Chairpersons Update

Well, it looks as though the sun is going to turn it on for our big day this Saturday, we are up against Clifton and it’s Old Timers Day. The Social Committee has worked hard securing a music package to ensure everyone can rock on well into the night.

Last week our Premiers managed to scrape through with a one-point win but looked strong in the second half and could have quite easily won by more. However, to get a one-point win over any NPOB team is a job well done. 

Our Div 1 and Colts teams are building with confidence and increasing player numbers each week. The team spirit in both camps is good with the fellas enjoying their rugby, and it is only a matter of time before the results will follow.

The Div 2 fellas had a good trip away to Patea and managed to get 16 players on the field. The result did not go their way but they had one hell of a good time on the bus. They have a bye this week due to Spotswood pulling out but don’t worry they are going to be involved in Old Timers Day and I am sure you will hear them cheering.

This week our Premiers saw the return to training, and hopefully a return to the 22, for several of our injured players with Nathaniel Peters, Issac Kneepkens, Santana Marshall and Reuben Mcleod all back training at 100% this week. Also, we have been told that Jacob Kneepkens has been released for 40 mins of play so we look forward to welcoming Jacob back into the Blue and White hoops.

I cannot wait to see who the Coaches put in what positions this week, it should make for an exciting brand of footy.

The Social Committee has put a lot of work into this Saturday’s entertainment and we want to pack the Chook House out so be sure to invite all your friends along for a good old-fashioned Club party. Anyone and everyone are welcome..

Most of you would have seen we now have a shipping container with rooms at halfway. When finished two thirds will house a corporate box. The corporate box will be available to hire during home games and comes with a hospitality package. The other third is our live stream production centre, looked after by the Riddlez team, and we are lucky enough to have Kevin Gledhill as commentator to add to a particularly good live streaming product and in my mind, it is up there with Sky Sports.

Be sure if you cannot make the game this weekend "Click Here" and like our Facebook page and the game will come up on your feed when the live stream goes live so you can still see the Egmont Seeds Premiers in action.

We have had a few questions about Club Clothing so please Click Here or go into Kingsway Menswear to order. We only have umbrellas and a few hats for sale at the club.

The Premiers are also still selling Beanies to raise money for their season. I am told they are only a couple of weeks away but be sure to hit Dan Johanson, the Premier Manager, up if you would like one.

Registrations for Junior Rugby are all but closed off but if you have a child or grandchild that wants to play be sure to get them registered in the next few days with Darryn Jones 027 801 1729.

Social memberships are now due. You can pay your subscription over the top bar.

I look forward to catching up with you all on Saturday and hearing all those Good Old Days stories.

Your Chairperson Scott Siffleet, Blue and White for life

Chairpersons Update

As I sit in the club house over looking our great home ground of Sanders Park I see the chief ground keeper (Jim Cameron) walking around the ground checking on all the lines on every field.

I start thinking of what a great team of volunteers we have, and then think, you know we rely on that same team of volunteers week in and week out to run our club, if only we had more hands to help out, we could really be a club to be admired.

It's simple really, if you see someone packing up the fields after the game go down and give them a hand, if you see the windows are dirty offer to clean them.

If there is a table of empty glasses clear them away. If there is a wall that you think needs painting offer to paint it.

Try to be proactive and don't just sit back and then say "I would have helped if you had of asked me."

The list of jobs that keeps our club looking good is an on going battle and if we can all help out and not just leave it to a few people it will make it easy for everyone of us to enjoy our surroundings while we have a beer together.

Last week we had Sponsors day and celebrated another great group of people that all contribute to give Tukapa a service or financial gain so we can look after our teams and the club. Through sponsorship we provide, buses, jerseys, team gear, meals, new toilets, new lights and the list goes on. Most of our sponsors have been with us for many years so please be sure to have a read at the bottom of this email and make sure wherever you can you support our sponsors by shopping with them and not their opposition.

This week our Egmont Seeds Premiers, Arabac Colts and NZ Sparky Div 1 are all playing away at the White House (Vogeltown Park) against NPOB. Our Premiers will be defending the Ibbotson Memorial Cup and we really don’t want to break our complete set of silverware so I am sure our fellas will give it all they have got to keep our silverware set complete.

Our Gardiner Plumbing Div 2 team travels to Patea for the longest trip of the season, it is always one tough game down there, and is an even tougher bus trip home. If you are in the Div 2 setup please make sure you make a big effort to get on the bus and represent Tukapa well in Patea.

Our next home games are April the 24th and is also Old Timers day. The program will start with happy hour at 12pm followed by a guest speaker at 12.40pm and nibbles will be served at 1.15pm. Be sure to get a late pass and stay on for the live music into the night.

Some of you may have seen our new corporate box on half way and we also have an option for a tent on the deadball line, both of these venues are for hire and come with a package of food and drinks. Be sure to ask me about hiring any of them for your staff or friends at a home game this year.

Junior rugby planning is well underway so be sure to get all keen kids registered ASAP, its not too late yet. We are also looking for coaches in a few grades, the big concern is finding 2 coaches in the under 13 restricted grade. If you can help out or you have any junior rugby questions contact Darryn Jones 027 801 1729

Our café will be open at all Junior rugby and home games, we have a great range of Nelson's pies, Proof and Stock coffee as well as Alex’s home baking for sale, so be sure to buy your lunch when you arrive or get the 1st coffee into you, all profits are going to the club so your support is appreciated.

For all club gear both playing and supporters check out thelockerroom.co.nz or go to Kingsway Menswear to order. We have hats, beanies, and umbrellas for sale in the café and top bar at Tukapa.

With it being Thursday it is time to peel the spuds for the $5 roast in Ash’s tonight and prep for our Small Blacks Coaching Course, I look forward to seeing all the Blue and White support on the sidelines for our away games this week and hopefully having a beer afterwards and saying what great games of rugby they were.

A look at the season ahead

Blue and White for Life your chairperson Scott Siffleet 021 317 331

Chairpersons Update

We are only 4 weeks out from kick off and we are encouraged by the great numbers attending training. All 4 afternoon teams are looking strong.

The week before our first game of the season we have our annual fixture against Poneke at home so this will enable all members and supporters to become familiar with the clubrooms once again and check out the work carried out pre-season to upgrade our team facilities.

Your Egmont Seeds Tukapa Premier Squad 2021 is as follows:

Forwards	Backs
Ricky Riccitelli	Ethan Seed
Liam Bernet	Hayden Chamberlain
Jackson Clarke	Tom Cutler
Brendon Dent	Lukas Halls
Alec Dravitzki	Eli Kneepkens
Luke Dravitzki	Issac Kneepkens
Shaye Hill	Lagen Kumaroa
Josh Hopkins	Santana Marshall
Mairenga Laapo	Henry Miles
Reuben McLeod	Jayson Potroz
Scott Mellow	Mason Porteous
Mike Nyssen	Pomare Samupo
Nathianel Peters	Luke Taplin
Corbin Porteous	Liam Ward
Leighton Price	Jacob Kneepkens
Chris Jollands
Mitchell Croswell

The coaching staff and management have named 32 players ….. this includes Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Jollands , Mitchell Crosswell , Lukas Halls , Jacob Kneepkens who are all out due to Super Rugby or injury. Locki Jones, Alex Perry and Jack Spicer will also train with the Premiers.

Club Projects

As most members and supporters are aware we have a number of projects underway at Tukapa and we are calling for support on Saturday 19th March from 8am to 4pm in the form of a working bee to try and complete some of these jobs. We plan to trench our cables for the lights, lay the rubber flooring in hallway downstairs, paint new changing room area, paint walls in Ash’s bar and do a general clean up, so if you are available to stop by and give us a few hours that would be great.

Team Fundraisers

Below is a couple of team fundraisers that the boys are running to help fund their team operations throughout the coming season. These items should only be ordered through the following contact details.

Premier Squad Beanie Fundraiser

250 available first come first served basis. Paid pre-order sales only. Stock will arrive towards the middle/end of round 1 of the season. Payment by bank transfer to 12-3135-0123458-01, use first & last name as reference and also an order sheet emailed to Daniel.Johanson@mico.co.nz

Download Premier Squad Fundraiser Order-sheet

Div 1 Budgie Smuggler Fundraiser

These magnificent budgie smugglers are only $55 a pair and can be ordered by emailing jackdeluca6@gmail.com

All of our Tukapa supporters merchandise should be available online through Kingsway within the week, we will share a link once it is available.

Season Kicks Off

Our Social Committee has been in talks with Netball and is hoping to release the calendar next week giving the dates of Old Timers Day and other social events during the season. Sponsors Day has been confirmed for our first home game against Stratford/Eltham on 10 April.

Financial Membership

Please remember if you have not paid your membership for 2021 you need to sign the visitor's book to be able to have a drink in the clubhouse.

Register Social Membership Here

Register Senior Membership Here

Register Junior Membership Here

As we keep moving towards week one and working hard to ready for the coming season, if anyone has any concerns please feel free to contact me.

Your chairman Scott Siffleet, Blue and White for life

Chairpersons Update

As the 2021 season gears up we are looking at fielding 4 afternoon grades, however, we are still actively looking for players for the Colts, Division 1, and front-rowers for all grades. Colts players must be under 21 years of age as of 1 January in the given year or can be players who are under 24 years of age at 1st January but who are also under 85kgs.
If you or you know someone wanting to be involved with a great team spirit and fantastic club culture, come along to training on a Tuesday or Thursday at 6 pm. If you would like more information contact Scott Siffleet or message the Tukapa Facebook Page

This year we are very lucky with 6 out of 7 home games where we have all four teams playing at home. Also, keep an eye out as we add in the off-field social events for this year. These are in planning stages with Netball and Rugby Social groups.

Our only Pre Season this year is March 27th against Poneke at home. Poneke is bringing two teams up to play on and off the field.

Club 7’s on Saturday 20th Feb at Rahotu and we have entered a Premier, Colts and a Social team. Keep an eye out on the Tukapa Facebook page for game times and get down the coast to support all teams.

Junior Rugby this year will be headed by Darryn Jones as Junior Convener and Tukapa is committed to trying a new initiative running Rippa Rugby in Saint Joseph’s, Frankley, and Woodleigh Schools at lunchtimes for the month of March with paid staff. The idea behind this is to get more kids involved in Rugby and also build our Junior numbers at Tukapa so in 10 years we still have strong player numbers at the club.

If you have any questions about Junior Rugby contact Darryn on the Junior Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Tukapa-Junior-Rugby-1518558785106272 or Mobile: 027 801 1729

Club Projects

Projects around the Clubhouse to get ready for 2021 have begun and we thank John Spurway from Stonebaths for donating new showerheads in the changing room showers and two new basins in the clubhouse men’s toilets. A quote from Brian Edlin “these are the most flash toilets in all of Taranaki rugby clubs”.

In the changing rooms, we have ripped out the one toilet and urinal that used to service 240 guys on a Saturday and replaced it with new toilets and urinals from Mico and Caroma. This utilises the referee’s room combined into the toilets with a new referee room moving to the old caretaker's shed (Jimmy’s Shed) and Jimmy moving in next door.

We also have rubber flooring donated by Lifestyle Building for the Slippery Tunnel out to the field and hope to install it before the season kicks off.

Our on-going major project, the upgrade to the field lighting begins with an upgrade to field 2 and will get underway in the coming weeks before winter hits. Stage one will be new lighting to field two as well as the power to halfway on field one and wiring for lights to field one. Once we have dates we will be calling for volunteers to help out.

Club Job Vacancies

Tukapa has a number of paid positions to fill. If you are interested or know someone that may be, please get in touch with Scott at chairman@tukapa.co.nz

1. The club is looking for a permanent part-time cleaner. Winter hours are around four hours per week, summer hours are between 1-2 hours per week. Other casual hours may be required after large social events.
2. We are also seeking interest from casual bar staff available on Saturdays during the upcoming rugby season. Please get in touch if interested, or pass on to others who may be keen.
3. We also need two people to make coffee and man the café on a Saturday for 14 weeks of the season.

I intend to contact all our loyal Sponsors in the next 10 days to lock in the 2021 Season. Thank you in advance for making this job easy and giving continued support to Tukapa.

We are currently hard at work building on what we achieved both on and off the field last year to make Tukapa the club to be associated with.

Our Executive Committee always encourages feedback and support from members and supporters, so if you wish to offer feedback or feel you can help out in some way please contact Scott Siffleet or any of the Executive Committee members.

Your chairman Scott Siffleet, Blue and White for life

Chairpersons Update

It is with great sadness we report the passing of Ashley John Gardiner on Monday 18 January 2021. The club extends condolences and thoughts to Ash's wife Linda and his extended family.

The family will take Ash to Ash’s Bar for the last time on Thursday evening 21 January from 5.30pm . All players and supporters are welcome to attend.

There will be a funeral service for Ash in the Chook House on Saturday 23 January 11am.

Upcoming Rugby Season

Although we are at the height of the summer, preparation for the coming winter rugby season is well underway.

Club Officers for 2021

Peter Coles	Patron
Dave Fuller	President
Lindsay Thomson	Vice President
Scott Siffleet	Chairperson
Daniel Greene	Club Captain
Jan Holdt	Administrator
Tom O'Connor	Treasurer
Paul Meuli	Exec Member
Dan Johanson	Exec Member
Darryn Jones	Exec Member
Greg Plimmer	Exec Member
Darryn Jones	Junior Rugby Convenor

The big project this year is our new lights for all three grounds and an announcement for the start of this is not far away so please put your hand up when we call for a hand. We are looking at bringing back the Good old Working Bees followed with a BBQ and Beer.

All players and supporters are invited to the clubrooms Friday 22 January between 4pm – 7pm to enjoy a BBQ, Happy Hour on Tap beer, and to meet and chat with this season’s coaches.

Premiers
Co-coach Ben Siffleet, Nathan Lawrence
Manager Daniel Johanson

Div 1
Co- Coach Bailey Walsh, Dylan Juffermans
Manager Rayno du Buisson

Senior 3rds
Co-Coach Daniel Green, Reece Hannam
Manager Cam Erye

Colts
Co- Coach Greg Plimmer, Aaron Broughton
Manager Bryan Boulton

Unofficial training for all senior teams started on Thursday 14 January with teams working together on skills and fitness. The official pre-season training will begin early Feb. All intending players are welcome.

Your chairman Scott Siffleet, Blue and White for life

Chairpersons Summary - The Year of 2020 and a look into 2021

Well, what a year it has been. I think we are all ready to move onto 2021 but as I have said before that it was a pretty good year for the Chooks in the terms of rugby and as a club in general.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Sponsors for everything you do for our club, I will be on the phone in the coming weeks to chat about sponsorship of the mighty Tukapa.
Also, I would like to thank all our volunteers from our barman to our coaches and everyone in between without you we wouldn’t have a club and wouldn’t have a full trophy cabinet for 2020. We all worked together and put the hard work in to win. But I think the biggest thing that we won was a bunch of great people turning up every Saturday to enjoy each other's company and enjoy what Tukapa stands for. A great bunch of mates hanging out.
Onwards toward 2021, we have a few new ideas we have planned and to keep Tukapa leading the way. Our big project is our new lights for all three grounds, so please put your hand up when we call for a hand. We are looking at bringing back the Good old Working Bees followed with a BBQ and Beer.

As for our 2021 coaches we have managed to get a great group of guys on board and I also thank the guys who put their names forward and missed out on a role. The coaches are as follows

Senior 3rds
Co-Coach Daniel Green, Reece Hannam
Manager Cam Erye

Div 1
Co- Coach Bailey Walsh, Dylan Juffermans
Manager Rayno du Buisson

Colts
Co- Coach Greg Plimmer, Aaron Broughton
Manager Bryan Boulton

Premiers
Co-coach Ben Siffleet, Nathan Lawrence
Manager Daniel Johanson
Hydrationist Rangi Komene

A couple of new names on the list Rayno du Buisso, Aaron Broughton and Nathan Lawrence.
Rayno as manager of the B team, he is a gas fitter for Shane at Gardiner Plumbing so has adopted Tukapa as his club.
Aaron is moving back from Perth and has a lot of rugby knowledge, he played his initial rugby here and played a number of games for Taranaki and has been coaching in Perth.
Nathan is moving his family to New Plymouth where his wife grew up, I am sure he is going to fit in well. As you can see by the photo he already quite likes blue and white stripes.

I have been involved Coaching with Ponsonby and Auckland rep teams in the Under 85kg grade in Auckland.
Head Coaching
2018
Auckland 85kg Rep Team Northern Region – 5 wins 0 losses.
2019
Ponsonby 85kgs Auckland Championship Winners 12 win 0 Losses (Ponsonby Club Coach of the Year & Auckland Rugby Most Promising Coach
Auckland 85kgs Rep team 4 Wins 1 Loss

At the end of 2019, we had twins (along with our toddler) meaning 2020 was a bit of a gap year for me, I have worked in a Technical advisor role this year for club and then Rep season was cancelled.

While I have only been in head coaching roles for a couple of years, I have been a player/coach at Ponsonby since 2013 and completed my Level 2 IRB Coaching course. I am wanting to work towards doing Level 3 in 2021 if possible. Part of the reason to move down is my Wife is from New Plymouth and gives more support for her so I can have time to put back into coaching. My strengths are organisation (both on and off the field) and my responsibilities have generally been team Structure/game plan in both teams was a 1/3/3/1 structure, Attack and Backs coach. I have a love for up tempo rugby, due to my back ground in weight grade rugby. I cant wait to get to know all the club members and get into the 2021 season.

Hopefully, I have managed to answer a few questions on what Tukapa looks like for 2021 and I know we are all looking forward to the upcoming season. Enjoy your time off with your family and friends. We all deserve it and I look forward to seeing you all next year.

Thank you. your chairman Scott Siffleet, Blue and white for life

Chairpersons Update

It was a very successful awards evening on Saturday night and we have included a summary of the award recipients below. The StreamLine Junior Rugby season is nearing an end and Prizegiving will be held on Sunday 11 October at 10 am. Junior players are asked to bring a plate to share with your team. We also ask that all Tukapa playing jerseys are returned on the day.

Along with prizegiving we will have other events on the day such as Parents vs Kids Rugby games, Bouncing Castle for the young ones, a Lolly Scramble, and meet the Egmont Seeds Premier players. 

This is always a great morning out so make sure you bring the whole family.

Wellington Bledisloe Cup Test Match Deal

helloworld Strandon has put together a 2-day In-seat Package for the first Bledisloe Cup in Wellington. This test is sure to be a sort after so if you are interested please call Bev Ellice on 06 757-5666 to secure your booking.

Tukapa Rugby Awards Summary 2020

Chairpersons Update

Let's Celebrate a Great Year of Club Rugby

It's time for every blue and white supporter to celebrate the coming out of lockdown and the great year of rugby achieved by all of our club teams.

This Saturday evening 26 September we will hold the Tukapa Rugby Prize Giving 2020 in the Chook House and award a number of accolades to deserving club members and acknowledge our very dedicated and loyal sponsors.

You are all invited and welcome to celebrate these achievements with us and the program will run something like this:

1.30 pm Maori’s vs Pacifica Rugby Kick off
4.00 pm Maori’s and Pacifica Rugby After Match
4.00 pm Ash’s Bar open for pre - Happy Hour drinks
6.00 pm Ash’s Bar closes
6.00 pm Happy hour starts at Downstairs Bar
7.00 pm Happy hour finishes.
7.15 pm Speeches and Awards Presentation
8.00 pm Finger food served
8.15 pm DJ starts and Party on Down and Jam to 1990 and early 2000s
11.45 pm Evening Closes Down

There will be a $5 cover charge and we ask if you could RSVP to info@tukapa.co.nz so we can get an indication of numbers for catering.

Blue and White For Life – Scotty your Chairperson

Chairpersons Update

As we start to move out of Club rugby and start to get ready for Taranaki to take the field, we still have a lot of our Tukapa players training with the Bulls, Under 20’s, Maori and Pacifica teams and getting ready to play. I will put a schedule together with who we have in each team and all the games so you know where to go to get your rugby fix.

This week we have bookings in the club so the mighty Ash’s Bar, home of the Brown Bomber will be open.

Thursday 5pm to 7.30pm

Friday    3.45pm to 6.30pm

Saturday 4pm to 6.30pm

Please be sure to sign in for Covid and also use the back staircase on right of the front door.

Prize Giving Postponed

Due to COVID19 we have had to postpone the club prize giving until 26 September and we will send out more information once we have the format confirmed.

Our Scotty Signs for Canterbury 2020 Mitre 10 Cup

A massive congratulations to Scott Mellow who has signed with Canterbury for the 2020 Mitre 10 cup season. We wish him and his whānau all the best! 

Blue and White For Life - Scotty your Chairperson

Chairpersons Update

Well, what a weekend and congratulations to our Premier and Division 2 teams for making the finals of the CMK Club Rugby Championships.

Our Premier Team took out the CMK Premier Championship 2020 33-29 finishing off the season winning every game and now the club has won 17 Premier Championships. Because of COVID19, there was no option to have spectators at the ground but Tukapa as a club supported the teams via live streaming and the Chook House was near to limit of the COVID gathering restrictions.

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Club supporters gave the Premier team a rousing reception when they returned from TET Stadium with the Championship Trophy. You can watch the response below:

All games were close with our Division 2 just missing a win with Normanby coming out the winners 13 - 11.

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Limited Edition Championship Winners 2020 T-Shirt

Limited Edition Championship Winners 2020 T-Shirt is now available so get in quick.

Orders to be in and paid for by Friday the 28th of August.
(Delivery towards the 11th of September).

$25.00 100% polyester quick dry tee.

Kids sizes: 4 years - 16 years
Adults sizes: Small - 3XL & 5XL

Email or message Grant to place an order. (invoice will be issued for the payment to confirm order).
grant@kingsway.co.nz

Prize Giving Postponed

Due to COVID19 we have had to postpone the club prize giving until 26 September and we will send out more information once we have the format confirmed.

Tomorrow night (Friday) the Chook House Bar will be open for a Finals debrief so I look forward to seeing you there. Once again we will be complying with COVID rules and protocols.

Junior Rugby Postponed

Unfortunately, Junior Rugby is also postponed until we hear the result of the next COVID status Level. We will keep you posted.

 Our Man Jeeves: RIP

Brian Charles (“Jeeves”) Holdt was a legendary Tukapa club stalwart who passed away last week at the age of 77.

Born into a staunchly Blue & White family, Brian was the son of Walter Holdt who joined Tukapa in 1932 and who was followed a year later by his brother Syd, with youngest brother Roy joining the club in 1945.

Together these three Holdt brothers established a family legacy of devoted commitment to the Tukapa club.

Brian’s membership at Tukapa began in 1954 and he was in turn followed by his brothers Dennis and Alan. Brian played through the grades and at 19 began his 10-year spell in Senior club rugby from which he was chosen as a lock to play for Taranaki Colts and Taranaki B.

For Brian, the undoubted highlight of his long rugby career in the Senior A’s was being part of one of Tukapa’s most celebrated golden eras when his team, coached by Pat Doherty, won 3 championship titles in 4 years, these seasons being 1966, 1968 and 1969.

In 1966, whilst still playing for the Senior A’s, Brian joined the Management Committee of the club and he later stepped up to the role of Treasurer, a position he held for nine years. From 1982 till 1992 Brian was a Vice President at Tukapa while, at the same time his wife Colleen was active on the Ladies Committee.

More recently, Brian has been a loyal and passionate supporter of the Senior A’s in particular. He would never miss a home game and was always on every Supporters Bus to away games along with other members of the Holdt family and his many Tukapa mates.

All of us regulars up at Tukapa will greatly miss “genial Jeeves” and his friendly banter. Our sincerest condolences go out to Colleen and the wider Holdt family.

The following article appeared in the NZ Herald 12 Aug 2020

The First XV of classic New Zealand rugby clubs: Tukapa

12 Aug, 2020 3:00pm

4 minutes to read

By: Dylan Cleaver dylan.cleaver@nzherald.co.nz

Tukapa Rugby Club

Established: 1892

Home ground: Sanders Park

Province: Taranaki

Naturally, Star was Tukapa's biggest rivals throughout much of their history, but the former lost their identity when they merged to form Spotswood United.

"Tukapa has always retained its own identity," says stalwart Lindsay Thomson, a lock who played 160 games for Tukapa and 104 more for Taranaki between 1983 and 1993.

In recent decades Thomson says the rivalry with Old Boys has emerged as the preeminent New Plymouth derby as they are often each other's biggest challengers for the title.

The enmity is also based on the affiliation Old Boys has with New Plymouth Boys' High School, traditionally the province's leading rugby talent nursery, while Tukapa has "in the past 10 to 15 years" developed a connection with nearby upstart Catholic boys school Francis Douglas Memorial College, home of the Barrett brothers.

To solidify that Catholic association, Tukapa joined the Marist sports association, though there is no overt religious element at the club.

So it's a successful club with a rich history, but there are many clubs like that dotted across New Zealand and, indeed, Taranaki.

What elevates Tukapa to "classic" status is a chicken or, more specifically, a song about a chicken; surely the most curious and well-known (in some quarters despised) club rugby song in the country.

Go on, find yourself a quiet space, shut the door behind you, and give this a whirl:

Oh, that chicken! That cast iron chicken, I never knew a little bird could sing, sing, sing Till it started humming, "Tukapas are coming", And it danced the Highland Fling: Gor' Blimey. When we're passing, down by the meatworks It brings back memories Of that cast-iron fowl, that the Tukapas found On the plains of the Waimate Tukapa, He, He, Ha Tukapa, He, He, Ha Moturoa, Mikotai, Paritutu Moturoa, Mikotai, Paritutu He! Ha! Tukapa!

Well, where do you start with that jumble or words? The most accepted story of the song's origins involves a trip to Manaia to play Waimate (now one of three clubs that merged to form Southern) in 1902.

Tukapa arrived in the south Taranaki town and went for a pub meal before the match. The host prepared a chicken meal that went down very poorly. The birds were said to be so tough they were hard to chew and impossible to digest.

The powerful Tukapa XV subsequently lost a match they were expected to win and the post mortems on the bus trip home identified a scapegoat, which turned out to be a scapechicken.

"We no doubt had to blame something," Thomson says. "It's a big part of our club and we use it to celebrate. The song is what makes us unique and I suspect it's also the reason other clubs like to beat us."

That's the bit we haven't mentioned yet. If you aren't Tukapa, you tend to hate them.

"Us and Old Boys are the teams the others love to beat because, I think, we're seen as the flash city slickers with our big clubrooms." Love Tukapa or hate them, you can't deny they're a classic Kiwi footy club.

Lets Close the Week with the Mighty Blue and White call

Blue and White For Life - Scotty your Chairperson