By Nick Jeffrey [Stuff]

The Tasman Premiership club rugby season is set to kick-off this weekend with the first of five rounds of sub-union action, after what can only be described as a disrupted preseason.

As Covid made its presence felt around Club players and families, a number of scheduled fixtures were understandably cancelled meaning the nine Nelson and Marlborough clubs that will contest the 2022 season are busting to hit the paddock.

In the Car Company Nelson Bays competition, six line up this weekend with Kahurangi - last year’s Nelson Bays champions - hosting Waimea Old-Boys with the John Goodman Trophy up for grabs, Stoke take on Marist and Nelson face Wanderers at Trafalgar Park with a full round robin scheduled.

Meanwhile the Motorworld Marlborough three premiership clubs, Renwick, Central and Wanderers start up from next weekend. Renwick will be looking to defend their Marlborough title.

The Stuff Tasman Trophy begins on Saturday 7 May with the Grand Final scheduled for 16 July. Stuff will again feature weekly coverage throughout the season as part of its support of Tasman Rugby as the proud sponsor of the Tasman Trophy.

Here’s how your local club (with 2021 Tasman Trophy standings) is shaping up for the season ahead.

CENTRAL (Last year: Beaten Semifinalist – 5 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses)

Mako legend Quentin Macdonald has taken the reins as player/coach for 2022 and is happy with where his side is at given the challenges of the preseason. The squad has a solid look to it as they welcome back key forwards Braden Stewart, Jessie MacDonald and Olly Lawson who all missed a majority of last season through injury. Peni Fihaki joins the squad fresh out of Marlborough Boys last year while the squad has also drafted Tai Pangai from Timaru Boys High School. Ethan Jones, Mitch Smit, Nigel Sutherland and Ben Filipo who returns from an ACL injury will all play key roles.

RENWICK (Last year: 7^th – 3 wins, 6 losses)

Like most clubs, Tii Paulo’s Renwick charges have a mix of returning and fresh faces for 2022. Josh Holdaway will again lead the side alongside vice-captain Michael Dillon. Ty Bampton, Kurt Schollum, Rat Weir, Falaula Fotu Moala, Alex Barnsley, Dan Jones and Junior Holdaway all loom as key to the team’s success. New faces include the Dunedin pairing of Eric Munro and Ratu Bishop who have both relocated for work alongside Josh Galbraith and Benjamin Finau.

WAITOHI (Last year: 8^th – 1 win, 1 draw, 7 losses)

Coach Ra Hebberd has plenty of new faces to work with this season with significant turnover from last year’s squad. A shortage of front row options will be his biggest challenge but if Waitohi is able to find something close to parity up front, they have plenty of firepower out wide which could make for an entertaining season. Significant work is going into securing the services of dynamic hooker Tai Fangatua, whose availability is in question due to work commitments. Villi Napa’a and Taine Cragg-Love will have key leadership roles up front whilst recruits Martin Atapana Pati (tight forward) and Talutalufou Numia (wing) offer major potential. The club also is utilising the coaching services of Kieran Keane to assist, something Hebberd and his young squad are relishing.

KAHURANGI (Last year: Beaten finalist – 8 wins, 1 loss)

After a stand-out 2021, Brendon Smith returns to guide Kahurangi with a renewed sense of belief instilled in last year’s beaten Tasman Trophy finalists. The squad has lost key field general Willie Havili to Super Rugby’s Moana Pasifika, Levi Aumua and Sam Matenga while prop forward Luca Inch should be in a position to return to the club from the Highlanders. Key players include Thomas Robinson and Josh Te Hira who are expecting big seasons on the back of last year’s Tasman Development campaigns. Louie Chapman will again play a vital role at the base of the scrum while loose forward Angus Fletcher has moved north from Canterbury and Mike Wells returns to the midfield after last year’s broken jaw.

MARIST (Last year: Champions – 7 wins, 2 losses)

The defending Stuff Tasman Trophy champions loom as one of the key contenders once more but have had to deal with plenty of organisational challenges in a fragmented pre-season however it was able to record two solid wins over Glenmark/Cheviot and Waimea Old-Boys over recent weeks. The leadership group of Pino Maupese, Sam Briggs and Te Puoho Stephens are all inspirational leaders and represent the heart of the squad which has largely been retained from last year’s championship run, with the exception of Taina Fox-Matamua who is now plying his trade in Italy, Max Hicks (Highlanders) and Jacob Norris who has relocated to Bay of Plenty. The club has also had an influx of young talent from Nelson College. Look out for strong seasons from halfback Will Thornalley, fullback Nic Sauira and the aggressive ball-running of loose forward Netani Baleisomosomo.

NELSON (last year: 9^th – 1 win, 8 losses)

Like many clubs, Nelson will build through the early weeks of the season after failing to get a pre-season fixture under their belts. Whilst unsettling, returning coach Gary Stevens is turning that into a positive, in that his men are bursting to get on the park this weekend. The squad is another with a mix of new and returning players. Pita Siale returns to the fold from South Canterbury whilst a contingent of Cook Islanders in outside back Mata Maui, lock Tahquinn Hansen, Adyn Anguna and winger Rugi Sifa will line up in the green and black thanks largely to Begg’s work alongside Cook Island’s national coach Nathan Robinson in helping develop a development programme. Kershawl Sykes-Martin and Connor Higgins present a solid leadership group as co-captains for 2022.

STOKE (last year: 6^th – 5 wins, 4 losses)

Seb Siataga has picked up Stoke’s head coaching duties this season as he continues his recovery from knee surgery sustained two days out from the first game last season. His side has been fortunate to get in two preseason encounters against Marist of Christchurch and last weekend against Renwick and Central. Last year’s squad returns with the notable exception of Antonio Shalfoon who is on Super Rugby duty with the Crusaders. The side has been active in the off season picking up the services of Taylor Brown, Caleb Coventry and Kilipati Lea. Daniel Dixon looms as one to watch, having come to the club from Collingwood.

WAIMEA OLD BOYS (last year: Beaten Semi-finalist – 7 wins, 2 losses)

Coach Scott McKenzie will use the opening weeks of the sub union fixtures to round his side into form for the Tasman Trophy. He is very happy with the talent lining up this year as the club looks to build on a strong 2021 campaign. The side will be without Campbell Parata this season and will be waiting on the return of Michael Stringer and Eden Beech over coming weeks. Fresh faces include Auckland loose forward Lani Vatuvei, Timaru Boys High front-rower Pate Lelenoa and Sio Latu in his second year with the club.

WANDERERS (last year: 5^th – 5 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses)

Omicron has hit the Wanderers' playing group hard over the past two weeks with coach Ethan Reuben saying eight players and two coaches have been sidelined. That hasn't quelled his enthusiasm for the year ahead however even though the club will have a number of new names on its team sheet. Those that won't be on it include Sam Moli (Moana Pasifika), Atu Moli (Chiefs), Jayden Woolley Australia), El-nino Peniamina (Wellington), Tyler Power (Christchurch), Gabba de Kock (family commitments). However it hasn't been all one way traffic. Stephen Soper is back in the fold from captaining West Coast through their recent Heartland campaign, halfback Graham Urquhart will push for Mako honours and Aucklander Jack Grey will add some firepower out wide. Add in loose forward Seta Baker, prop Seth Brown and hooker Monu Moli into the mix and, like last season, Wanderers are likely to be in the thick of it all year.

Article added: Thursday 31 March 2022