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Training for the upcoming North Harbour competition has started at the Mahurangi Rugby Club grounds with some new faces joining the senior squad.
Eight players from Fiji, selected by premiers coach Amasio Valence, are expected to bring some of the creative play which is the hallmark of Fiji’s style of rugby, to the Warkworth field this year.
Originally from Fiji, Valence played for NZ Sevens for 10 years, as well as the Blues, and is the only New Zealander to have won three gold medals in Rugby Sevens at the Commonwealth Games.
This is his second consecutive year as Mahurangi’s prems coach and he is excited about the club’s prospects this season.
“We had a good result last year and just missed being in the playoffs,” he says. “We can build on that and we have a bigger squad to choose from this year.”
The club plays a big part in supporting the Fijian players to settle into life in NZ. Absolute Scaffolding has provided jobs for five of the group, with the remaining three working for BBMK Builders. Prior to arriving in New Zealand, several worked for the Fijian police force, while others were farmers.
Valence says several of the players have left family in Fiji and the club hopes to be able to facilitate their move to New Zealand soon.
“They come here for the opportunities – to build a life work-wise, with better education for their children and better health facilities.”
Valence says the new players will fill gaps in both the backs and forwards, and will bring some additional speed to the wing.
“The players are coming together well. We played in a sevens tournament in Hamilton last week and lost in the semi-finals to the NZ development side, so we were pretty happy with that.”
Valence says training started a couple of weeks earlier this year to get the players in shape.
He and assistant coach Lyall Robertson agree that there is some natural talent in the team, alongside a lot of undeveloped potential.
Robertson, who played 100 games for Mahurangi, says he believes this will be a special year for the club.
“Building the bond and unity in the team is something that we’re all looking forward to,” he says.
Anyone interested in playing at any level is welcome to join the training sessions at the Warkworth Showgrounds on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, starting at 6pm.
