Swindale Shield kicks off this Saturday
Our Premier Men and Premier Reserve sides kick off their season this Saturday, hosting Avalon at Evans Bay Park.
The offseason has seen a change in the coaching ranks with club legend Fa'atonu Fili stepping into the head coach role, supported by Mike Tolova'a, Lua Lokotui, Tinkah Tolova'a and Toese Leleamanua. The Premier Reserves will be coached by Pita Taele who has recently moved from Auckland along with Sonny Whitman leading the backs.
For Fa'atonu Fili, the elevation to Premier Head Coach marks a full transition from playing to the coaching ranks. He has been involved in a coaching capacity with Sevens, Women, Colts and Premiers over the past five years while still lacing up the boots over those years.
He has been leading the team through their preseason preparations over the past few months and has the team prepared to take on their first opponent in Avalon this weekend. Fa'atonu especially wanted to acknowledge Milo Tuala for his conditioning work preparing the players for the season.
'I think supporters can expect to see a mixture of maturity and fresh energy from this group of men. Connection has really been a key word for us and that was across the board. Connection to the club, to our past, the future - but more so each other. So hopefully people will really see the tight bonds we've formed throughout the summer and preseason.'
On the field, there are a few prominent players who won't be available this year either to injury or relocation; centurions Vince Sakaria and Josh To'omaga are recovering from injury. With that said, we've seen a number of recent Colts players such as Curtis Finnegan and Milan Kriletich making valuable contributions last season and in preseason.
The club also has an injection of young talent fresh out of high school that will spend time with the Colts while also showing Premier potential. Sydney Tour participants Francis Mettrick, Elysium Tolova'a-Stanley, Ben Higgs, Nathan Carr and Loto Va all showed they have the talent to step up.
Former St Pat's Town prop Sanasco Crichton has returned from Southland and will be one to watch in the front row.
Coaches are typically reluctant to single out players to watch for but Fa'atonu noted the excitement of seeing Keelan Whitman get stuck into another season after taking a big leap with Wellington and successfully recovering from offseason surgery.
The club extends its best wishes to former Premier captain Tom Martin as he has relocated back to Hamilton. We will have a keen interest in your future career!
The first team list of the season will be shared on social media on Friday and we'll get our first look at this season's team on Saturday at Evans Bay Park. Ahead of the first week of rugby, Fa'atonu wanted to thank everyone who has contributed to the club and supported all our squads. 'We hope honour those who have worn the jersey before us and enjoy what this season brings.'
| Gains
|
Losses
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Mettrick
|
St Patrick's College
|
Vince Sakaria
|
Injury/Rehab
|
| Elysium Tolova'a-Stanley
|
St Patrick's College
|
Josh To'omaga
|
Injury/Rehab
|
| Ben Higgs
|
St Patrick's College
|
Tom Martin
|
Hamilton
|
| Nathan Carr
|
St Patrick's College
|
Ryan Dafel
|
Hamilton
|
| Loto Va
|
Wellington College
|
Hans Pama
|
Auckland
|
| Jack O'Brien
|
St John's College, Hamilton
|
Ano Kapeil
|
Work
|
| Sanasco Crichton
|
Southland
|
Ami Paongo
|
Family/church
|
| Cavunailoa Yabakivou
|
Johnsonville
|
||
| Mikaere Wiki
|
Auckland
|
||
| Grecia Taele
|
Auckland
|
||
| Kobe Lolesio
|
Basketball
|
||
| Andre Hart
|
Return from injury
|
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