East Coast Rugby Union Season – 2023

We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby Union. We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from 1934 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin—

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2022Season

2023 Status: Heartland.Championship Founded 1921 – Affiliated 1921 Name changed to Ngati Porou East Coast 2017 President: C.W. (Campbell) Dewes Chairman: V.S. (Val) Morrison Chief.Executive.Officer: L.M (LeRoy) Kururangi Coach: K.D. (Kahu) Tamatea Assistant Coach: H.E. (Hosea) Gear, Kim Harris Main ground: Whakarua Park, Ruatoria Capacity: 3,000 Colours: Sky blue and white

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Ngati Porou East Coast’s fortunes continued to rise with a top four finish in the Heartland Championship round robin for the first time since 2012. An unbeaten home record, including four successful defences of the Osborne Taonga, was the base that propelled the Coasters into the playoffs, while the win over Buller at Westport was achieved in golden point extra time. Two late penalty goal attempts missed against Wairarapa Bush in the one-point defeat.

In their Meads Cup semi-final they gave the all-conquering South Canterbury team an almighty scare, leading 17–3 after 44 minutes before succumbing to 31 unanswered points in the last 25 minutes. The conceding of two yellow cards in that time did not help.

The forward pack was a very experienced one with the rolling maul a very effective weapon.

The front row of Hakarangi Tichborne, Joe Royal and Perrin Manuel anchored one of the best scrums in the competition, with Royal also a standout in general play. Finding a consistent locking combination was only solved in the second half of the season with Hoani Te Moana shifting from loose forward to partner Richard Green who, until then, had had a different partner in each game.

Ngati Porou East Coast had strength in the loose forward department, with Mitchell Crosswell, Will Bolingford, Hone Haerewa and Faifili Levave all doing sterling work although the latter two were not always available.

Renata Roberts-Te Nana was a highly accomplished fullback whose NZ Heartland selection was well earned. Te Rangi Fraser was also one of the best backs, proving an astute general. His excellent goalkicking form saw him set a new record for conversions in a season.

Sam Parkes had another fine season at halfback and his captaincy proved invaluable to the team. He now has 23 tries, just one short of the Ngati Porou East Coast record.

Verdon Bartlett became just the fourth centurion for the Union, playing his 100th game in the win against King Country.

Of the new players, Tevita Nabura (Counties Manukau/Highlanders) Renata Roberts-Te Nana (Northland) and Nick Crosswell (Manawatu/Chiefs/Highlanders/Hurricanes/NZ Maori) all had previous first-class experience.

After the King’s Birthday fixture against Poverty Bay, Hosea Gear became Director of Rugby for the Union, and Kahu Tamatea took over as head coach. Black Fern Charmaine McMenamin, not playing in the Farah Palmer Cup due to a knee injury, was involved with the team as performance analyst.

Higher honours went to:
New Zealand Heartland: R. Roberts-Te Nana

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