2022 Waikato club rugby — who’s playing and who to watch

• Author: RUGBY Jesse Wood
• Published date: 09 June 2022
• Publication title: Te Awamutu Courier

Some of these players have been playing regularly while others have made cameo appearances

The likes of Tongan hard-hitter Zane Kapeli, 2015 Rugby World Cup winner Liam Messam and former Kiwis league player Te Maire Martin headlined last year’s club season in the Waikato.

This year Martin has returned to the NRL with the Broncos after a three-year absence from the league due to a bleed on the brain.

Plenty of former international, Super Rugby and NPC players are spread throughout the senior grades as well as current Chiefs players who turn out for a different province in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC.

Several Heartland rugby players also feature in the competition — predominantly King Country players for Ōtorohanga.

A range of experienced coaches head up and assist this year’s squads along with a few player/coaches like former All Black Adam Thomson, former sevens star Declan O’Donnell and 2021 Waikato Women’s Farah Palmer Cup winning captain Chyna Hohepa.

Below is a “Waikato Club Rugby XV”. Some of the players have represented the club at B level but are just listed by their club, not their specific team.

Please note, the below are not all of the representative/former representative players in 2022 Waikato Club Rugby.

WAIKATO CLUB RUGBY XV (*DENOTES INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE):

1. GORDON FULLERTON — Pirongia

BORN: 1997

REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS: Old Glory DC (Major League Rugby).

After returning to New Zealand from the United States, Fullerton played for Te Awamutu Sports before joining his brother in Pirongia’s front row.

2. GRACE HOUPAPA-BARRETT* — Ōtorohanga

BORN: 1995

REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS: Waikato; Chiefs Manawa; Black Ferns.

Last year’s Ōtorohanga Women’s captain, Houpapa-Barrett made her international debut in 2021.

A versatile front-rower, she started the 2022 season at No 8 for her club.

3. VILIAME SEUSEU* — Ōtorohanga

BORN: 1984

REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS: Fiji.

The former Fijian representative has been an anchor in the Ōtorohanga A and B front-rows for...