After 20 years Mike calls it a day
Mike Popata will finally hang up his Sevens lanyard today.
The 47 year old has been part of the New Zealand leg of the World Sevens Series for the last 20 years.
During the first two years he was an event manager for Red Tickets before volunteering as a team liaison. He’s being doing that now for 18 years.
Fifteen of those have been with England.
‘‘When they asked me to be a driver, I asked them which team is the most difficult and they said England, so I said, give England to me, I will sort them out.’’
Since then, they’ve become part of Popata’s extended family. The Wellington man even used to put on a barbecue at home for the team until the tournament shifted to Hamilton.
‘‘Watching the boys in the backyard, there is cricket, trampolines – they used to take over my house and they just made themselves at home.’’
Now Popata sends team members a Buzzy Bee when they have their first child so they have something from New Zealand in their homes.
But this is Popata’s last year. ‘‘I think it’s good for other people to have a go,’’ he told
‘‘I am taking up space, it’s in
Hamilton so I’ve got to travel from Wellington and pay for my accommodation.’’
Yet he doesn’t mind paying from his own pocket – like all of the liaisons.
‘‘That is the passion we have for the teams we look after plus the tournament as well.’’
Popata’s duties start before Christmas. ‘‘I start getting hold of the RFU and try and get their training schedule.
I make sure everything works for them, organising their training, pool and gym sessions. Making sure they’ve got water, ice because at the end of the day I want them to win the day.’’
Popata takes a week off for the Sevens from his regular job in the commercial IT team at the
Ministry of Education.
‘‘My youngest daughter was born five days before a tournament and I scarpered and still brought all the washing back for my wife to do.’’
The passion has continued with Popata’s 16-year-old daughter who has volunteered for a few years and his 13 year old is also keen. Popata is glad to see the
Sevens revived in Hamilton after shifting from Wellington.
‘‘Wellington got very low numbers at one point – the last one it was sad to see the stadium half full.
‘‘It’s fantastic to see Hamilton supporting it as it has. And it’s cool to have the women’s tournament here too.’’
Popata has two decades of yarns to spin – but one that sticks out resulted in his wife doing all the team’s washing.
‘‘Ben Ryan bought this limited edition England shirt, it was off white, a gold embroidered rose and he was super proud of it.
‘‘At that point in time, we used to take the team’s washing to the laundromat.
‘So we grabbed a bag and dropped it off with his shirt in there with a whole lot of red clothing.
‘‘The next day and Ben walks in with a shirt that is coloured, shrunk, effectively destroyed and he looked at me and shook his head. I still feel stink to this day.’’
Popata has received plenty of England memorabilia over the years including about 22 jerseys, shirts, and jackets.
‘‘There’s too many to hang but I can’t get rid of them, I just can’t do it.’’
But he also received a special gift from the team on Wednesday.
‘‘I got a meat cleaver from the team which is engraved with ‘Thanks for the memories. From your England Sevens Family.’’
While Popata supports the All Blacks – in Sevens, England has his heart, and it’ll make that final drive to Auckland Airport on Monday that much harder.
‘‘I will see what it’s like when I drop them off at the airport on Monday – I will take a box of tissues – or a towel for each eyeball.’’