INVESTEC SUPER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCH PROGR AMME | FRIDAY 2 JUNE 201 7
BLUES VS REDS THE FIRST SUPER RUGBY GAME IN SAMOA
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Kiwi surveyor Norman Macdonald introduced the Samoan Islands to rugby atfter he moved there in 1892.
samoan rugby: myths & legends The history of rugby in Samoa is shrouded in myths and legends, many of which have been passed down the generations like a rugby ball, greatly confounding the historians as they struggle in futility to tackle the truth and sort what is fact from what is fiction. So we’ve enlisted the help of rugby fanatic and stats guru Paul Neazor of ThreeNRugby to share a few of his favourite stories about the history of Samoan rugby. Who knows – perhaps 100 years from now the rugby historians will be talking about the first-ever Investec Super Rugby match in Samoa…
The history of rugby in Samoa Most of the history books will tell you that rugby was introduced to Samoa either by the Catholic Marist Brothers in 1920s, or by visiting soldiers during World War One. But Paul contends that the game was introduced there much earlier than that. He says rugby was actually introduced to the Samoan islands by Kiwi surveyor Norman Macdonald, who shifted there in 1892. He organised games between local teams and visiting ship crews on an ad-hoc basis, and remained a keen supporter all his life. Continues page 9 »
BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17 7
Continued from page 7
Samoa’s first test match The Samoan national side played its first-ever rugby test match against neighbouring Fiji in 1924. Believe it or not, the kick-off was at 7am in the morning, which allowed the Fijian team to make their ship for Tonga, and the Samoans to go off to work for the day afterwards. While it’s a good story, it’s almost certainly a myth that there was a large tree growing out of the surface of Apia Park at the time, somewhere near the half-way line, which would have posed a major health-and-safety risk to the players if it were true. In case you were wondering, Fiji won the closely-fought match 0-6.
Samoan rugby’s ‘Middle Ages’ The game in Samoa trod a chequered path in the 1930s and 1940s, being stopped more than once for a variety of reasons: because it inflamed passions during the days when self-determination was becoming an uncomfortable issue, the Great Depression, World War II, and then a lack of money. Fortunately, management of the game was reorganised in 1953 and has continued uninterrupted since then, with visits from international sides becoming more common since the 1970s (the All Blacks played a test match in Samoa for the first time in 2015). Continued on page 11 »
BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17 9
Continued from page 9
Samoa at the Rugby World Cup
Samoa Vs Wales, 2011 RWC Photo © Copyright Photosport Ltd www.photosport.nz
Samoa was excluded from the first World Cup, for which teams were chosen on an invitation basis. Controversially, Fiji had the casting vote and went for Tonga instead, despite the fact that Samoa had won the 1985 rugby championship between the three island nations. So, Samoa’s first appearance at the Rugby World Cup came in 1991, when they shocked the rugbyplaying world by beating Wales in Cardiff in their opening match. They upset them again at the 1999 tournament, and came agonisingly close to pulling off the feat for a third time at the 2011 edition, making them something of a bogey team for the Welsh. Wales will certainly be hoping they don’t have to face the Samoans at the next Rugby World Cup.
Samoa Vs Wales, 1991 RWC Photo © Copyright Photosport Ltd www.photosport.nz
BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17 1 1
Chief Patrick The irrepressible Patrick Tuipulotu is many things – an Aucklander, Blues star, All Black, New Zealander, Samoan. But what you might not know is that the destructive lock is also a Samoan chief, having been bestowed the chiefly title of Sa’u by the village of Apolima.
“To be given that title is a huge honour. I was very humbled by it.”
At a ceremony on New Year’s Eve this year, Patrick proudly accepted the title alongside members of his extended family at a traditional gathering in the village, which is situated on the north side of Apolima island, the smallest of the four inhabited islands of Samoa. “It was very special,” says the soft-spoken Patrick, who normally prefers his actions on the field to do his talking for him. “To be given that title is a huge honour. I was very humbled by it.” Born and raised in New Zealand, Patrick is Samoan through his father’s parents. When his grandmother passed away, he saw reconnecting with his Samoan heritage and embracing chiefdom as a way of honouring her. Continued on page 14 »
BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17 1 3
Continued from page 13 “It’s funny, I have a Tongan surname so everyone thinks that’s where I’m from. But I like to surprise people when I get to tell them that I’m actually Samoan. I’m actually very proud of my ancestry.” Though he takes his chiefly responsibilities extremely seriously, his other relations take care of the day-to-day obligations while he concentrates on what he does best: playing rugby for the Blues. “But I’ll always be there when they need me,” he says. Naturally, he’s proud to be playing in the first Super Rugby match in Samoa. “It feels very special to be part of history, bringing our competition to Apia for the first time. So there’s a big feel-good factor for us, and
hopefully it’ll be really exciting for them.” Will he have time to visit his village while he’s here? “I’d love to visit Apolima, but I probably won’t have time. We play the Reds on Friday night, and then we have to head back to NZ to take on the British & Irish Lions at Eden Park on Wednesday.” Hopefully that won’t be the only time the big man gets to face the visiting Lions in this series, as he looks to add to his tally of 12 caps for the All Blacks. “I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself,” he says. “I’ve just got to take it one game at a time – hopefully starting with this Friday in Apia.”
Views of Apolima Island
hirabhana.co.nz
PLAYER STATS Alex Hodgman James Parsons
1.96 M | 122 KG | 23 YR | 3 CAP
1.85 M | 106 KG | 30 YR | 76 (75 SR) CAPS
Sione Mafileo
Patrick Tuipulotu
1.78 M | 128 KG | 24 YR | 20 CAPS
1.98 M | 120 KG | 24 YR | 42 CAPS
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Jimmy Tupou
1.96 M | 110 KG | 24 YR | 15 CAPS
1.96 M | 109 KG | 24 YR | 7 CAPS
Kara Pryor
Steven Luatua
1.89 M | 104 KG | 26 YR | 16 CAPS
1.96 M | 115 KG | 26 YR | 72 CAPS
Sam Nock
Piers Francis
1.78 M | 85 KG | 20 YR | 5 CAPS
1.82 M | 92 KG | 26 YR | 23 CAPS
Rieko Ioane
TJ Faiane
1.88 M | 103 KG | 20 YR | 18 CAPS
1.75 M | 92 KG | 21 YR | 5 CAPS
Rene Ranger
Declan O'Donnell
1.83 M | 102 KG | 30 YR | 74 CAPS
1.88 M | 94 KG | 26 YR | 1 CAP
Melani Nanai
Hame Faiva
1.94 M | 90 KG | 23 YR | 36 CAPS
1.81 M | 108 KG | 23 YR | 5 CAPS
Sam Prattley
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
1.96 M | 116 KG | 27 YR | 40 (39 SR) CAPS
1.95 M | 129 KG | 25 YR | 54 (53 SR) CAPS
Akira Ioane
Murphy Taramai
1.94 M | 113 KG | 22 YR | 30 CAPS
1.87 M | 98 KG | 24 YR | 7 CAPS
Billy Guyton
Stephen Perofeta
1.86 M | 90 KG | 27 YR | 23 CAPS
1.81 M | 85 KG | 20 YR
Jordan Trainor 1.87 M | 83 KG | 21 YR
BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17 1 5
COACH
Alistair Rogers Steve Jackson Dave Ellis
MANAGER Richard Fry
15
Melani Nanai
14
Declan O’Donnell
13
7.35PM FRIDA APIA P
Rene Ranger
12
TJ Faiane
11
Rieko Ioane
10
Piers Francis
9
Sam Nock
8
Steven Luatua
7
Kara Pryor
6 RESERVES 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
BLUE RED
ASSISTANT COACHES
Tana Umaga
Hame Faiva Sam Prattley Ofa Tuungafasi Akira Ioane Murphy Taramai Billy Guyton Stephen Perofeta Jordan Trainor
Jimmy Tupou
5
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
4
Patrick Tuipulotu
3
Sione Mafileo
2
James Parsons
1
Alex Hodgman
REFE Ben O’
ASSISTANT Will Ho Angus
TM Shane Mc
ES VS DS
ASSISTANT COACHES Shane Arnold Jason Gilmore Brad Thorne
T REFEREES ouston Mabey
MO cDermott
MANAGER Thomas Barker
15
Karmichael Hunt
14
Chris Kuridrani
AY 2 JUNE 2017 PARK
EREE ’Keeffe
COACH Nick Stiles
13
Samu Kerevi
12
Duncan Paia’aua
11
Eto Nabuli
10
Quade Cooper
9
James Tuttle
8
Scott Higginbotham
7
George Smith
6
Hendrik Tui
5
Lukhan Tui
4
Izack Rodda
3
Taniela Tupou
2
Andrew Ready Sef Fa’agase
1
RESERVES
Alex Mafi Kirwan Sanday Sam Talakai Kane Douglas Adam Korczyk Caleb Timu Nick Frisby Jake McIntyre
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
PLAYER STATS Sef Fa’agase 1.85 M | 117 KG | 25 YR
Andrew Ready
Taniela Tupou
1.80 M | 107 KG | 23 YR
1.75 M | 135 KG | 20 YR
Izack Rodda
Lukhan Tui
2.02 M | 119 KG | 20 YR
1.98 M | 121 KG | 20 YR
Hendrick Tui
George Smith
1.89 M | 110 KG | 29 YR
1.80 M | 106 KG | 26 YR
Scott Higginbotham
James Tuttle
1.95 M | 110 KG | 30 YR
1.76 M | 84 KG | 2O YR
Quade Cooper
Eto Nabuli
1.86 M | 92 KG | 28 YR
1.97 M | 114 KG | 28 YR
Duncan Paia’aua
Samu Kerevi
1.80 M | 91 KG | 22 YR
1.86 M | 108 KG | 23 YR
Chris Kuridrani
Karmichael Hunt
1.89 M | 99 KG | 25 YR
1.86 M | 93 KG | 30 YR
Alex Mafi
Kirwan Sanday
1.77 M | 107 KG | 20 YR
N/A
Sam Talakai
Kane Douglas
1.83 M | 116 KG | 25 YR
2.02 M | 119 KG | 27 YR
Adam Korczyk
Caleb Timu
1.92 M | 107 KG | 22 YR
1.90 M | 108 KG | 23 YR
Nick Frisby
Jake McIntyre
1.84 M | 84 KG | 24 YR
1.77 M | 88 KG | 22 YR
1 8 BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17
Q&A Blues centurion and co-captain Jerome Kaino is a proud Samoan-New Zealander, so it pains him that he won’t be able to run out at Apia Park with the rest of the team on 2 June due to a knee injury and subsequent surgery. But he’ll still be there for this historic occasion, soaking in the atmosphere and cheering from the sidelines… How do you feel about being part of the first-ever Blues team to play in Samoa? I’m really proud. Being Samoan myself, it’s always been a dream to go back and play in the Blues colours at Apia Park, just as it was a dream come true to play for the All Blacks in our test over there a couple of years ago. It’s just a real shame that I won’t be playing. But knowing how many Samoan players have gone through the Blues and had such a big impact at the club, I think it’s great that we’ve been able to take a game there.
JEROME KAINO LOOSE FORWARD 1.96M | 109KG | 34YR
You’ve played 125 times for the Blues and counting – what’s been the secret to your longevity? I’ve been lucky that I haven’t had too many serious injuries throughout my career, not including this one. Plus, it’s easy to stick around when you still really love the game – hopefully that continues for a while yet. What has been your Blues rugby highlight to date? There’s been so many. Every time I get selected to go out there in the Blues jersey is special, but my debut in 2004 was one highlight, and my 100th match, and that Super Rugby semi-final in 2007. Also, in my earlier years I was lucky enough to play with some Blues legends of the game, like Carlos Spencer, Sam Tuitupou, and Doug Howlett.
Tell us a bit about your Samoan ancestry… I was born in American Samoa, but my mum, dad, uncles, aunties, grandparents… everybody in my family is from Western Samoa. I’ve still got quite a few relatives living on the island.
Speaking of legends, I saw on your Instagram feed that you met Zinzan Brooke for the first time recently… He was one of my favourite Blues players and All Blacks when I was a kid, so when I spotted him at Eden Park I had to go over and meet him and have a chat.
What is your favourite place in Samoa? My village of Matatufu in Lotofaga, and my other village, Fausaga. I look forward to visiting when I’m over in Samoa for the game.
Do you have any match day superstitions? No, not really. I’m quite relaxed and chilled. I take things as they come, and just make sure that I always put my left sock on before my right…
[he laughs] No, I don’t really have any superstitions. Who was your sporting idol when you were a kid? Michael Jordan. I was a huge basketball fan before I played rugby, and I grew up in the years when MJ was ruling the roost and dominating everything. I always wanted to be like Mike. A talented young rugby player could be reading this interview right now – maybe even the next Jerome Kaino. What advice would you give them? Enjoy what you’re doing, because the more enjoyment you get from what you’re doing – whatever sport you play – the more driven you’ll be to achieve your goals. There’s a lot of sacrifices you have to make to get to the highest level in any profession or sport, so if you enjoy what you’re doing it won’t take much for you to sacrifice the little things to get where you want to be.
BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17 2 1
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The Samoan connection
It’s no coincidence that we’ve chosen to bring the first-ever Investec Super Rugby match to Samoa, considering our long and proud kinship with the rugby-mad country. As well as the Blues region being home to around 150,000 Samoans, we currently have 15 players in our team with Samoan heritage, along with our head coach Tana Umaga, who said it was a privilege to bring this game to his ancestral homeland. “As someone with Samoan heritage, I am very proud to be part of the first Super Rugby match played in Samoa and, of course, a number of our team have family members living there,” he said. Dynamic duo Akira and Rieko Ioane are the sons of former Samoan international rugby player Eddie Ioane, who was a member of the 1991 team that took the Rugby World Cup by storm. Eddie even played in the team’s quarter-final match against Scotland.
Photos © Copyright Photosport Ltd www.photosport.nz
Former All Black and foundation Blues player Eroni Clarke is the son of Samoan international Iafeta Clarke, who was a member of the Western Samoan team that won the South Pacific Games rugby title in 1971 – the country’s first major win away from home. His grandson, Caleb Clarke, is a very promising young player in our U20s side, so one to watch for in the future. Meanwhile, three legendary former Blues players – Michael Jones, Dylan Mika and Ofisa Tonu’u – are among a very select group of just nine players who have represented both Western Samoa and New Zealand in test matches. Other Samoan internationals to proudly wear the Blues jersey include Leo Lafaiali’I, Brian Lima, George Pisi, and To’o Vaega, just to name a handful. Long may our proud Samoan legacy continue at the Blues.
BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17 2 3
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BLUES PARTNERS
PLAY ON
W I N E S
FUTURE BLUES
BLUES CLUBHOUSES
2017 STANDINGS NZ CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
CRUSADERS HURRICANES HIGHLANDERS CHIEFS BLUES
13 12 13 12 13
13 10 10 9 6
0 0 0 1 1
0 2 3 2 6
497 517 426 342 370
250 221 266 237 314
247 296 160 105 56
7 8 5 7 7
59 48 45 45 33
AUS CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
12 12 12 12 12
5 4 4 3 1
0 0 0 0 1
7 8 8 9 10
258 327 230 259 182
232 396 337 390 474
26 -69 -107 -131 -292
8 3 1 4 2
28 19 17 16 8
SA CONFERENCE 1
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
STORMERS CHEETAHS BULLS SUNWOLVES
12 13 12 12
7 3 3 1
0 0 0 0
5 10 9 11
357 340 246 245
354 491 370 504
3 -151 -124 -259
2 4 3 3
30 16 15 7
BRUMBIES WARATAHS FORCE REDS REBELS
SA CONFERENCE 2
LIONS SHARKS JAGUARES KINGS
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
13 13 12 12
12 9 5 4
0 1 0 0
1 3 7 8
469 365 302 309
251 266 299 389
218 99 3 -80
8 4 4 3
56 42 24 19
OVERALL
CRUSADERS (NZ LEADER) LIONS (SA2 LEADER) STORMERS (SA1 LEADER) BRUMBIES (AUS LEADER) HURRICANES HIGHLANDERS CHIEFS SHARKS BLUES JAGUARES WARATAHS KINGS FORCE REDS CHEETAHS BULLS REBELS SUNWOLVES
2 6 BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17
PTS
59 56 30 28 48 45 45 42 33 24 19 19 17 16 16 15 8 7
2017 FIXTURES ROUND
MATCH RESULT
1
REBELS VS BLUES
2
CHIEFS VS BLUES
3
BLUES VS HIGHLANDERS
4
CRUSADERS VS BLUES
5
BLUES VS BULLS
6
BLUES VS FORCE
7
HIGHLANDERS VS BLUES
8
BLUES VS HURRICANES
10
BRUMBIES VS BLUES
11
WARATAHS VS BLUES
12
BLUES VS CHEETAHS
13
STORMERS VS BLUES
14
BLUES VS CHIEFS
15
BLUES VS REDS
-
17
SUNWOLVES VS BLUES
-
Thu 23 Feb | AAMI Park | 9:45PM Fri 3 Mar | FMG Stadium | 7:35PM Sat 11 Mar | Eden Park | 7:35PM
Fri 17 Mar | AMI Stadium | 7:35PM Sat 25 Mar | QBE Stadium | 7:35PM Sat 1 Apr | Eden Park | 5:15PM Sat 8 Apr | Forsyth Barr | 7:35PM Sat 15 Apr | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sun 30 Apr | GIO Stadium | 6:05PM Sat 6 May | Allianz Stadium | 9:45PM Fri 12 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM Fri 19 May | Newlands, Cape Town | 5:00AM Fri 26 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM Fri 2 Jun | Apia Park, Samoa | 7:35PM Sat 15 Jul | Chichibunomiya Stadium | 3:05PM
W
18-56
L
41-26
L
12-16
ROUND 15 MATCHES
BLUES V REDS
02 Jun | Apia, Samoa | 7:35 PM
CRUSADERS V HIGHLANDERS 03 Jun | Christchurch | 2:35 PM
CHIEFS V WARATAHS 03 Jun| Hamilton | 5:05 PM
33-24
BRUMBIES V REBELS
W
38-14
FORCE V HURRICANES
W
24-15
SHARKS V BULLS
26-20
JAGUARES V KINGS
L
L
03 Jun | Canberra | 9:45 PM
03 Jun | Perth | 11:35 PM
01 Jul | Durban | 5:00 AM
01 Jul | Buenos Aires | 11:05 AM L
24-28
CHEETAHS V STORMERS 02 Jul | Bloemfontein | 1:05 AM
W
12-18
LIONS V SUNWOLVES
02 Jul | Johannesburg | 3:15 AM W
33-40
W
50-32
L
30-22
T
16-16
BLUES VS REDS | 2 JUNE 20 17 2 7
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