RYAN PRESTON
Nickname: Rydawg
Position played: Midfield/outside backs
School: Tawa College
Grade: Premier
Year/s at Tawa: 5 years
Rep Honours: U21 centurions
Background: Been at Tawa Club or Tawa College player from 4 years old
Favourite food: Salt and vinegar chips
Favourite cartoon: Ragnar Lothbrook (not cartoon)
Favourite Quote: This is where we stand and this is where they die
SAM CLARKE
Sam comes off a solid season with St Patricks Silverstream College 1st XV where he was tasked to run at 1st Five. His helped his team win Premier 1 back to back college titles. Sam followed that effort with a successful rep campaign in the U18 Wellington Centurions, helping them to win the Hurricanes Trustbank Central U18s competition (for the first time ever). Alongside rugby, Sam plays Rugby 7s and touch rugby.
He is of part-Maori descent and his family are fishermen from the Chatham Islands. Sam spent most his college years in Sydney before moving back to NZ to finish off his schooling.
He's played both rugby and league.
His family are in the Hutt where they work in the cray-fishing industry. Sams' plan next year is to study and work part time for his family's' business.
Having considered other clubs, Sam makes an early decision for Tawa Rugby Football Club.Sam is looking forward to the season ahead and the challenges that this brings. He chose Tawa Rugby Football Club because he felt the club suited him and provided him the best pathway achieving his goals.
JOSH MALLON
We are pleased to see the return of one of our former junior players back to the Club following a successful season with St Patricks College Wellington 1st XV in 2018.
Josh Mallon was a junior at the Tawa Rugby Football Club from aged 4 to 12 before ending up in the city where he played the last two college years with the St Pats College Wellington 1st XV.
Josh initially started as an outside back but recently cements himself on a career path as a loose forward. Josh has spent a good part of his college years in the McEvedy athletics programme where he competed as one of the colleges senior 100 & 200 metre sprinters - winning the 100 metre sprints in 2017.
Josh’s performance this year and his potential saw him picked into one of the WRFU U18s rep squads.
Josh's Dad Pete and other family are no strangers and have been supporters of Tawa Rugby Football Club for some time.
Josh prides himself as a hard worker and has set himself some goals for his rugby. He is realistic about achieving those goals and acknowledges the hard work that lies ahead of him. The club warmly welcomes Josh and his family back into the fold as a senior player for 2019.
Position: Loose Forward
Height: 185cm
Weight: 94kgs
Favorite food: Chicken
Favorite cartoon character: Bugs Bunny
Most inspirational person: My Dad
SIO FIDOW
Nickname: Priest
Position played: Flanker
School: Mana College
Grade: Premier/PremierReserve
Year/s at Tawa: 4 years
Rep Honours: High performance unit (in Samoa)
Favourite food: Chicken and rice
Favourite cartoon: Patrick the star
Favourite Quote: Hard work will always beat talent
TYRONE BROWN
Nickname: Boogz
Position played: Prefer 12 but happy to play anywhere in back line where needed
School: Newlands
Grade: Premier Reserves
Year/s at Tawa: 2 years
Background: Mostly played rugby league. Not unique but can get a long with anyone. And always have general interest in talking with and helping people. My Aim is to play rugby long enough for my 2 year old boy to have an understanding of the game and want to play. If he does then I’ve done my job and can put my all blacks inspiration into him haha.
Favourite food: The big Al Ferg burger (Queenstown)
Favourite cartoon: Goku
Favourite Quote: A wise man once said (ShaunTreeby)“Being defeated is often a temporary condition, giving up is what makes it permanent”.
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2019 PLAYER PROFILES
Tawa Rugby Football Club welcome players of all levels looking to play their rugby in Wellington for the 2019 season. The off-season gym sessions are currently underway.
Over the next few months we will be show casing the new a current players of Tawa Rugby Football club.
If you are interested in joining our club please contact:
Steve Sooialo
Club Coaching Development Officer
m: 027 267 0606
e: stevesooialo@hotmail.com
For more Club Contacts Click Here.
ANDY FAIAOGO (Tilo)
Nickname: Degz
Position played: Winger/Utility back
School: Hamilton Boys High & Hamilton Fraser High
Grade: Premier/PremierReserve
Year/s at Tawa: 3 years
Rep Honours: Waikato Goldfield U14, Waikato Harlequins, Waikato U19, Volleyball - NZU19 Volleyball, NZU21 Volleyball
Backgound: I'm dance teacher. And if I'm not playing rugby I'm being an artist. Which also allows me to travel and keep fit.
Favourite food: Besides fruit, anything my fiance cooks [😂]
Favourite cartoon: My favorite cartoon character would be Superman or Wolverine
Favourite Quote: "the measurement of a man is never by his strength or knowledge, but by the spirit and willingness to achieve what noone else can achieve"
KEMARA HAUITI-PARAPARA
Nickname: Kem, Kemz, Chemistry, DJ KemmyKem
Position played: Halfbacks
School: Te Kura Māori o Porirua & Wellington College
Grade: Premier
Year/s at Tawa: 3 years
Rep Honours: NZ Schools, NZ 20s, Wellington Lions, Hurricanes
Background: Started off playing as a prop in U12s then slowly made my way into the backs whilst still being the size of a prop. Now I’m one of the smaller ones on the field.
Favourite food: Anything with Chocolate
Favourite cartoon: Marvin the Martian
Favourite Quote: There is no right way or wrong way, there is only a way.