season to assist as well.  We do have a few players who are moving on, either to retirement or chasing dreams outside of Taranaki but is a great chance for the rest of our team to step up and take the reins and you will still see plenty of familiar faces in Blue and White.  We welcome Josh Platford who has recently immigrated to NZ with his parents who are based in Wellington, at 6’8 he brings some real height to our pack.  Patrick Howlett and Ethan Lobb who are both part of the Taranaki Academy also join us from Francis Douglas and New Plymouth Boys High 1^st XV’s.   Our season kicks off on the 18^th March against PioPio coached by Carl Carmichael and will be a great chance for guys to stick up their hand, and our final premier squad will be selected post this game in preparation for the traditional game vs Poneke (Played in Wellington)

Training

All teams are now training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm – come along and get involved.  If you are new to the club or want more information, give our Club Captain, Daniel Green, a call and he can put you in touch with the coaches  – 021 336 929 or message Tukapa on social media.

The draw is out for the season with two full rounds of rugby followed by semis and finals.  See below which also includes our two preseason games.  We are still waiting on the Snr Thirds draw and this will be done once other clubs have decided if they are entering.

Live Streaming

We are pleased to say that Riddlez Interactive are back on board for 2023 and we thank them for all the work they do for the club. I am sure if you are a Tukapa member from out of town you would’ve seen our live stream of the games. The quality of this production is up there with Sky Sports and it is thanks to Rob and Che from Riddlez, be sure to contact them for your next rebranding or advertising needs.

Expressions of Interest

This year the club is offering an opportunity for 2 to 3 people to join our live-streaming team.

Experience is not essential, but enthusiasm and the will to have a go and learn are important.

These positions would suit someone who is looking to make a career in live media production

or a supporter who has an interest in live-streaming sporting events.

What will you learn?

Camera work and techniques

Sound production, mixing, and techniques

Output live stream to live stream media providers

Live stream editing and graphics

Working with live statistics

Set up of Outside Broadcast van

How much time will it involve?

All club home games. Approx 5hrs per game

How do I express interest?

Call Rob at Riddlez Interactive on 027 753 0123 or email rob@riddlezinteractive.com

AED Defib Machine

We have now installed an AED Defib Machine on our clubhouse outside the café, this is thanks to NZ Rugby Foundation making sure each rugby club in New Zealand has one. You can see a long-time servant of Tukapa Rugby Laurence Corlett (Frank the Tank) standing with our new AED.  Some of you may not have known, but late last year Frank ended up in Waikato Hospital after having a series of heart attacks. He has made a full recovery and now is happy to talk and promote awareness of AED machines in the community.  Next time Frank is around the club be sure to have a chat.  

Sponsors & Membership

We welcome back all our major Sponsors this year and most of our 1^st 15 sponsors. We thank you for all your support over the years. We do have some openings in our 1^st 15 sponsors so if you are keen, be sure to flick me an email scott@lifestylebuilding.co.nz

All Tukapa Memberships are now live for the 2023 season. Please help us and get those memberships paid through the links below, once paid your TRFU game passes can be picked up from the top bar on a Friday or Saturday night.

Social Memberships       https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/228115

Senior Rugby                  https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/208459

Junior Rugby                   https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/211186

On that note, please support your club.  Our bars are open every week and prices are a lot cheaper than going to the pub. In saying that, we have just had an increase in pricing of around 5% overall products from Lion.  You will see some price changes over the bar at Tukapa.  Please understand that we rely on our bar takings to keep the club going. These price increases will come into effect on 20^th February 2023.

Our bars are open:

Monday           Ash’s Bar         5pm to 8.30pm           Darts

Thursday         Ash’s Bar         7pm to 8.30pm           After Training

Friday              Top Bar            4pm to 6.30pm

Saturday          Top Bar            4pm to 6.30pm

As we move into the season I hope to get a newsletter out to you fortnightly and keep all our members up to date with what is going on.  

Your Chairperson Scotty Siffleet, Blue and White for life

Chairperson's Update

NZ Barbarians U85 Club Cup

As the dust settles and we start moving into the following weekend we look ahead to our NZ Forestry’s Bantams Under 85 second round of the Barbarian cup. This week sees the Karaka Razzlers come to town to take our boys on. Be sure to get up to the Chook House at 12pm for a beer and a chat about last Saturday then watch the kick off at 12.30pm.

The game will be live streamed on youtube TRFU Ch1 - Live at 12:20pm

Senior Prize Giving

This week we also celebrate the 2022 season with the Tukapa prize giving. Everyone is welcome, the more the merrier. We have had a great year club wide and we want everyone to come and celebrate with us. Info below:

Your chairman Scotty Siffleet, Blue and White for Life  

Chairperson's Update

This newsletter is going to be a little different than my normal one because what will happen on Saturday is now up to the players that put those blue and white hoops on and play with pride and below is a different look at where this pride started from.

Written Thursday Night 8:29pm

I have just walked in the door from the last Thursday night training and the last Thursday night feed. Tonight we made 60 meals for the players and supporters and sold 151 Lion brown cans of beer. We did Roast beef with roast potatoes, kumara, pumpkin and mixed veges with gravy. People quite often say to me why do you go to all the trouble? the answer is simple, over the four years I have been Chairman I have wanted to change the way we do things at Tukapa to make it a place where every team has a beer with each other, where every player feels welcome and they know Tukapa has their back. What we have created at Tukapa is something outstanding and now we are seeing what a ONE Club attitude can produce on the field as well.

All this is not just my doing, we have a great executive that are happy to roll their sleeves up and get the job done. My first massive thank you goes out to a likable fellow that I shoulder tapped to become my Club Captain.  At the time I remember him asking me what he had to do and the answer was just be a good bastard and help build the club as one. Five years later Daniel Green has been next to me in the kitchen every Thursday night helping us achieve our goal of having a good bunch of guys that want to be at Tukapa. Daniel has become more than just my Club Captain, he has become a great mate and now BBQ comp teammate. Greenie would do anything for his club and for his mates, he is the reason we are where we are at. Thank you, my mate.

Next up is the lady that not everyone sees but does a shit tonne of work. She keeps my life on track with the club and is the reason why Tukapa is so successful with funding applications. Even now Jan is the one who has to proof my newsletter to make sure my dribble makes sense. When I was taking over as Chairman, Jan was the first person that I wanted back on our exec. I had been involved with Jan while I was managing the Prems and I know the work she did then. Jan and I do have an agreement in place about moving forward but for now Jan, I am not going anywhere. Jan Holdt, you are my rock star and we would not have this Club where it is without you.

To JDL, Dan and Rebo, all Exec members and all in charge of managing three teams, it is this link between the exec and the boys playing the game which has again built our club even stronger. These guys do not shy away from hardwork, if it’s setting up fields on a Saturday, helping behind the bar when we are busy or any other jobs I throw at them during the week, everything is always done and done properly. Thank you fellas, without you the wheels could come off.

Next up we can’t be One club without our Juniors and the man who has taken this role to a whole new level.  The passion he has for junior rugby is amazing and the work shows in now having our junior numbers climbing with over 240 junior players this year. Darryn Jones is the name we will be saying in years to come as why we have senior rugby players back at the club and that’s because he makes sure every kid has the best experience with playing rugby that they can have. The group of coaches that Darryn has put together is second to none. And the work that Ben and Darryn have done with driving new players is bang on. Cheers Darryn for all your hard work.

Now the last thank you is maybe one of the hardest roles at a club that wants to push the boundaries and try new things. I remember this person having a small meltdown in his 1^st year on the exec as he was seeing how much money we were spending before the season even started. Not knowing a lot about Tukapa but keen to learn, I remember telling him not to worry - we haven’t opened the bar yet!  A few weeks later after the season had started, he said to me I see what you mean as we put another $10k weekend over the bar. Tom O’Connor has been bloody awesome and for the first time for a few years we can see not only how full the bucket is, but from where the bucket was filled from. The best Treasurer a chairman could ask for.

A few non-exec members to thank are Brian Edlin for the work he does keeping our chiller full of the good stuff.

To Bryan Boulton, we all already know that this man bleeds Blue and White, but he seems to have risen another level this year with taking over Rangi’s role from setting the fields up every Saturday to always helping in the kitchen on a Thursday night and running the deep fryer. Mate your passion for the club is outstanding.

To Ross and Kernal, you guys are our rocks who do all those un-seen jobs but I know.

To Carol, even though we have the best cleaner working at Tukapa during the week, you still find a way to make the place cleaner on a Saturday.

So today at Old Timers lunch at our sponsor’s bar, The Good Home, I had a few people say to me you do so much for the club but as you can see above its not just me. It may have been my vision, but it takes an army to bring this to where we are at now and this Saturday I will be wearing my Blue and Whites and a smile as big as can be with what we have at Tukapa, it is what every other club wished they had for their club. Well done to all our helpers and thank you to all our supporters. It is now up to the players to use the tools they have and make this Saturday one to remember in Tukapa history. Go well players - you are our reason - forever ONE CLUB TUKAPA.

I Am Tukapa

Teams and Schedule for Tomorrow's Finals

Saturday 23rd

Free BBQ on the deck at Tukapa	11:00am - 12:20pm Tickets for sale over bar
Div 1 Players Bus leaves for NPOB	11:45am
Free Supporters Bus leaves for NPOB	12:30pm
Premier Players Bus leaves for NPOB	12:40pm
Live Stream and Bar open at Tukapa	2:00pm onwards
Supporters and Div. 1 Bus returns from NPOB	4:30 pm
Premier Bus returns from NPOB	5:30pm
Win or Lose we party at the ChookHouse	5:30pm onwards

Live Stream Schedule                       

Final	Youtube Channel	Time	Teams
Division 1 Final	TRFU 3	13:00	NP HSOB Rugby Football & Sports Club vs Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club
Premier Buildup	TRFU 1	14:35	Clifton Rugby & Sports Club vs Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club
Premier Final	TRFU 1	14:45	Clifton Rugby & Sports Club vs Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club

Your chairman Scotty Siffleet, Blue and White for Life  

** While proofing this, I’m grabbing the opportunity to respond from everyone in the club … a HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU SCOTT, you are a true leader and champion of our Club.  Thank you, and importantly your family for their support, to do what you do for Tukapa.**

Chairperson's Update

Well, here we go what a weekend of rugby we have this week at the Chook House, This week I am a man of few words and have asked the managers to pre-view their teams for us for the weekend, I will say one thing if you haven’t been to the clubhouse this season, get along this week and cheer our boys on and catch up with some friends, we want the place full of blue and white this weekend.

Nz Sparky Divison 1 Preview by Jack Deluca

Game kicks off 1pm on field 2 at Sanders park

That's six wins on the trot with only one try allowed in the last two games for the Tukapa Bs. This has given the fellas a home semi-final for the first time in a long time. Asking around, no one can actually put a finger on the last time the Senior Bs managed a home semi-final so what an effort from the lads. This effort has been a culmination of a few years of building around a key group of players that have stuck it out through some tough times and close calls, with the team now seeming at its best potential with a great culmination of old heads and exciting young players ready to cause chaos.

A big shout-out must go to Bailey Walsh, Dylan Juffermans & Kris Moller for all the work they have done this year, donating their time and getting the fellas to where they are now. I am not envious of them today as they have to make the tough calls on picking a team with so many great guys available to play this week with everyone having put their hand up throughout the season.

Southern was a great team in the round robin making for a great game with both teams willing to throw the ball around scoring almost 80 points combined while still making huge crushing efforts on defence. This should make for a very exciting game of footy to come!

In the last few years, the Bs have made a couple of semis, all being hosted by Southern and Southern winning all. This has made for quite the rivalry between the teams with a lot of familiar faces each time we play.

What has been great is to walk around the clubrooms on Saturdays with shoulder pats and congratulations from the old timers for the Bs players. It has been a struggle in the last few years but we are playing some great rugby at the moment and getting that support means a lot to the guys, so if we can get that support for two more weeks with a couple of big home crowds that would be awesome!!

Also a big good luck to our Prems boys against old boys!! Bring it, home fellas!!.

Go the Chooks & Up the Bzzz!!!!

Egmont Seeds Premiers Preview by Daniel Johanson

10 weeks of rugby down with 9 wins in the bag for the Egmont Seeds Tukapa Premiers, one of the squad's key goals at the start of the season was to get to semi-finals/finals footy, whilst we have knocked off one of these goals now the hard mahi starts & for the squad it’s all about looking forward and not backward and making sure we get our place at the final dance.

This week’s training has started with a hiss and a roar with all the boys getting around each other with great comms & hard work at training, all with a common goal of working hard for their teammates & their club and making sure that come this Saturday they make themselves proud & go to war.

It will be a big battle against our cross-town rivals NPOB, and whilst we never got to play them in the round-robin game due to Covid striking them down we are well aware & prepared for the firepower they will bring to Sanders Park along with holding great respect for a club that will challenge us to the utmost depths of hell, so now it’s up to the lads to pull on the blue & white, put there head in a deep dark place and leave every bit of blood, sweat & tears on the park.

Injury wise we are in a reasonably good space and Beast & Nathan are in the process of putting together the squad for this weekend stay tuned to the Tukapa Social media channels for the team announcement.

Now is the time we need our supporters the most, we want to see you, hear you, and most of all put on a performance of class & skill that Tukapa is known for, so calling all whanau, friends, old timers of the club make sure to find your way to Sanders Park for what will be a thrilling showdown of two titans of Taranaki Community Rugby.

Forever Blue & White – DJ

Wow-what a weekend to come to the Chook House – can’t wait to see you.

Your chairperson Scotty Siffleet, Blue and White for life.

Chairperson's Update

Well, we are all but at the business end of the season with our Egmont Seeds Premiers and Nz Sparky Div 1’s locking in a home semi for the following week. Our Lion Brown Snr 3rds have left their run to the finals very late but have saved the best to last. Being the 6th qualifier they play the 3rd qualifier of Kaponga in Kaponga at 1pm.  If the boys can get a win here they will move through to a semi-final against Stratford/Eltham the following week in Stratford. Our Boys had a good game against Kaponga in the regular season, they were up at halftime then went down 19-29 but the Boys have been working hard at their fitness sessions held in Ash’s and are up for the challenge of moving on to the next step. If you are keen to jump on their bus leaving Tukapa at 11am and returning by 6.30pm let Daniel Green know.

Our Gardner Plumbing Colts led by Zinny and Jared have built a really good culture and built well on the work Plims put in last year.  The results haven’t all gone their way but they have had some good battles and built depth that we will see carry on for next year.  Most of their team are still able to play Colts next year – can’t wait to see what they can achieve in the 2023 season.  Well done guys the club is proud of you all.

100^th game milestone

This week sees the milestone made to a man I call the ultimate club man.  He is always the 1st guy to put his hand up, he donates chicken whenever needed.  His family is right behind him and the club, with Mum being my secretary for a couple of years, and Dad always jumping in where a hand is needed including this week in the Kitchen making the world-famous Mussell fritters.

Henry Miles or Hapuka will run out this week for his 100^th game. Henry, you are a good bastard, and keep being you mate. You are what Tukapa stands for and the reason we all love the place.

Henry Miles started with our Senior A team in 2015 and since then has been a mainstay of the back line playing in either midfield or on the wing.

In Henry’s first season, the Senior A’s made the championship semi-finals only to be beaten by Inglewood in golden point extra time. However, in 2016 and 2017 Henry was part of an A team that won back-to-back Premier titles beating NPOB in the 2016 final and Coastal in the 2017 final.

Recognition for Henry’s form in these early years came in 2018 when he was chosen for the Taranaki B rep team. It was also in 2018 when Henry received his 50-game Senior A blazer.

In 2019 the Senior A’s were beaten in the semis by Spotswood United but Henry’s outstanding performances that year were recognized when he received the Len Earby Trophy as Tukapa’s best afternoon grade player for that year.

Henry won his third Taranaki Senior A championship title in 2020 when our Premiers beat Inglewood in a season that was shortened by the Covid outbreak. Henry’s good form again that season was reflected in him winning the Senior A back of the year award.

In 2021 Henry took over the captaincy of the Senior A’s and he steered his injury-struck side into another semi-final but came up short when we were beaten at home by Coastal. Once again Henry received the Senior A back of the year award for 2021. He was also chosen for the Taranaki Trojans team that season.

Henry has carried on with the captaincy this season leading the team into this year’s semi-finals and now racking up 100 Premier matches for Tukapa in his 8^th consecutive season.

Jamison Gibson-Park

How good is it to see our old mate Jamison Gibson-Park back in New Zealand running the cutter for Ireland. A great Tukapa man who learned his trade at the Chook house.  Well done Jamo your club is behind you all the way, and can’t wait to catch up with you.

Photos from 2011 of Jamison Gibson-Park in his first season at Tukapa. This was the year we beat NPOB in the final played at Hicks Park, Hawera when we beat them 22-12. Also in the team that year was Jamo’s Gizzy mate Pomare.

New Trophy

Also this week we see another 1^st with the Coles Family Trophy being played for the 1^st Time.

Stratford Eltham versus Tukapa Rugby Premiers will be competing for a Trophy in 2022.
The Coles family who has a historical association with both Tukapa and Stratford Eltham Rugby Clubs has donated a trophy for competition between the Premier Teams of both Clubs.
The Coles Family Trophy is donated to acknowledge the current and historical rivalry between the two clubs and also the strong interchange of players and administrators who have swapped allegiances and served both clubs over the years.
The Coles family consisting of three boys and three girls, sixty years ago lived at Douglas, east of Stratford. The eldest boy, Ritchie played for Stratford from 1956 to 1968. Charles played for Stratford for just a short time due to injury from 1960 to 1963.  Peter played for Stratford (Fourth Grade, as it was called then) in 1962, and joined Ritchie in the  Senior Championship Winning side of 1964.   In 1965 he moved to New Plymouth and played for the Tukapa Seniors from 1965 to 1970,  becoming a rival to his Stratford teammates of the previous years. When playing days came to an end, Ritchie coached and administered for the Stratford Club, while Peter administered for Tukapa. Peter is a Past President, Life Member, and current Patron of  Tukapa.

And if all of this above isn’t enough to get your blue and white blood flowing, this week we have the NZ Forestry band night at the Club and it is sure to be a massive night.  Two years ago when these boys played at the club they ripped the roof off and we had the biggest night since the jubilee. I know these guys love coming to the chook house to play and to make it even bigger we have also flown a saxophone player up from the South Island to make it a five-piece band. DJ Ash will start the night at 7.30pm followed by THOZE FELLAS from 8pm.  Be sure to get there and bring your friends.  No Door charge and I am sure you will have a great time.

Wow-what a weekend to come to the Chook House – can’t wait to see you.

Your chairperson Scotty Siffleet, Blue and White for life.