Chairpersons Update

Week 2: Let's Go Tukapa!

Hey Team,

Week 2 is here, and while I’m not sugar-coating it, we’ve faced some challenges with player numbers across all teams. However, I’ve been absolutely blown away by the dedication and effort of the management teams and senior players who’ve gone above and beyond to ensure we didn’t default on any teams last week—and we’re pushing hard to make sure Week 2 is no different. This is exactly why we say Tukapa is one club—it’s the people, working together, that make us great.

Match Preview:

This week, our Premiers, Div 1, and Colts are heading down to Hawera to take on Southern. Southern had a strong first round with three big wins over United and Okaiawa, so we know they’ll be tough opponents. But with nearly all of our squads back to full strength, we’ll be giving them a serious run for their money. Our eyes are on the Werder Challenge Cup, awarded to the best-performing club on the day.

Injury Report:

Our Premiers have unfortunately picked up a few injuries over the past couple of weeks:

• Chris Jollands (broken arm) – 6-8 weeks out
• Olive Lam Yuen (ankle injury) – 4 weeks out
• Thomas Edwards – 3-4 weeks out
• Josh Keech & Ethan Lobb – injury status TBD

While these injuries stretch our resources, we’ve got a strong line-up ready to battle.

This Weeks Lineups

Div 2 Update:

Our Div 2 boys are heading out to Bell Block to face the only other local team in the division. We’re running low on numbers due to players moving overseas and others stepping up to Div 1, but we’ve had a great response from ex-players rejoining the team. Over the past week, we’ve seen 6 new players at training. If you’re keen to play—even just occasionally—let me, Greenie, or Rebo know. We need you to keep this team going strong!

Toa Women’s Team:

Our Toa women kick off their pre-season this weekend with their first game against Okaiawa at Joll Park at 11:30 am. This team is full of energy, with around 34 active players and 20 newcomers to Tukapa. Big shoutout to our management team—Plims, Jas, and Vicky—for building such a fantastic culture. These women are all in on our vision of One Club, and I’m excited to see how far they can go this season. We’re all proud to have this team up and running, and a special thanks to Kevin Curd for encouraging me to get it started. Best of luck, ladies!

Sponsorship News:

We’ve got some great news on the sponsorship front. Most of our existing sponsors are back for another year, with some even doubling their support. And we’ve got a huge announcement coming soon about a new sponsor that will have a major impact on how we see our club. Keep an eye out! If you’re looking to help out Tukapa and align your business with us, reach out to Rob Ridland for sponsorship opportunities.

A Special Thanks to Jan:

I’ve got to give a massive shoutout to Jan Holdt, one of Tukapa’s biggest assets. Jan has secured over $30,000 in community grants for us already in 2025. She’s done a phenomenal job, and I can’t say enough how much her hard work means to this club. Jan, you’re a Tukapa legend!

Bar Price Update:

Now, some news that won’t be as popular—due to price increases from Lion Breweries, we will have to adjust some of the prices at the bar. I know this isn’t ideal, but remember: every drink you buy at Tukapa helps support the club. Thanks for your understanding.

Junior Muster & New Merch:

Don’t forget about the junior muster this Saturday at 10 am. Be sure to get your kids to the club to pay their subs and collect their jerseys. Also, if you’re looking for new Tukapa gear, our merch is now live on thelockerroom.co.nz Check it out and grab some new gear to support your club!

See you on the sidelines this weekend!

Blue and White for Life
Chairperson
Scotty Siffleet

Chairpersons Update

After a massive week this week, making sure we have 4 teams ready to go, I have run out of time to give you a full newsletter, but here are the starting teams and a short write up from our Colts manager Trent. Next week I'll give you a full over view of how all teams are sitting.

Seasons Draw

2025 Tukapa Colts

A new season and a new beginning for our Tukapa Motion Plumbing & Gas Colts team.

2024 finished on a high for our lads winning the competition and 2025 turns a page on that success and we get to go again.

We have lost a number of players due to age and going up the grades but have also welcomed a total of 9 players to the team and are excited to get our season started against Coastal this weekend.

We have a good blend of experience and youth across the team and are looking forward to watching the lads grow throughout the season. Coaches Jarrod Werder, Daniel Sinclair and Anthony Day have named co-captains Fletcher Smith and Harry Theodore to lead the group.

Up the Chooks Colts 2025! Lezzgo!

This Weeks Starting Line Ups

Registration is Due

All junior and senior players can register through Explorer, while social members can sign up via the usual Sporty system.

Junior Muster

All Junior players are required for Muster next Saturday 5 April 10.00am.

I look forward to seeing you all down the coast on Saturday.

Blue and White for Life
Scotty Siffleet
Chairperson

Chairpersons Update

Season Kickoff and Zembar Cup Game – One Week to Go!

As we head to Poneke for our annual Zembar Cup clash, I can't help but think of all the grey-haired buggers who’ve played in this game over the years would have a lot of stories to tell. The Zembar Cup means so much to both teams, and it's not just about the on-field competition but also the off-field fun.

This year’s tour team includes our usual front-runners, with Curly Boulton and myself making sure the drinks are kept secure at the Cambridge Hotel on Saturday. Scott Fuglistaller will be leading the boys this weekend, with Blowers handling the grunt work.

As I sit here on the bus, I’m looking around at a fantastic bunch of young lads eager to get their boots on and represent our club. It’s inspiring to see their commitment, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

Starting Team for This Weekend:

1. Olive Lam Yuen
2. Connor McLean
3. Brendon Dent
4. Michael Nyssen
5. Joshua Platford
6. Josh Keech
7. Mairenga Laapo
8. Chris Jollands
9. Roman Fa'amausili
10. Larenz Tupaea Thomsen
11. Ethan Lobb
12. Waata Wharawhara
13. Jack Gilmour
14. Zebby Uini-Faiva
15. Lagen Kumeroa
16. Patrick Howlett
17. Thomas Edwards
19.  
20. Ollie Mason
21. Campbell Woodmass
22. Ted Morley

Komene Cup Results

The Komene cup was played last Saturday with a great showing of teams, 20 in total from all parts of our club.

Best dressed was won by the wedding party colts.

Gav cup was won by Chook peters and his cronies.

Komene Cup won by the Peter Bishop skipped team.

Junior Muster

Get your kids registered then come along to the collective first National Junior Muster.

Next Week’s Preview:

Next week, we’ll be releasing the full squad for all teams. Stay tuned!

Colts Championship Game:

This weekend, our championship-winning Colts will be playing Southern down in Hawera. If you’re looking for a good game to watch, they kick off at 1pm. It’s well worth the drive!

Season Draw:

Thursday Meals:

Starting next Thursday, we’ll be offering our Thursday meals again. If you’re at a loose end, come up, grab a meal, and enjoy a brew. It’s a great chance to catch up with the crew.

Social Media Updates:

We’re cruising through Hawera right now, and the weather is still fine. Keep an eye on our Tukapa social media pages for updates, including any live stream links for this weekend’s game.

Closing Thoughts:

All teams are putting in the work, and I can’t wait for the season to kick off. Next week, I’ll take a closer look at each squad and hear from the coaches, so stay tuned!

Blue and White for Life
Scotty Siffleet
Chairperson

Chairpersons Update

A Memorable Night, Training Updates, & What’s Ahead for Tukapa Rugby!

Hey Tukapa Family,
What an awesome night we had on Monday, hanging out with our friends from CASI! It was such a treat to share in their rich culture. We had an unforgettable time with a paddock of cow on the spit and a river of red wine to wash it down!
Cooking alongside the experts at live-fire grilling was a fantastic experience, and now, I’ve definitely got the travel bug—I’m itching to visit their homeland and see more of what they’ve got to offer.

Rugby Recap

On the rugby front, CASI also gave us a taste of what it looks like to train four times a week for four hours a session. Talk about dedication! Despite that, our boys still managed to pull together some strong phases of play. The highlight of the day came from our Championship-winning Colts—great stuff, lads!

Link to Article in the Post.co.nz - The beefy business of an Argentinian rugby tour

As always, feel free to check out more photos from the day at www.siffleet.co.nz

Upcoming Events

We’ve got a full schedule ready to roll, which we’ll release next week, but mark your calendars for Old Timers Day on Saturday, April 12th—that’s Week 3 for our Men’s team, and you won’t want to miss it!

Training Times

Starting Tuesday, we’ll have all squads training on their own, with sessions kicking off at 6pm. Here’s the breakdown:

Senior 3rds: Thursdays at 6.00pm (followed by a debrief upstairs)

Toa Women: Wednesdays at 6.00pm

If you’re keen to play for Tukapa, now’s your time! We’ve got a box of boots to donate, so come on down, grab a pair, and join the best club in Taranaki!

Darts Night

We’re kicking off Darts Night on Monday, March 17th! It’s a fun evening with a mix of darts players and rugby folks, so swing by for a fizzy or two and some laughs every Monday starting at 6.00pm.
Want to give it a go? Head over to the Tukapa Darts Facebook page on Monday to add your name to the list. We’ve got darts available for anyone eager to give it a try!

Sponsor Call-Out

As always, we’re on the lookout for more sponsors. We’re almost at capacity, so if you know anyone keen to jump on board, please get in touch with Rob Ridland 027 753 0123 rob@riddlezinteractive.com for more details. Your support means the world!

Memberships & Junior Rugby

Memberships are now due, so don’t forget to sign yourself, your kids, and your grandkids up for Junior Rugby. Simply click on the links below to join the club.

Komene Cup – Get Your Teams In!

Our first social event of the year is just around the corner! We want to fill the greens for our old mate Rangi and the Komene Cup, so get your teams together and send your entries to me at 021317331.

Here it comes—the rugby season, and it’s coming in hot! Looking forward to seeing everyone at the club.

Blue and White for Life
Scotty Siffleet
Chairperson

Chairpersons Update

Exciting Pre-Season News, Registration Open & Upcoming Events

Hi Team,
Another hot week of weather, and our players are now in full training mode, with sessions happening twice a week. Next week, all teams will be splitting, and our B’s will kick off their campaign this Sunday with a light run and a BBQ to follow.
If you’re interested in playing this year – or even just considering it – come along, have a look, and chat with us. I’m sure you’ll catch the itch again and enjoy being around your mates!

Registrations Now Open: All junior and senior players can register through Explorer, while social members can sign up via the usual Sporty system.

Pre-Season Match Against Argentinians

This week, we face our first pre-season hit-out against the Argentinians. They played their first game in Rotorua on Wednesday, securing three wins. Cole Brown, who’s touring with them, mentioned that all the games should be closely contested, as the Argentinians are fit and like to run.
Tuesday’s Schedule:

• 5.30 PM: Tukapa Colts vs. CASI Rugby Colts – Field 1, Tukapa, Sanders park
• 6:00 PM: Tukapa 3rds/B’s vs. CASI Rugby B’s – Field 1, Stadium Taranaki
• 7:40 PM: Tukapa Premiers vs. CASI Rugby Premiers – Field 1, Stadium Taranaki
• 8:00 PM: Aftermatch for the first two games at Tukapa
• 9:00 PM: Aftermatch for the Premiers at Tukapa
• 11:30 PM: Bar Closes

Be sure to come along, check out this year’s teams, and join us afterward at Tukapa for a drink and a catch-up.

Event Details:
• Free Entry through Gate 4 by the Untied Club Rooms
• Food and drink are available at the ground, but please remember to take your rubbish with you.

2025 Sponsorship Opportunities

We are hard at work contacting sponsors. If you’re interested in getting involved, be sure to reach out to him before all spots are filled.

Reflecting on our club’s history, we take immense pride in our growth and achievements. The 2024 season was particularly special, marking the return of our women's team for the first time since 2000. We continued to field 5 afternoon grades, and with your support, we can maintain our status as the largest club in Taranaki.

2024 in Numbers

Registered Players:
 45 Senior Females 
140 Senior Males 
33 Junior Females 
188 Junior Males 
70 New Players to Rugby 

Club Members:

56 Volunteers 
120 Social Members 
60 Dart Playing Members 

Community Engagement:

1263 Newsletter Subscribers 
3740 Facebook Followers 
1041 Junior Rugby Facebook Followers 
200 Facebook Darts Followers 
1372 Instagram Followers 

Media Presence:

Most social media posts exceed 2310 views each 
Live-streamed games average over 3000 views across Facebook and YouTube 

Our Vision for 2025 and Beyond

Your continued sponsorship will help us achieve several key goals for the future:

1. Construction of stand-alone women's showers and toilets. 
2. Stage one development of two new changing rooms. 
3. Growth in playing numbers across all grades.
4. Strengthening our position as a welcoming, family-oriented club. 
5. To consistently explore and implement strategies for self-funding club expenses
6. Foster a positive and inclusive atmosphere to keep our volunteers actively involved in club management 

We would love to discuss how we can collaborate again for the 2025 season. Your support not only benefits our teams but also helps foster a thriving and inclusive community of players, supporters, and volunteers.

Please feel free to reach out to discuss sponsorship options.

Rob Ridland 027 753 0123 or Scott Siffleet 021 317 331

Upcoming Events

Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for details about our Tukapa working bee, where we’ll be painting the new changing rooms and doing a general clean-up.

Let’s keep the momentum going as we gear up for another great season!

Blue and White for Life
Scotty Siffleet
Chairperson

Chairpersons Update

Weather Update and Pre-Season Buzz

Well, how about this weather? I’ve never seen Sanders Park so dry, and it’s almost funny gearing up for rugby in this heat! But here we are—our players have started training and are loving being back on the field. With our first pre-season games just around the corner, it’s all systems go. We’ll be playing three matches against Athletico de San Isidro from Buenos Aires, and fingers crossed, they’ll all be at the newly named Stadium Taranaki, under lights on Number One!

Exciting Projects Underway

We’ve got a few exciting projects kicking off at the club, including new changing rooms and a set of portable toilets. Keep an eye out for updates—we'll definitely be asking for a hand, so any help will be greatly appreciated.

Registration and Social Membership Links

All registrations and social memberships are now live! Players will register through Xplorer, the new NZ Rugby system, while social members will continue to register through Sporty.

A Word from Our New Club Captain

It was fantastic to hit the ground running with our first open training session last week. Great to see strong numbers turning up, with both old and new players in attendance. We also welcomed a new group of coaches, alongside familiar faces, supporting all levels.
Club rugby is always evolving, with a fair bit of movement happening across the grades and clubs, but we’re proud to have our five senior teams locked in—Prems, Toa, B’s, Thirds, and Colts. We’ll continue pushing forward, recruiting, and celebrating all our teams as we build on the legacy of those who’ve come before us. As Lindsay Thomson reminded us at prizegiving, “There’s no room for complacency.”
We have a packed social calendar ahead, led by Liam Bernet and JDL. We encourage everyone to get involved and support our events—especially on those big days when all senior teams are playing at home. Let’s keep the club buzzing, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to celebrations. It would be remiss not to acknowledge the loss of Gav Crowe, our go-to man behind the bar. He’ll be sorely missed, and as a club, we’re now one horse down.
Here’s to another big year ahead, backing our boys and girls in the blue and white hoops!
He! Ha! Tukapa!!
Tom Fastier

Upcoming Komene Cup

On March 15th, we’ll be hosting the Komene Cup for the second year at Vogeltown Bowling Club. This event was a blast last year, and we encourage all players, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, and anyone else who’s keen to join in the fun!
You can enter a team of four, but there’s a rule this year: only one bowling club member per team, with the other three being non-bowlers (no exceptions). If you don’t have a team, you can enter as an individual and we’ll match you up with others.
All entries to Scotty at 021317331 or scott@lifestylebuilding.co.nz.

Colts Catch-Up

This Friday, our championship-winning Colts are having a catch-up and BBQ at the club. Be sure to spread the word and send any players Tukapa’s way!

That’s all from me for this week—enjoy the sun and start gearing up for a great season!

Blue and White for Life
Scotty Siffleet
Chairperson

Chairpersons Update

Welcome to the 2025 Season!

Well, here it comes—2025 is approaching like a freight train! For those of you who follow us on social media, you’ll have already seen our pre-season plan. This year, we’re excited to welcome Touring Club Athletico de San Isidro from Buenos Aires, Argentina. This will be our boys' first hit-out of the season, with all games being played on Yarrow’s Number One under lights, followed by the aftermatch at Tukapa.

From there, we head into the Komene Cup, a social bowls tournament named in honor of our great mate. This will be held at Vogeltown, and you can enter either as an individual or a team of four. It’s all about having fun, so we’d love to see players, supporters, partners, and anyone keen to mix and mingle!

Next up, we’re off to Poneke for our annual exchange, which is always a fantastic game. Before you know it, the season will kick off! Our Premier Men’s team is going back to full rounds, while other grades will miss a couple of long weekends, which I think is a great move to keep players engaged. We’ll release the draws as soon as they’re available.

Club Leadership and Changes

At our AGM in November, we had some great discussions and a few changes to our leadership team. We’d like to thank Darryn Jones and Dan Johanson for all the hard work they’ve put in for the club. They’ll both be missed, but we’re happy to see Darryn still around and helping with the transition to the new Junior Committee.
I’ve been reaching out to a few people to join the Junior Committee, but if you’re interested, we’d love to have a few more helping hands. We’re having a catch-up on Tuesday, February 4th, at 7:00 PM for those keen to support the Junior Rugby side of the club—especially non-coaching parents who can help share the load. If you’re interested, come along to the meeting or reach out to me directly.

Meet the Club Board

President: Bryan Boulton
Vice President: Weston Newman
Chairperson: Scott Siffleet
Club Captain: Tom Fastier
Secretary: Jan Holdt
Treasurer: Tom O’Connor

Board Members:

1. Jack Deluca
2. Daniel Green
3. Reece Hannam
4. Liam Bernet

Coaching Staff for 2025

Premier Men

1. Head Coach: Scott Fuglistaller
2. Assistant Coach: Campbell Woodmass
3. Assistant Coach: Cole Brown
4. Manager: Jack Deluca, Brendan Blowers

Premier Women

1. Co-Coach: Greg Plimmer
2. Co-Coach: Jason Avery
3. Manager: Vicky McKenzie

Colts

1. Co-Coach: Jarrod Werder
2. Co-Coach: Zinny Sinclair
3. Co-Coach: Anthony Day
4. Manager: Trent Theodore

Division 1

1. Coach: Karl Hutching
2. (1 more coach needed)
3. Manager: Renee Emit

Division 2

1. Coach: Daniel Green
2. Coach: Reece Hannam
3. Manager: Lewis Green

As you can see, we’re looking really good with most roles filled. However, in our Division 1 team, we’re a little light and could use a bit more support for Karl. If you can’t fully commit but would still like to help out, please get in touch with me!

Recruitment for Players and Jobs

We’re looking strong in terms of players but are always on the lookout for more to ensure our teams stay well-stocked. If you know anyone who might be keen to pull on the boots and enjoy the Tukapa atmosphere, please let them know how to get in touch with us.
We’re also looking for a couple of jobs for our young players. I have a very keen lad who’s seeking an electrical apprenticeship, or any opportunity to work hard and gain an apprenticeship. Additionally, we have a UK player coming to Tukapa for a club exchange who’s keen to earn some pocket money while in New Zealand. If you or someone you know is able to offer work, please let me know!

Sponsorship

As we approach the 2025 season, we’ll be reaching out to our current sponsors for their continued support. With fewer grants available each year, we’re relying more on sponsorships to keep our club running. If you or anyone you know is interested in supporting Tukapa, please get in touch with

Rob Ridland: 027 753 0123 rob@riddlezinteractive.com

Scott Siffleet: 021 317 331 scott@lifestylebuilding.co.nz

In the coming weeks, we’ll be showcasing our sponsors and profiling our management team. If there’s anything else you’d like to see in future newsletters, feel free to let me know!

Tukapa to Host Hurricanes Open Training

We will be hosting a Hurricanes open training session on Friday 31 Jan 2025 - 3:30pm - 4:30pm. This is a great opportunity to get your season underway. All club facilities will be open so come on up and enjoy the hospitality while watching the pros go through their drills.

Blue and White for Life
Scotty Siffleet

Chairpersons Update

Subject: Finals Weekend Fever at the Chook House

Dear person dressed in Blue and white and bleeds the same colours

Get ready for an action-packed Finals Weekend at Yarrows Stadium! Here's what you need to know:

Senior 3rds Showdown: Our Senior 3rds are set to kick off the excitement on Field 4 at 10:30 AM against Southern. After a thrilling win last time, they're fired up to seize the title!

Colts Final Battle: Following them, our Colts secured a spot in the final with a golden point victory over Stratford Eltham. Catch them in action against Inglewood on Field 3 at 12:00 PM. It promises to be a thrilling match!

Pre-Match Fuel-Up: Join us for a pre-game breakfast at the Chook House starting at 9:00 AM. Enjoy bacon and eggs, espresso martinis, and bloody marys to kickstart the day in style, Then join the walking bus to the game, all Tukapa surpporters have been asked to go on the Clawton street side of the fields for both games so please wear our colours and line the sideline.

Post-Match Celebration: After the games, head to the bar which opens at 12:00 PM till late. We'll have live streams of the matches and the All Blacks on the big screen, ensuring non-stop rugby excitement!

Finals Tickets on sale at Tukapa: We have tickets for finals available for sale at Tukapa so you dont need to line up at Yarrows, $10 each and on sale Friday night 3.30 to 6.30pm and Saturday morning 8am to 3pm

Let's rally together to support our teams and make this Finals Weekend one to remember. See you all there!

Best regards,

Scotty Siffleet
Walking support bus driver

Collective First National Tukapa prize giving 2024

Remember our tickets are also for sale for the Tukapa prize giving and are selling really well so jump on the link below to grab your tickets for a great night

Collective First National Tukapa prize giving 2024

Saturday 20th

5.30pm Please be seated

6 pm Meal served

6 .30pm Guest Speaker

7 pm Awards begin

8 pm Awards finished

8 .30pm Band starts downstairs

$25 a head

Dress code, A DAY AT THE RACES

https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/2024-collective-first-national-prize-giving-tickets-944744344767?aff=oddtdtcreator

Lets see you all at the Chook House tomorrow morning for Breakfast and walk over to Yarrows as a blue and white Army

Blue and White for Life
Scotty Siffleet