Lemalu Cup: ‘A celebration of his life’
He was a beloved husband, father and club man and this Thursday, Ronati Lemalu will be honoured with a very special pre-season rugby tournament.
The Lemalu Cup is a threeweek tournament for west Auckland secondary schools.
It has been put together by the director of rugby at Waitakere City Rugby Club, Tony Lafotanoa, along with the Lemalu family to celebrate the life and contribution to the west Auckland rugby community of Ronati Lemalu.
Lemalu tragically passed away on August 28, 2016, when he was hit and killed by a train in Penrose as his family attended a Warriors match.
A former semi-professional rugby player in France, Lemalu had been a player and a coach at Waitakere since the club’s inception, helping with both player and coaching development.
At the time of his death, club chairman Ron Jones said Lemalu ‘‘was a massive part of the club and a guy people just loved to be around’’.
Since hanging up his boots, he coached across the grades at Waitakere, from youth to premier level.
The father-of-two played his high school rugby for Kelston and club football at Waitakere.
Avondale, Rutherford and Waitakere College will be joined by an invitational side for the inaugural four team tournament which will be played over the next three weeks.
Lafotanoa said the club were
‘‘We wanted to put something together as a club that would be meaningful to the family.’’
Tony Lafotanoa
proud to be hosting the tournament and it was important to recognise Lemalu’s contributions and commitment to the club and youth.
‘‘Although it has not yet been a year since his passing, we wanted to put something together as a club that would be meaningful to the family as soon as possible,’’ he said.
‘‘The tournament is a celebration of his life, and will support our west Auckland schools as they prepare for the upcoming season.’’
Following the final on April 6, there will be a trophy presentation. The cup will be presented by Lemalu’s widow Liana and their sons Brayton and Llayton along with his parents.
Game one between Rutherford and Waitakere College kicks off at 5pm at The Trusts Arena, Henderson.