Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club

Wallace B. SITITI

Date of Birth: 7th September 2002 in Auckland.

New Zealand Under 20's in 2022 [1 game and 10 points - 2 tries]

Position: Loose Forward

Other First Class level games included:

- At Provincial level with Auckland in 2021 [as part of their wider training team] and with North Harbour in 2022 from our Club plus now in 2023 from the Massey RFC [3 games].

- At "Super Rugby" as part of the Blues Development programme from 2020, in the Blues Under 20's from 2020 to 2022, and with the Chiefs in 2023.

- At other National level teams that include the New Zealand Barbarians Schools in 2020 [this was a "paper team" due to COVID restrictions].

COMMENTS:

1. Sititi was educated at De La Salle College in Auckland [Deputy Head Boy and Captain of the First XV in his last year at school] and he is the son of former Manu Samoa Captain, Semo Sititi [he also played Sevens for Manu Samoa including as Captain and for the Hurricanes in "Super Rugby"]. From that College, he was selected [a paper team] as a member of the New Zealand Barbarians Schools team in 2020.

2. Upon leaving school, Sititi immediately began playing for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in 2021 joining initially our Under 20 team before beginning to play for our Premier Team.

3. From our proud club, he first became involved with "Super Rugby" as a member of the Blues Development programme in 2021 [he had been a member of the Under 20's team in 2020 from college]. In that 2021 season, he was captain in one game and then in 2022 he was the Team Captain of the Blues Under 20's team that competed at the "Super Rugby Under 20's Tournament" held in Taupo.

4. It was in that 2022 season, that Sititi was selected as a member of the New Zealand Under 20s Team. He made his debut at the "Oceania Rugby Under 20s Championship" tournament that was held on Australia's Sunshine Coast in the match played against Fiji. In a resounding victory for the New Zealand team [winning by 74-5], he scored two tries.

5. In 2022, Sititi switched to played for North Harbour [although still playing from our club as a "Loan Player"], but in 2023 he switched clubs to play for Massey in the North Harbour club competition. That same 2023 season, he became a part of the Chiefs Development Program.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Tyla B. NATHAN-WONG

Date of Birth: 1st July 1994 in Auckland.

New Zealand Black Ferns Sevens from 2012 to 2020 from Auckland and 2021 to the present from Northland [45 tournaments - 195 games and scored 1045 points as at June 2022]

Position: Back [for 7's] and Halfback [for 15's]

Other First Class level games include:

- At provincial level Sevens for Auckland from 2012 to the present [although her involvment with the "Black Ferns" has limited her appearances].

- At provincial level 15's for Auckland in 2016 [5 games and scored 15 points] and for Northland [On Loan] in 2020 to 2021 [7 games and scored 25 points].

COMMENTS:

1. Nathan-Wong is a member of the Ngapuhi iwi and she is also of Chinese as well as European descent. She was educated in Auckland with her last years of schooling being at Auckland's Lynfield College.

2. Nathan-Wong played 15's as well as Sevens initially at Provincial level for Auckland in 2016, but she has been recently been playing for Northland in the "Farah Palmer Cup" in the 2020 and 2021 seasons... for her performances in 2021 she was named at Halfback in the 2022 Rugby Almanack's "New Zealand XV".

2. When first selected for the New Zealand "Black Ferns Sevens" in 2012, Nathan-Wong was the youngest player to have ever played for that team aged just 18-years-old and she was selected for this team after outstanding performances for the Auckland Sevens team at the "National Sevens Tournament". However, before that she had been playing for the "New Zealand Women's Touch" team from 2010, she played with the "New Zealand Under 19 Women's Touch" team in 2011, and she also represented New Zealand at the "Tag Football World Cup" in 2012.

3. Nathan-Wong was a member of the Blacks Ferns Sevens team that won the "2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens" held in Russia and the "2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens" held in San Francisco [USA], was a member of the New Zealand Sevens team that represented our country at the "2016 Summer Olympic Games" winning a Silver Medal, she was a member of the New Zealand Sevens team that represented our country at the "2018 Commonwealth Games" held in Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia] winning a Gold Medal, and she was a member of the New Zealand Sevens team that won the "World Rugby Women's Sevens Series" in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2022-23.

4. Nathan-Wong was the Captain of the "Black Ferns Sevens" in 2017 as well as at the end of the 2019 season and she is only the second female player in history to have scored 1000 points in the "World Sevens Series".

5. In 2021, Nathan-Wong was selected as a member of the Black Ferns Sevens team to represent New Zealand at the "2020 Tokyo Olympic Games" held in Japan [held in 2021 due to COVID-19]. The Black Ferns Sevens defeated France in the Final by 26 points to 12 and therefore claimed the Olympic Gold Medal.

6. Nathan-Wong was named the "New Zealand Rugby Sevens Player of the Year" in 2015 and 2019, and she was nominated as the "World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year" in 2019. In 2013, she was recognised as the "Junior Maori Sportswoman of the Year" and she was a Finalist for the same award in 2014. The Black Ferns Sevens team was named as New Zealand Rugby's "New Zealand Team of the Year" in 2021 following their success at the Olympic Games held earlier that year in Tokyo.

7. For the 2022 season, Nathan-Wong was released from her commitments with the Black Ferns Sevens so that she could play for the Blues team in the "2022 Super Rugby Aupiki" competition as part of her ambition in the future to play for the Black Ferns internationally at 15's level. She was that same season selected for the Black Ferns team to compete for the "Laurie O'Reilly Cup" and she then made her debut playing as a Halfback joining the game as a replacment in the Test Match played against Australia in Christchurch [the match was resoundingly won 52-5]. Sadly, she was not then selected to play for the Black Ferns in the "2022 Rugby World Cup"... which the Black Ferns then went on to win by defeating England in the Final played at Auckland's Eden Park.

8. Nathan-Wong is currently one of the stars of World Rugby and we [the Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby in Auckland] are extremely honoured to have her as one of our Clubmates.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Akuila T. ROKOLISOA

Date of Birth: 26th July 1995 in Lautoka [Fiji].

New Zealand All Black Sevens from 2018 to the present [playing 72 games and scoring 235 points including 29 tries]

Position: Back

Other First Class level games include:

- At provincial Sevens level for Counties Manukau in 2018 [On Loan] and Auckland from 2019 to the present.

COMMENTS:

1. Rokolisoa is a Sevens rugby specialist who has played Sevens for Counties Manukau ["on loan" from Auckland] at the "2018 National Sevens" and such was his outstanding performance at that tournament he was selected to play for the New Zealand "All Blacks Sevens" with him making his debut at the "Hong Kong Sevens".

2. In the very next tournament, Rokolisoa was a member of the New Zealand Sevens team that played in the "2018 Commonwealth Games" held on the Gold Coast of Australia and he was part of the team that won that tournament... bringing a Gold Medal home with him in his luggage.

3. Only a few months later that season, Rokolisoa was a member of the All Blacks Sevens team that won the "2018 Rugby Sevens World Cup" and he was able to bring another Gold Medal home with him in his luggage.

4. Now playing Sevens for Auckland, Rokolisoa is a regular member of the All Black Sevens and he was a member of that team that won the "IRB World Series Sevens" in 2019/2020. This outstanding achievement was repeated in 2022/2023 when he was a member of the All Black Sevens team that again won the "IRB World Series Sevens" and he was that series' highest scorer... an equally outstanding achievement.

5. Rokolisoa plays 15's with our Club whenever his Sevens commitments allow, but the high demands of Sevens and this requiring him to play all around the world means that we at his club see less of him that we would otherwise prefer.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Salesi Tuivuna Mauri RAYASI

Date of Birth: 25th September 1996 in Wellington.

New Zealand All Black Sevens from 2019 to 2020 [playing in 7 tournaments involving 32 games and scored 75 points]

Position: Back

Other First Class level games include:

- At provincial level playing 15's for Wellington in 2016 [1 game], and Auckland from 2018 to the present [43 games and has scored 170 points through 34 tries].

- At "Super Rugby" level for the Hurricanes from 2019 to the present [33 games and scored 105 points through 21 tries].

- Provincial level for Auckland Sevens in 2019 and 2020.

COMMENTS:

1. The son of former Fiji international player Phillipe Rayasi, our Rayasi is a former basketball player of some considerable talent who decided to focus more on rugby in the later years of his schooling at St Patrick's College Silverstream in Wellington... with outstanding immediate success.

2. After playing a single game for Wellington at provincial level in 2016, Rayasi shifted to Auckland to play his rugby with our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club and from where he first played for the Auckland Colts in 2017. Then, he played the first of his games for the Auckland team in 2018 with him having been a member of the Auckland team that won the Premiership competition of the "Mitre 10 Cup" in 2018. In 2019, he was a finalist for the "Duane Monkley Medal" in an Auckland team that were beaten that year in the semi-finals against the eventual competition winners, Tasman. In 2020, he was the Mitre 10's highest tryscorer with fourteen [14] tries and he was just one short of equalising most tries ever scored in a "National Provincial Championship" season.

3. Rayasi was first contracted to play "Super Rugby" in 2019 for the Hurricanes [Hurricane 264] playing only a couple of games that season. However, he was then a member of their squad competing in the "2019 Super Rugby" and "2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa" competitions [although was not initially part of the squad in 2020 due to his commitment to the All Blacks Sevens team preparing for the Olympics]. In 2021, he got more "game time" with the Hurricanes including starting for them in Round 3 against the Chiefs where he scored two tries. From the 2022 season onwards, he has been one of the stars of the Hurricanes team playing in Super Rugby having now played 27 games and he has scored 15 tries.

4. Having previously played at Under 20 level for the Samoa Under 20s Team in 2016 [then subsequently for the Moana Pasifika team against the New Zealand Maori All Blacks in 2020], it was in 2018 that Rayasi was selected to play for the New Zealand "All Black Sevens". As a member of that All Black Sevens team, he played for them at seven tournament as they won the "2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens" held in San Francisco [USA].

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Taufa FUNAKI

Date of Birth: 26th July 2000 in Auckland.

New Zealand Under 20's in 2019 and 2020* [7 games and 5 points - try]

Position: Halfback

Other First Class level games include:

- At provincial level for Auckland in 2020 [6 games].

- At "Super Rugby" level for the Blues in 2022 [6 games]

- At National level for other New Zealand teams includes the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2017 and 2018.

COMMENTS:

1. Educated at Sacred Heart College in Auckland, Funaki was a member of the school's First XV playing at Half Back and he was selected as a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in both 2017 and 2018.

2. Funaki was a member of the Auckland Under 19 team that played at the "2019 Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament" and he was selected to be a member of the New Zealand Under 20's team that played in the "2019 IRB Junior World Cup" tournament played in Argentina.

3. Funaki was part of the Auckland Provincial Teams "Wider Training Squad", but in 2020 was formally a member of the Auckland team and made his debut against Manawatu on Eden Park. To the end of the 2021 season, he had played 6 games for his province.

4. Funaki was first selected as a member of the Blues Development Programme in 2020 and became a member of the Premier Team in 2022 making his debut for the Blues in "Super Rugby Pacific" against the Highlanders with him having now played six [6] times for them until the end of 2022.

4. Funaki was selected as a member of the New Zealand Under 20's Development team tn 2019 and played in seven [7] games - three starting the match at halfback and four as a replacement with him scoring 5 pooints through a try. He was selected to prepare for the "2020 IRB Junior World Cup" to be played in Italy, but due to the advent of the Covid-19 Pandemic this tournament was cancelled.

5. Funaki carries on a long tradition of outstanding Halfbacks involved with and produced by our proud Club.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Tanielu TELE'A

Date of Birth: 16th June 1998 in Auckland.

New Zealand Under 20's in 2018 [4 games and 10 points - 2 tries]

Position: Wing and Centre Threequarter

Other First Class level games include:

- Provincial level for Auckland from 2018 to the present.

- "Super Rugby" level for the Blues from 2019 to the present.

COMMENTS:

1. Tele'a was educated at St Kentigans's College in Auckland and he played for the College's First XV with him being the team's Captain in 2016.

2. Upon leaving school, Tele'a began playing for our proud Club and he was a member of the Club's Premier team that played in the Final of the "2019 Gallaher Shield".

3. Tele'a was selected to play for the New Zealand Under 20's team in 2018, but the previous season he had played for the Manu Samoa Under 20's team.

4. In 2018, Tele'a was first selected to play at Provincial level for Auckland, he made his debut for Auckland when they played Tasman that season, and by the end of the the season he was a member of the team that ultimately won the "2018 Mitre 10 Premiership" competition with the team defeating Canterbury at Eden Park in extra time.

5. Tele'a was contracted to play for the Blues [Blues No 296] in "Super Rugby" and he made his debut from "The Bench" against the Sharks in 2019. He got his first "start" in the very next round against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires. He is currently playing for the Blues in "Super Rugby" having done so through to the current season, but playing for Counties Manukau at provincial level.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Hoskins SOTUTU

Date of Birth: 12th July 1998 in Auckland

New Zealand Under 20's in 2018 [6 games]

Position: Loose Forward

Other First Class level games include:

- Provincial level for Auckland from 2019 to the present.

- "Super Rugby" level for the Blues from 2019 to the present.

COMMENTS:

1. Sotutu was educated at Sacred Heart College in Auckland and he played for the College's First XV with him also being selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in TBC'd.

2. Upon leaving school, Sotutu began playing for our proud Club and he was a member of the Club's Premier team from 2018 with his career playing for our Club including him being a member of the team that played in the Final of the "2019 Gallaher Shield".

3. In 2018, Sotutu was selected to play for the New Zealand Under 20's for the "2018 World Rugby Under 20's Championship" tournament played in France and he played in all six [6] games played by the New Zealand team at the tournament.

4. Sotutu was member of the Auckland provincial team in 2018 for the first time as well as being a part of the Blues Development team. He is now in 2021 an integral member of that team as one of their best performing players.

5. Sotutu first played for the Blues in "Super Rugby" in 2019 and he is still playing for them again in 2021.

6. In 2020, Sotutu had an outstanding season playing "Super Rugby" at Number 8 for the Blues and this caused his selection in the North Island team for the "2020 Inter-Island Match". He was then selected as part of the New Zealand "All Black" squad preparing to the Bledisloe Cup series to be played against Australia and then for the "Rugby Championship" to be played in Australia. [NOW REFER TO HIS ALL BLACKS PROFILE]

7. Sotutu is the son of former Fijian International Waisake Sotutu and Waisake is the current Rugby Development Officer for our Club. His sister also played Sevens for Auckland from our proud Club.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Jamie LANE

Date of Birth: 7th November 1993 in Morrinsville

New Zealand Under 20's in 2015 [1 game]

Position: Lock Forward

Other First Class level games included:

- At Provincial level for Auckland from 2017 to 2019 [16 games and scored 5 points]

- At National level for New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2013 [2 games]

COMMENTS:

1. Lane was educated at Sacred Heart College in Auckland and he played for the First XV [including as captain in 2013] as well as being a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2013.

2. Upon leaving school, Lane played for our Auckland marist Club and from our club he was selected to play for the New Zealand Under 20's team that played in the "Oceania Tournament" that was held in Australia's Gold Coast. He played in one of the three games played by the team at the tournament and that was in the match played against Samoa with the team wearing black winning by 36 points to 14 and the New Zealand team went on to win that tournament by defeating Australia in the Final match by 46 points to 29.

3. In 2016, Lane transfered to play from the Ponsonby Club and he went on to be a member of that Club's Premier team through until the 2019 season with him being a member of that Club's "Gallaher Shield" winning team in the 2019 season that played in the Final against our own Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club.

4. Lane first played for Auckland in 2017 and he became a regular in the Auckland team during the 2019 season scoring a try in the Round Two match played against Northland in Whangarei.

5. A student in Auckland, Lane completed a Civil Engineering degree in 2019 and he decided to have the season away from rugby in 2020. He was again contracted by Auckland Rugby to play in the NPC team in 2021, but restrictions imposed due to the global pandemic Covid-19 curtailed the involvement of the Auckland teams in that competition. In 2022, he signed to play for the Utah Warriors club in the Major League Rugby competition in the USA.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 17 First Class games and scored 5 points

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Leon Peter Channel FUKOFUKA

Date of Birth: 8th September 1995 in Auckland

New Zealand Under 20's in 2014 [1 game and scored 5 points - one try]

Position: Halfback

Other First Class level games included:

- At Provincial level for Auckland in 2014 to 2018 [34 games and scored 5 points - a try to win the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup Final in overtime!]

- At "Super Rugby" level for the Chiefs in 2015, and the Crusaders from 2016 to 2018

- At International level for Tonga in 2017 and in 2019 [including at the "2019 Rugby World Cup" played in Japan] and for the Barbarians in the UK in 2018. [1 game]

COMMENTS:

1. Fukofuka is the son of a former Auckland Prop Forward Kalau Fukofuka and he is a product of Kelston Boys High School in Auckland. Initially a Loose Forward, he switched at High School to play Halfback when aged 16-years-old and he was selected to play for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Barbarians team a year later in 2012.

2. Tall and solid for a halfback, Fukofuka played for our proud Club upon leaving school, played for Auckland at the National Sevens tournament in 2013, and he was selected to play for the New Zealand Under 20 team in 2014 with the team playing in the "2014 IRB Junior Rugby World Cup" held that year in Auckland [finising third]. He played in the match played Scotland and he scored a try in the 54 points to 7 victory for the team wearing black.

3. Having played Sevens for Auckland, Fukofuka first played 15's for Auckland in 2014 and he was also a member of the Blues Development program, However, in 2015 he suffered a serious shoulder injury while playing for the Chiefs in Super Rugby that plagued him for that season at provincial level. The next season, he again played for Auckland and he was selected to be a part of the Crusaders in "Super Rugby" as well as for the next season [although getting limited game time as he was behind Andy Ellis in 2015 and Bryn Hall in 2016].

4. Playing for Auckland in 2017 and 2018, Fukofuka was rotated amongst the other Halfbacks in the squad getting starts as well as being an impact player from "The Bench". He played for Auckland in the "2018 Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Final" played against Canterbury and he scored the try in overtime that won the Final for Auckland.

5. In 2017, Fukofuka first played for Tonga at international level and he made his debut in the match played against the touring team from Wales that was held in Auckland with Wales winning by 24 points to 6. In 2018, he played for the Barbarians in the UK in the match played at London's Twickenham against Argentina that was by the Barbarians by 38 points to 35.

6. Fukofuka signed to play professionally in Japan in 2019 and he was that year selected to play again at International level for Tonga. With Tonga, he played at the "2019 Rugby World Cup" held that year in Japan where he played four games including the victory over the USA in Osaka [won by 31 points to 19] and as at 2021 had played 11 times for Tonga.

Total New Zealand Statistics: First Class 34 games and scored 10 points

Leroy Van DAM

Date of Birth: 7th November 1993 in Morrinsville

New Zealand Under 20's in 2013 [2 games and scored 10 points]

Position: Full Back and Wing Threequarter

Other First Class level games included:

- Provincial level for Manawatu in 2013 and 2014 [5 games and scored 5 points], Bay of Plenty in 2015 and 2016 [10 games and scored 10 points], Otago in 2017 and 2018 [5 games].

COMMENTS:

1. Van Dam was educated at Sacred Heart College in Auckland and he played for the First XV as well as was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.

2. Upon leaving school, Van Dam played rugby for our proud Club and he was selected for the New Zealand Under 20's team in 2013 that played in the "World Rugby Under 20's Championship" tournament held in France.

3. That same 2013 season, Van Dam was released "On Loan" to play for the Manawatu "Turbos" in the National provincial Championship.

4. Returning to Auckland in 2014, Van Dam was a member of our Club's Premier team that played in that season's "Gallaher Shield Final" before again being released "On Loan" to play for Manawatu.

5. The subsquent seasons, Van Dam played his rugby in the Bay of Plenty for Greerton Marist and was selected in the "Steamers" in 2015 and 2016, and then was contracted to play for Otago for the 2017 and 2018 seasons where he played his club rugby for the Dunedin "Sharks" [Marist team]. He is currently playing overseas in France in Pro Rugby Division 2 for Aurillac after having completed stints in Hong Kong and England.

6. VIn 2022/2023, an Dam is again playing on the international stage and this time it is for the land of his ancestry, the Netherlands team... he has now played in the orange jersey on four occasions [against Canada, Spain, Georgia, and Germany] with all games occurring in 2022/2023.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 24 First Class and scored 30 points

Francis SAILI

Date of Birth: 16th February 1991 in Auckland

New Zealand Under 20 in 2011 [5 games]

Position: Wing and Centre Threequarter

Other First Class level games included:

- Provincial level for Auckland in 2011 and 2014 [14 games and scored 5 points], and North Harbour from 2012 to 2013 [15 games and scored 15 points].

- "Super Rugby" level for the Blues from 2012 to 2015 [42 games and scored 35 points].

- At International level for the New Zealand "All Blacks" [AB No. 1126] in 2013 [2 games] from North Harbour.

COMMENTS:

1. Saili was educated at St Peter's College in Auckland and from that school played for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.

2. After leaving school, Saili played his rugby for our Auckland Marist Club and he was selected to play for the New Zealand Under 20's team that played at as well as won the "Junior Rugby World Cup" tournament played in Italy.

3. In 2011, Saili was first selected to play for Auckland in the then "ITM Cup" and ther following season [2012] he played the first of his games for the Blues in "Super Rugby".

4. In an attempt to play more regularly at provincial level, Saili transfered to play his provincial rugby for North Harbour [from the North Harbour Marist Club] in 2012 and it was while playing from North Harbour that he first played for the New Zealand All Blacks in 2013. He made his debut for the All Blacks in the Test Match played against Argentina in Hamilton [won 28-13] and his second match was the Test Match played in Tokyo against Japan [won 54-6].

5. After playing for the Blues and then with Auckland again in 2014, Saili signed to play overseas for the Munster Club in Ireland where he played until 2017 [despite injury issues that required surgery to his shoulder] before signing to play for Harlequins in England through until the end of the 2020. He then transfered to play for the Biarritz club in France for who he is still currently playing in 2023.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 81 First Class games and scored 92 points

Angus Wilkie Faiumiolemau TA'AVAO-MATAU

Date of Birth: 22nd March 1990 in Auckland

New Zealand Under 20's in 2010 [4 games including one as Captain]

Position: Prop Forward

Other First Class level games include:

- Provincial level for Auckland from 2010 to 2013 plus 2019 to present and Taranaki in 2014, 2015, and 2018.

- "Super Rugby" level for the Blues from 2012 to 2015, the New South Wales "Waratahs" in 2016 and 2017, and the Chiefs from 2018 to the present.

- International level for the New Zealand "All Blacks" [AB No. 1175] from Taranaki in 2018 and from Auckland in 2019 [although playing from the Eden Rugby Club]

COMMENTS:

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

1. Ta'avao-Matau was educated at Dilworth College in Auckland and he was a member of that school's First XV. Although born in New Zealand, he was also eligible to play at international level for Australia [through his mother] and for Manu Samoa [through his father].

2. Ta'avao-Matau began playing for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland upon leaving school and that season [2010] from our club he was selected to be a member of the New Zealand Under 20's team that played at the "2010 IRB Junior Rugby World Cup" held in Argentina. He played in four of the five games during that tournament [including being Captain for the match played against Fiji in Santa Fe that was won by 44 points to 11] and the New Zealand team were named "Junior World Champions" when they defeated Australia in the Final played in Rosario winning by 62 points to 17.

3. Ta'avao-Matau first played at provincial level for Auckland in 2010 playing the last 9 games of the season when entering the games from "The Bench" including the Semi-Final held in Auckland that was very narrowly lost to Waikato by 38 points to 37.

STILL CURRENTLY PLAYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Peter SAILI

Date of Birth: 4th January 1988 in Auckland

New Zealand Under 19's in 2007 [5 games]

New Zealand Under 20 in 2008 [5 games and scored 5 points]

Position: Loose Forward

Other First Class level games included:

- Provincial level for Auckland in 2008 and 2014 [70 games and scored 20 points],

- "Super Rugby" level for the Blues from 2009 to 2015 [72 games and scored 20 points]

COMMENTS:

1. Saili was educated at St Peter's College in Auckland playing in the First XV for three seasons and from that school he played for the Auckland Secondary Schools team then for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2006 [his last year at school]. Not only excelling at rugby, he also represented New Zealand in softball at Secondary School level in 2005.

2. After leaving school, Saili played his rugby for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Aukland with him immediately becoming a member of Club's Premier team. From our Club, he was selected as a member of the New Zealand Under 19 team that competed at the "2007 IRB Junior World Cup" held in Ireland with the New Zealand team being crowned as "Junior World Champions" after defeating South Africa in the Final by 31 points to 7 held in Belfast.

3. In 2008, Saili was selected as a member of the New Zealand Under 20's team that competed at the "2008 IRB Junior Rugby World Cup" [the tournament having changed age-groups from Under 19's to Under 20's] that was held in Wales. The New Zealand team were again crowned "Junior World Champions" when they played England in the Final that was held in Swansea scoring 4 tries in a crushing win by 38 points to 3.

4. In that same 2008 season, Saili first played for Auckland at provincial level and he played his debut game in a "Ranfurly Shield" match against Poverty Bay that was held in Gisborne with the team in the "blue and white hoops" retaining the Shield winning by 54 points to 3. He continued to play for Auckland until 2014 and during this time he played 70 games for our province scoring 20 points through 4 tries.

5. The 2009 season was Saili's first year playing for the Blues in "Super Rugby" [Blues No 159] with him playing his debut game against the Western Force from Australia. Duing his career, he played for the Blues on 72 ocassions and he scored 20 points through scoring 4 tries.

6. In January of 2015, Saili was given "immediately release" by the Blues so that he could commence a contract overseas with Bordeaux in France [playing over 50 times for this club from 2015 to 2017], then for the Pyrenees club [from 2017 to 2019], and then for Valance club [from 2019 to the present now in the Nationale D2 competion] with all clubs being in France.

7. Saili's younger brother, Francis, also played for Auckland and the Blues from our club with him also playing for the New Zealand "All Blacks" in 2013.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 148 First Class games and scoring 50 points

James Andrew SOMERSET

Date of Birth: 27th March 1985 in Bristol [England]

New Zealand Under 19's in 2004 [1 game and scored 20 points - four tries]

New Zealand Under 21 in 2005 and 2006 [9 games and scored 40 points - eight tries]

Position: Utility Back

Other First Class level games included:

- Provincial level for Auckland from 2004 to 2006 [6 games and scored 15 points]

- "Super Rugby" for the Blues in 2006 and 2007

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

COMMENTS:

1. English born, Somerset came to New Zealand with his family tbc'd

Daniel Francis CRICHTON

Date of Birth: 22nd October 1985 in Wellington

New Zealand 19's in 2004 [3 games]

Position: Loose Forward

Other First Class level games include:

- Provincial level for Auckland in 2005 [2 games], for Counties Manukau in 2006 and 2007 [9 games], and for Tasman in 2009 [5 games]

- Other National team sin New Zealand included the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2003 [4 games

- International level for Manu Samoa in 2012 [4 games]

COMMENTS:

1. Crichton was educated at De La Salle College in Auckland where he played in the First XV as well as being selected to play for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2003. Also in the NZSS team that year were players who would later also play for our Club; namely Isaia Toeava and Anthony Elisala.

2. Upon leaving school, Crichton began playing for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland in 2004 where he quickly became a member of our Club's Premier team.

3. Crichton was then selected to be a member of the New Zealand Under 19's age group team that competed at and won the "2004 Junior Rugby World Championship" tournament that was held in South Africa with him playing in the Final against France in Durban that was won by 34 points to 11.

4. Crichton first played for Auckland in 2005 and he played his debut match against Wellington at Auckland's Eden Park that was won by 19 points to 11 and his other game that season was against Northland during a season where the Auckland team at its conclusion were crowned as the National First Division Champions.

5. Despite trying to get back into the Auckland team, these two games were to be Crichton's only games in the "blue and white hoops". However, it was not the end of his games at provincial level in New Zealand as in 2006 and 2007 he played for Counties Manukau plus in 2009 for Tasman. He was to have played for Otago in 2012, but his contract was abruptly cancelled and he was not to again play at first class level in New Zealand.

6. Crichton played overseas in Romania and he played four [4] times for Manu Samoa in 2011.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 16 First Class games

Kurtis Taniela HAIU

Date of Birth: 14th July 1984 in Whangarei

New Zealand Under 19's in TBC'd [tbc'd games and tbc'd points]

New Zealand Under 21's in TBC'd [tbc'd games and tbc'd points]

Position: Loose and Lock Forward

Other First Class level games included:

- Provincial level for Auckland from 2005 to 2010 [74 games and scored 40 points].

- "Super Rugby" level for the "Blues" in 2006 and from 2008 to 2011 [53 games and scored 25 points]

- Other National teams in New Zealand included playing for the New Zealand Secondary Schols team in tbc'd.

COMMENTS:

1. Educated at Scared Heart College in Auckland, Haiu played for the college's First XV team for tbc'd seasons and in tbc'd he was selected then played for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.

2. After leaving school, Haiu began playing for our proud Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland. He was almost immeditely called in to play for our club's Premier team from where he came to the attention of the Auckland "NPC team" selectors.

3. Haiu made his debut at provincial "NPC" level for Auckland in 2005 and remarkably his very first game was played against the touring British and Irish Lions in game just lost by Auckland in the narrowest of margins... 13–17. He continued to represent Auckland at provincial level throughout his career and he was given captaincy duties on occasion..

4. The 2006 season saw Haiu make his first appearance in "Super Rugby" when he made his debut "off the bench" for the Blues in their season opening 19–37 loss to the Hurricanes at Eden Park. His first start for the Blues came in the Round 7 loss to the New South Tales "Waratahs" where he was given the task of marking then Australian star forward, Wycliff Palu. That same season Haiu scored his first try in Super Rugby when he dotted down against the Cats at Ellis Park. He made 53 appearances until his retirement from the game in 2011.

5. 2011 saw Haiu take an indefinite period of leave from rugby after the discovery of a lesion on a rib. Located in his T8 rib, the lesion was found by CT imaging taken in mid-April of that year and after he had been increasingly noticing rib pain for several months that he had attributed this to the contact involved in rugby. However, the pain became more frequent and this needed the initiation of further tests, including bone tests, with the diagnosis being a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. Tragically, he died from that Ewing's Sarcoma on the 13th of April 2016.

6. Such was Haiu's passion for rugby and his absolute determination to live, he attended rugby practice with his Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club as often as he could including during the 2015 season. He was determined to play again the sport that he loved and for the club that meant so much to him... RIP Killer.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 28 First Class games and scored 55 points

Justin Carey WILSON

Date of Birth: 25th December 1978 in TBC'd

New Zealand Sevens in 1999 and 2000 [from Bay of Plenty], 2001 and 2002 [from Auckland] 2003 to 2005 [from Wellington] - playing in 27 tournaments

Position: Back

Other First Class level games included:

- At Provincial level in Sevens for Bay of Plenty from tbc'd and Auckland from 2000 to tbc'd

- At Provincial level in 15's for Bay of Plenty from 1998 to 2000 [35 games], for Auckland from 2001 to 2002 [6 games], for Wellington in 2005 [1 games], and for Hawkes Bay from 2006 to 2007 [4 games and scoring 5 points].

- At "Super Rugby" level for the Blues in 2001 [6 games and 5 points] and the Hurricanes in 2005 [1 game].

- At other National level teams that included for the New Zealand A's in 2000 [from Bay of Plenty [2 games and 5 points] and for the New Zealand Maoris in 2003 and 2004 [3 games and scored 15 points]

COMMENTS:

1. Wilson is an Australia born utility back who q rich and varied Rugby career that started with the Western Australian state side in Australia and then saw him playing with the Junior Kiwis rugby league side.

2. Switching back to rugby, Wilson played 35 games for Bay of Plenty between 1998-2000 from where he was first selected to play for the New Zealand Sevens team in 1999. In 2000, he made his international fifteens debut for New Zealand A playing in two matches on their European tour against Wales A and French Universities.

3. Wilson' then played "Super Rugby" for the Blues team to during the 2001 season with him playing six [6] game and scoring 5 points through a try.

4. Remaining in Auckland and playing from our proud Marist Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland., Wilson made six [6] appearances playing for Auckland across the two [2] seasons of 2001 and 2002.

5. Then he transfered and played three [3] seasons of club rugby in Wellington between 2003-2005 with him getting capped once for the Wellington "Lions" against Waikato in 2005.

6. Wilson was called in to again play "Super Rugby" in 2005, but this time with the Hurricanes. As a replacement player for the injured fullback pair of Shannon Paku and Brent Ward, he made one appearance "off the bench" in the last round robin match of that season played against the Crusaders.

7. Whilst playing out of Wellington, Wilson made the New Zealand Maori team in 2003 and 2004 [scoring two tries in the Maori win against Canada in 2004] and he continued to make the New Zealand Sevens team in each of those years including while playing from our proud club in 2001 and 2002.

8. Continuing his colourful career, Wilson moved to his fourth province Hawke’s Bay in 2006 and again featuring in the Magpies backline in the 2007 season playing four [4] times while scoring 5 points through a try.

9. Ending his playing career with the El Salvador club in Spain in 2009, he then began coaching Rugby initially in Ireland in 2010 and then in Melbourne [Australia] from 2011.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 71 First Class games and scored 120 points

Patrick PETELO

Date of Birth: tbc'd

New Zealand Under 19's in 1996 [2 games and 10 points]

New Zealand XV in 1998 [3 games and 10 points]

Position: Wing Threequarter

Other First Class level games included:

- At Provincial level for Auckland from 1997 [1 game and scored 5 points], for Northland in 1999 [4 games and 5 points], and for Counties Manukau in 2000 and 2001 [20 games and 35 points]

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

COMMENTS:

1. Educated at TBC'd, upon leaving school Petelo played for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland with him susequently going to to score the winning try for our Premier team in the Final for the "1996 Gallaher Memorial Shield".

2. That season, Petelo was selected in the New Zealand Undr 19's team from our proud Club and he played 2 games for that team while scoring two tries for his 10 points.

3. In 1997, Petelo was selected to play for Auckland and in the one game that he played he scored a try on debut. Looking for more "game time" at that level and looking for games at higher levels he played for Northland in 1999 before then playing for Counties Manukau in 2000 as well as 2001.

4. TBC'd

Played for New Zealand League Sevens and Manu Samoa Sevens

Total New Zealand Statistics: 28 First Class games and scored 55 points

Quinton Albert SANFT

Date of Birth: 26th May 1977 in Apia [Western Samoa]

New Zealand Under 19's in 1996 [TBC'd games and points]

Position: First Five Eighth

Other First Class level games included:

- At Provincial level for Auckland from 1997 [1 game and scored 15 points], and for Counties Manukau in 2002 [8 games and 48 points]

- At International level for Samoa in 2002 [2 games and scored 6 points- 2 Test Matches]

COMMENTS:

1. Sanft was educated at De La Salle College in Auckland and from school he played for our Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club in Auckland.

2. From our proud club, Sanft was selected to play the New Zealand Under 19's team in 1996 and he played tbc'd games while scoring tbc'd points.

3. In 1997, Sanft was selected to play for Auckland and he played in one match for our province although this was very successful as after entering the game as a Substitute, he scored 15 points through a try and 5 conversions. The Auckland team at the time was full with talent especially in his position of First Five eighth and this restricted him to just the one game in that season.

4. Sanft transfered to play for Ponsonby in 1998, but he could not break into the Auckland team which caused him to look elsewhere for "game time" at provincial level. In 2002, he was playing from the Papakura Rugby Club when he played for Counties Manukau in 8 games while scoring 48 points. He then went overseas to play in the UK and France. He is still there coaching professionally.

Total New Zealand Statistics: 9 First Class games and scored 63 points

Craig Ross INNES

Date of Birth: 10th September 1969 in New Plymouth

New Zealand Colts in 1988 from Marist and in 1989 to 1990 from Ponsonby [10 games and 16 points]

Position: Wing and Centre Threequarter as well and 2nd Five-Eighths

Other First Class level games of note included:

- Provincial level for Auckland B's in 1988 [1 game], Auckland from 1988 to 1991, and the again from 1998 to 2000 [81 games and 96 points]

- "Super Rugby" level for the Blues from 1998 to 2001 [30 games and 10 points]

- International level for the New Zealand "All Blacks" [AB No. 901] from 1989 to 1991 [17 Tests and 13 other games scoring 60 points]

COMMENTS:

1. Innes [known by the nickname of "Postie" to many] was educated at Sacred Heart College in Auckland and upon leaving school played for our proud Club from where he was selected for the New Zealand Colts team in that year as well as made his debut for Auckland in that 1988 season.

2. However, the Marist backline at the time was filled with existing All Blacks and other players of high quality including All Blacks Bernie McCahill, Terry Wright and John Kirwan as well as players such as John Ah Kuoi who at that time was playing for Western Samoa. So Innes made the decision to transfer to play for Ponsonby and from that club was first selected as a New Zealand All Black in 1989 [scoring a try with his very first touch of the ball in the Test Match played against Wales].

3. After playing for the All Blacks at the "1991 Rugby World Cup", Innes switiched codes to play Rugby League in 1992 when he signed to play for Leeds in the United Kingdom. He played for that club until 1996, but then he signed to play for the Manly "Sea Eagles" in the ARL Competition where he won a ARL Championship in 1996 playing alongside his good friend Matthew Ridge. He played at International Rugby League level for the "Rest of the World" team against an Australian ARL XIII in 1997, but due to issues at the time in international Rugby League could not play for the Kiwis.

4. In 1998, Innes returned to Rugby after signing to play for the Blues in "Super Rugby" and he also played again for Auckland. After retiring from playing the game, he became a Player Agent and continues in that role while living in Auckland.

In total, INNES played 160 First Class level games of rugby and scored 190 points.

Nesetorio John "Johnny" SCHUSTER

Date of Birth: 17th January 1964 in Samoa [Apia]

New Zealand Colts in 1985 [1 game]

Position: Centre Threequarter and Second Five-Eighths

Other First Class level games of note included:

- Provincial level for Wellington from 1986 to 1990 [62 games and 108 points]

- International level for the New Zealand "All Blacks" from 1987 to 1989 [12 Tests and 14 other games scoring 36 points]

COMMENTS:

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Total New Zealand Statistics: 105 First Class games and scored 160 points