Rugby season kicks off today

Rugby fans will get to see their heroes today as the first round of the CITC rugby season kicks off.

The Senior A grade ‘CITC Game of the Week’ will be played between the Titikaveka Bulldogs and Takuvaine Warriors at the Titikaveka field.

At this early-stage of the competition both teams are an unknown quantity.

Last year the Pare Rongokea coached Warriors finished the season in the top four and with much promise, while the Bulldogs finished at the bottom of the table.

With a revamped 2010 competition, some new faces at training and plenty to play for, who knows what these two teams have in store for their fans.

If early pre-season sevens form is anything to go by watch for Titikaveka’s utility back and left-footed, big-kicking 20-year-old Bill Tangapiri, Fijian live wire Eliza Bendini and fleet-footed Ben Sexton all players were standout at the sevens tournament and have the ability to pull something out of the bag for the Bulldogs.

For the Warriors, expect this team to be lead by strong running centre and former Manu Samoa player Ailaoa Samania, supported by other members of the strong Samoan community now resident in Rarotonga, together with a relatively young Warrior’s team. This match is programmed to kick-off at 4.10pm.

Titikaveka Senior A players – Richard Tane, Josh McDonald, Eddie Ene, James Short Jnr, John Matapo, Kiriti Tangatakino, Fernandez Patia, Tim Stowers, Bill Tangapiri, Ben Sexton, Travel Tutai, Eli Bendini, Gary Tangiiti, Lloyd Matapo (Capt) and Tepou Taana.

Takuvaine Senior A players – Futu Banaba, Panapa Katuke, Louis Moemai, Mataio Samania, Ailiaoa Samania(Capt), Silafi Tovio, Lua Tua, Ka Rongokea, Teina Savage, Matt Konito, Jason Arioka, Travel Tou Jnr, Rodney Tiro, John Matamaki, Tave Tereapii and Sema Robati.

In other round one Senior A grade matches this weekend, the Ngatangiia Flying Dragons take on the Arorangi Cowboys at Nukupure Park.

The Dragons are sometimes guilty of a lack of focus towards the latter-part of matches and who could forget last year’s first round 15-14 victory by the Cowboys.

At the Avatiu swamp the Eels will play their city cousins Tupapa-Maraerenga and this will be another interesting match to watch a continuation of the rugby-league grand final?

CIRU would also like to say a big meitaki maata to UK Leinster (Ireland) rugby star local ‘scrum doctor’ Stan Wright for conducting training sessions at most clubs during his one week holiday. - Ruck and maul

Saturday, June 26 at Avatiu: Tupapa-Maraerenga vs Avatiu-Nikao – 12pm Under 13, Ref-club officials, 12.45pm Under 16, Ref-Terry Piri assisted by club officials, 1.50pm Under 19, Ref-Billy Tuaivi assisted by club officials, 3.05pm Senior B, Ref-Tutai Taurarii assisted by Pare Rongokea and Sean Willis, 4.10pm Senior A, Ref-Pare Rongokea assisted by Tutai Taurarii and Sean Willis.

At Ngatangiia: Arorangi vs Ngatangiia- Matavera – 12pm Under 13, Ref-Ratu Mato assisted by club officials, 12.45pm Under 16, Ref-Tangi Toa assisted by club officials, 1.50pm Under 19, Ref-Dan Munro assisted by Ratu Mato and club officials, 3.05pm Senior B, Ref-Tua Manea assisted by Simiona Teiotu and Tangi Toa, 4.10pm Senior A, Ref-Simiona Teiotu assisted by Tua Manea and Dan Munro.

At Titikaveka: Takuvaine vs Titikaveka – 12.45pm Under 16, Ref-Poto Ngaroi assisted by club officials, 2pm Under 19, Ref-Ben Koteka assisted by Poto Ngaroi and Arthur Emile, 3.20pm Women’s 10, Ref-Fraser Nooroa assisted by club officials, 4.10pm Senior A, Ref-Arthur Emile assisted by Fraser Nooroa and Poto Ngaroi.