Premier Men Gains and Losses 2020

After a well-documented delay, the 2020 Wellington club rugby season kicks off this coming Saturday. As well as on all the club social media channels, round one Swindale Shield teams will be named in one place in the Draws & Results section (above/menu bar) on Friday.

As always there is player movement between clubs and new players from school First XVs, some others from outside the province and also a few from overseas who were here before the lockdown joining the playing ranks of the 14 Premier clubs to add intrigue to the start of the competition.

As provided by clubs, see below for a list of gains and losses to wider Premier squads ahead of the 2020 season. Names below are not definitive lists, with an emphasis on those likely to play Premier rugby this season.

Gains and Losses by club in alphabetical order:

AVALON: 

Also known as: The Wolves
Colours: Maroon and Blue
Playing out of: Fraser Park Sportsville, Lower Hutt

Gains – Ben Luaai (returning), Jacob Faifai (HOBM)
Losses: Waylon Tuhoro-Robinson (HOBM), Tajun Crosland-Misa (HOBM), Jordan King (Wainuiomata)

HUTT OLD BOYS MARIST: 

Also known as: The Eagles
Colours: Green, Red and White
Playing out of: Hutt Recreation Ground

Gains – Tomasi Alosio (Samoa 7’s), Wataru Furuya (Japan), Fritz Rayasi (BOP Academy), Todd Svenson (UHR), Josh Brown (UHR), Pakai Turia (Poneke), Waylon Tuhoro-Robinson (Avalon), Tajun Crosland-Misa (Avalon), Nic Apikatoa (UHR).
Losses – Sheridan Rangihuna (Hawkes Bay), Joe Apikatoa (Hawkes Bay), Lise Soloa (Norths), Glen Walters (Injury)

JOHNSONVILLE:

Also known as: The Hawks
Colours: Dark and Light Blue hoops
Playing out of:  Helston Park

Gains – Andy Ellis (Ories), Paula Kinikinilau (Ories), Ha’amea ‘Ahio (Ories), Ivan Vaisagote (Poneke), Bodene Davis (Northland), Niall Delahunt (Ireland), Mark Sutton (Ireland), Kane Hayes (King Country), Josh Goodall (Injury)
Losses – Waisea Yabakivou (study), Joel Knight (study), Hemi Remuera (retired again), Campbell Tait (retired), Eamonn Carr (Tawa), Rob Carr (Tawa), Brady Cutting (unavailable)

MARIST ST PATS:

Also known as: The Red Machine, Scarlets
Colours: Scarlet jersey, white shorts, dark blue and green socks
Playing out of: Evans Bay Park, Kilbirnie

Gains – Aiden Morgan (WRFU Academy/King’s College), Matt Dobbyn (WRFU Academy/Hamilton Boys), Sage Aukustino (St Pat’s Town)
Losses – Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Chiefs), Sanasco Crichton (Norths)

NORTHERN UNITED:

Also known as: Bulldogs
Colours: Blue and White with Red trim
Playing out of: Jerry Collins Stadium at Porirua Park

Gains – Ropati So’oalo (Aotea College), Blake Rogers (Scots College), Reon Paul (Rongotai College), Lise Soloa (HOBM), Malachai Unasa (Ories), Noah Rees/Ironside (Ories), Adrian Seumanufagai (OBU), Sanasco Crichton (MSP), Manahi Moana (OBU), Josiah Tavita (Hawkes Bay), Kevin Vaeluaga (Otago), Jackson Iose (Manawatu), Antony Fox (Horo-Kap), Faifili Levave (France), Luke Bowden (Netherlands), Zac Tuala (Australia), Frano Te Hau (returning to rugby)
Losses – Connor Garden-Bachop (Highlanders), Eli Moata’a (Australia), Jeff Makapelu (Tawa), Asafo Fa’amafu (Petone)

OLD BOYS-UNIVERSITY:

Also known as: Billygoats
Colours: Green and white hooped jerseys with black collar and black shorts
Playing out of: Nairnville Park, Khandallah

Gains – Luke Chisholm (UHR), Kyle Preston (Tawa), Kurt Sickler (Poneke), James Poloniati (Wellington), Kenan Gillson (Canterbury), Sam O’Brien (Canterbury), Olly Polsen (Auckland)
Losses – Teariki Ben-Nicholas (Highlanders), Finnbarr Kerr-Newell (Auckland), Agustin Escalona (Australia), Junior Makepelu (Harbour), Pedro Valentine-Robertson (Taranaki), Trevahn Ta’ufo’ou (Manawatu), Ben Stephens (MSP), Adrian Seumanufagai (Norths), Manahi Moana (Norths), Tai Neli (Injury), Zeke Sopoaga (retired)

ORIENTAL RONGOTAI:

Also known as: Ories, O-Tide, Magpies
Colours:  Black and White hoops
Playing out of: Polo Ground, Miramar

Gains – Roderick Solo (Scots College), Ethan Webster-Nonu (Scots College), Ronald & Jason Seumanufegai (St Pat’s Town), Fano Paese (St Pat’s Town), Tavita Tafili (St Pat’s Town), Tua Taituave (St Pat’s Town), Dylan Jackson (Rongotai College), Apostle Salanoa (Rongotai College), Saia Paese (Hawke’s Bay), Cole Cornelius (Hawke’s Bay), Danny van Dyk (Otago), Tom Harvey (Tauranga), Charles Paese (Australia), John Tuia (Injury), Sean Hay (Injury)
Losses – Malachai Unasa (Norths), Noah Rees/Ironside (Norths), Trent Renata (Tawa), Andy Ellis (J’ville), Paula Kinikinilau (J’ville), Ha’amea Ahio (Jville) Seth Baker (Auckland), Joey Mears (Canterbury)

PAREMATA-PLIMMERTON:

Also known as: Pare-Plim, Mata
Colours: Black with Yellow and Red trim
Playing out of: Ngati Toa Domain, Mana  

Gains – Dylan Leney (OBU), Adam Christersson (Sweden), Rama So’oalo (Norths), Alex Hinchliffe (Overseas), Jordon Clark (Manawatu), Joshae Witana (Waikato), Tane McMillan-Parata (Injury), Taiaroa McMillan-Parata (Overseas), Simon Black (Horo-Kap)
Losses – Danny Herewini (work), Elijah Ikenasio (injury), Rocky Manisy (work/family).

PETONE:

Also known as: Villagers
Colours: Navy Blue jersey with White shoulder saddle
Playing out of: Petone Recreation Ground

Gains – Josh Southall (UHR), Iona Apineru (UHR), Josh Houston-Tupou (UHR), Kaleb Sinclair (UHR), Asafo Fa’amafu (Norths), Tailah Love (OBU) Jack Ross (Injury), Vern Sosefo (UHR via France), Jaylen Tuapola (Scots College via Canterbury), Willie Tufui (Overseas), Taamilo Va’a (injury), Sosaia Tufui (work), Junior Pesaleli (injury), Si’u Anae (Rugby League)
Losses –  Eduan Struwig (Bay of Plenty), Adam Simpson (Northland), Taurima Morris (Auckland), Josh Onekawa (Rugby League), Luke Flett (work), Junior Foaitua (year off)

PONEKE:

Also known as: Street Kids.
Colours: Red and Black hoops
Playing out of: Kilbirnie Park

Gains – Hauwai McGahan (Harbour), Reuben Puckey (OBU), Mario Counsell (Poverty Bay)
Losses – Pakai Turia (HOBM), Kurt Sickler (OBU), Levi Harmon (Hawke’s Bay), Ryan Hargood (Wai-Bush), Nathan Smith (Waikato), Ivan Vaisagote (Johnsonville)

TAWA:

Also known as: The Wolfpack
Colours:  Blue, Red and Gold
Playing out of: Lyndhurst Park, Tawa

Gains – Trent Renata (Ories), Akira Ieremia (Silverstream), Matt Treeby (returning), Eamonn Carr (Jville), Rob Carr (Jville) Jeff Makepelu (Norths), Saimoni Roraqio (Mana College), Javan Upton (Aotea), Sam Taufa (St Pats Town), Aamron Edwards (Horo-Kap), Lumafale Lualua (Canterbury), Sene Nofoaiga (Samoa), Antoine Menardeau (France)
Losses – Kyle Preston (OBU), Elijah Va’a-Brooking (work)

UPPER HUTT RAMS: 

Also known as: The Rams
Colours: Maroon and Gold
Playing out of: Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt

Gains –  Murphy Taramai (via Hurricanes)
Losses – Apanui Heemi (retired), Ray Sio (retired), Nua Fono-Hunt (retired), Todd Svenson (HOBM), Josh Brown (HOBM), Nic Apikatoa (HOBM), Josh Southall (Petone), Iona Apineru (Petone), Josh Houston-Tupou (Petone), Kaleb Sinclair (Petone), Luke Chisholm (OBU), Tyler Tane (Wainuiomata)

WAINUIOMATA:

Also known as: Wainui, the Nui.
Colours: Black and Green
Playing out of: William Jones Park

Gains – Reuben Love (WRFU Academy/Palmerston North Boys’ High School), Jordan King (Avalon), Tyler Tane (UHR), Jason Love (returning), Zaiman-Ray Blake (Wainuiomata HS)
Losses – Ben Tupuola (retired), Bevan Clark (retired), Glen Angus (retired), Justin Va’a (retired), Marvin Karawana (unavailable), TJ Va’a (Australia), Josh Robertson-Weepu (Australia)

WELLINGTON:

Also known as: The Axemen
Colours: Black and Gold
Playing out of: Hataitai Park

Gains – Tom Robinson (overseas), Ben Strowger-Turnoch (Ories), Josh Michael (Otago), Gabriel Wilson (Counties), Sam Rendell, Anthony Wanakore (King Country), Beni Kalin (OBU), Sam Ellis (OBU), Dean Mathura, Steve Mayes
Losses: James Poloniati (OBU), Tala Kitekei’aho (Retired), Tevita Falakalala (Retired), Damian Winter (Retired), Jason Bird (Injury), Cam Keech (Injury), Eremia Tapsell (Hong Kong), Henry Hocking (UK), Ollie Marshall (Australia), Hilton Mexted (Auckland), Ryan Dawson (Overseas), Lati Lati (Overseas)