League club undergoes revival
There has been an awakening. The Ka¯ piti Bears rugby league club, in hibernation for seven years, is expected to field a men’s team this season.
Two of the people helping with the resurgence of the once mighty club are team manager Ra Tanirau and head coach Te Kaha Kepa.
Te Kaha has moved to the coast from Wainuiomata and was keen to help get the club playing again.
“It’s very exciting. I’m also training with the squad, just to keep fit, but also just in case we don’t have balanced numbers.
“I’m also trying to help youth too.
“My goal is to get into the colleges, once the seniors come back, and put on some rugby league clinics with Ra.
“Hopefully it will help draw the youth in because I feel rugby league has fallen down a bit in Ka¯ piti and even in the Horowhenua.”
Ra, who lives in Wainuiomata, jumped on board when he heard about what was going on.
“It was a challenge and something different.
“And something I’ve never done but always been passionate about.
“League has been in my blood since I was a young boy.
“I played all my junior and senior footy with Wainui, did a year in the Manawatu¯ competition when they had one,
My goal is to get into the colleges, once the seniors come back, and put on some rugby league clinics with Ra. Te Kaha Kepa
played rep football the same as Te Kaha.
“It’s about giving something back and about helping rugby league as a whole which has been in a bit of a downward spiral over the years.”
Moreover it was about “bringing a whole new emphasis back into this club.”
The club has been gaining interest from players and already has over a dozen players committed to the club.
Decisions will be made in the coming weeks about whether the club will field a premier team or a reserve grade team in the
Wellington rugby league competition.
The competition kicks off in the first weekend of April and runs through until end of August early September. Games are on Saturdays — reserve grade starting 1pm and premiers 2.30pm.
The pair are under no illusion about the challenge ahead, especially given how strong the competition is especially premier wise.
They could be up against teams such as O¯ taki’s championship winning Whiti Te Ra, Wainuiomata Lions, Te Aroha Eels, Randwick Kingfishers, Petone Panthers, Victoria Hunters, Porirua Vikings, St George Dragons. There’s even talk of Upper Hutt Tigers will be back again.
The club trains Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm at their homeground of Matthews Park, Raumati Beach. Prospective players are encouraged to take part.
A revitalised Ka¯ piti Bears would be welcome in league circles especially by Warriors coach Stephen Kearney who used to play for the club.
To keep up to date go to the Ka¯ piti Bears rugby league club Facebook page.