Paremata-Plimmerton celebrating 60 years of rugby and community this weekend
Observant spectators will have spotted a change in the Paremata-Plimmerton RFC’s Premier, Women’s and Colts team’s playing jerseys this season.
The club is recognising its strong connection with the local Hongoeka Marae with the symbolism of a hammerhead shark on the gold band around the middle of its jerseys, to help mark the club’s 60th anniversary, which they are celebrating at Ngati Toa Domain this Saturday.
Many of the club’s former and current players and members have had an affiliation with the Marae, such as the McMillan-Parata brothers, Tane, Tairoa, Apirana and Kewa.
Formed in 1959 and based on the edge of Porirua Harbour at Ngati Toa Domain, Paremata-Plimmerton is Wellington’s northernmost club and one of its largest in terms of combined junior and senior club playing numbers.
As the name suggests, Paremata-Plimmerton is an amalgamation of two clubs. Rugby had been played for some years following World War I in the area to the north of the Pauatahanui inlet, but it wasn’t until 1932 that the Plimmerton club was formed; basing themselves at what is now known as Plimmerton Domain between the rail line and the Taupo swamp and enjoying some moderate success in the junior grades in those early years before World War 2.
The Paremata club was formed in 1945, one of a group of clubs established post-war, and took up residence at Ngati Toa Domain as the site was being disassembled as a military camp. The new club adopted a variation of their neighbours playing strip – Plimmerton wore a grey jersey with a single blue hoop bracketed by a yellow one on each side, Paremata black with red and gold. The two merged in 1959, adopting Paremata’s colours, home ground and the conjoined name, all of which remain today.
Since 2014, the club has played an annual match called the “Battle of the Bridge” between the players that have to cross the bridge to come to the club (Paremata) and those that don’t (Plimmerton).
As well as bragging rights, this match (this year’s one to be played in August) has a serious meaning to it, as a fundraising fixture to assist in player welfare and injuries.
PPRFC Chairperson Sal O'Reilly-Nugent said the club is healthy and the future is positive.
The junior club is some 450-strong. Ngati Toa Domain is a hive of activity on Saturdays, from early morning to late afternoon.
PPRFC’s relationship with local schools is growing. “Our club is part of the WRFU’s participation programme, so we have our driver [former Hurricanes and All Black John Schwalger] going into local schools and colleges and there a couple of schools that have never had anyone go in there before from our club."
This is developing the link between the players at college now who it is hoped will play for the club when they leave school. “We have a strong relationship with Aotea College, which is fantastic and it is looking good for the future.”
Currently, there a number of senior club players who played their junior rugby at the club. For example Shane Hedges is a 200-game Premier team player and was a PPRFC junior.
“Another thing that is great is now we have senior players who have junior kids wearing the club colours on Saturdays. This is what helps create that whanau atmosphere, and to enhance our culture.
One family that has been involved in the club since the start is the Gray family. Jim Gray is the club’s current President.
The Ken Gray Cup match has been played between the Paremata-Plimmerton and Petone Premier sides in the Swindale Shield since 2015. Former Wellington and All Blacks prop Ken Gray made his senior debut for the Paremata club in 1958, before transferring to Petone where he launched his successful career from.
The club also has some current internationals. “We are privileged to have had a couple of players who have represented New Zealand in our team at the moment. Petaera Meihana and Ben Webb were both in the Deaf Blacks that beat Argentina in a recent Test series,” said O'Reilly-Nugent.
PPRFC is mid-way through a multi-season project of redeveloping the clubrooms, with new changing rooms opened a couple of years ago.
The club also holds two ‘firsts’ in Wellington rugby, having been the inaugural winners of the women’s Fleur’s Trophy in 1993, and the Under 85kg Paul Potiki Shield in 1995.