Wesley College Old Boys Rugby Club
What’s behind this Wesley College Old Boys Rugby Club idea? We all know there’s something special about Wesley. Ask Seilala Mapusua for his favourite ground and he’ll tell you Wesley College Field No. 1. Ask Jonah for his second favourite team (after the ABs) and he’ll say it’s the Wesley 1st XV. For many Wesleyans, they’ll never again find the same spirit and camaraderie that they had at school. The club is one way of keeping the Wesley family together.
Sounds good. But would a Wesley team be competitive? Look at the team listed below – all bar four of those named are currently playing. While we mightn’t get those players back, there are 15 Wesleyans in the Air NZ Cup (the new NPC Premier Division) and at least 20 Wesleyans playing senior club rugby in the Counties-Manukau competition. The College’s 1st XV won the Counties-Manukau U21 championship earlier this year and then entered the Counties Power Cup where they came up against senior club teams in the area. While these senior teams were not always at full strength – they were without their NPC players – Wesley’s 1st XV won this competition, beating Drury Seniors, Bombay Seniors, Ardmore-Marist Seniors (and losing to a Wesley old-boy stacked Manurewa by a point).
Where would we get our players? There are several Wesleyans playing senior rugby who’ve said they want to play for an old boys club. And ask the boys from the Wesley 1st XV who they’d want to play for once they leave school, and they all say Wesley.
Where would we play? We are hoping to play on Field No. 1 at the College. Apart from the fact it’s a great rugby ground, this would also strengthen the bonds between students past and present. Our clubrooms couldn’t be on the school grounds – it would be inappropriate to have licensed premises there – but there are some possibilities we’re looking into nearby.
Would the Counties-Manukau union be keen? While some of the other clubs in the area mightn’t be pleased to miss out on the Wesley conveyor belt of talent, the Counties-Manukau union are certainly interested in the idea. Now they’re in the new NPC Premier Division, they want as many good players as possible to stay within the area. And Counties-Manukau’s new status gives players a good reason to stay here. You can now play rugby in the province and get to the top.
I’m not nearly as quick as I used to be. And my, um, ab is quite large. What can I do? We’d like to field a senior reserve side. And, in time, an U21 side and a social side. Perhaps a woman’s team too. But we also need supporters. Volunteers. Coaches. Sponsors.
Is that all? Funnily enough, to form a club we don’t actually need a team! But we do need 25 members. We also need a constitution. We must have an annual general meeting (AGM). And we must have our accounts audited.
Anything else? Not really. Um, “Once a Wesleyan, always a Wesleyan!”
So what do you think? Keen to join? Support? Play? Share your thoughts/ideas/suggestions here or else email commander@clear.net.nz .
Sounds good. But would a Wesley team be competitive? Look at the team listed below – all bar four of those named are currently playing. While we mightn’t get those players back, there are 15 Wesleyans in the Air NZ Cup (the new NPC Premier Division) and at least 20 Wesleyans playing senior club rugby in the Counties-Manukau competition. The College’s 1st XV won the Counties-Manukau U21 championship earlier this year and then entered the Counties Power Cup where they came up against senior club teams in the area. While these senior teams were not always at full strength – they were without their NPC players – Wesley’s 1st XV won this competition, beating Drury Seniors, Bombay Seniors, Ardmore-Marist Seniors (and losing to a Wesley old-boy stacked Manurewa by a point).
Where would we get our players? There are several Wesleyans playing senior rugby who’ve said they want to play for an old boys club. And ask the boys from the Wesley 1st XV who they’d want to play for once they leave school, and they all say Wesley.
Where would we play? We are hoping to play on Field No. 1 at the College. Apart from the fact it’s a great rugby ground, this would also strengthen the bonds between students past and present. Our clubrooms couldn’t be on the school grounds – it would be inappropriate to have licensed premises there – but there are some possibilities we’re looking into nearby.
Would the Counties-Manukau union be keen? While some of the other clubs in the area mightn’t be pleased to miss out on the Wesley conveyor belt of talent, the Counties-Manukau union are certainly interested in the idea. Now they’re in the new NPC Premier Division, they want as many good players as possible to stay within the area. And Counties-Manukau’s new status gives players a good reason to stay here. You can now play rugby in the province and get to the top.
I’m not nearly as quick as I used to be. And my, um, ab is quite large. What can I do? We’d like to field a senior reserve side. And, in time, an U21 side and a social side. Perhaps a woman’s team too. But we also need supporters. Volunteers. Coaches. Sponsors.
Is that all? Funnily enough, to form a club we don’t actually need a team! But we do need 25 members. We also need a constitution. We must have an annual general meeting (AGM). And we must have our accounts audited.
Anything else? Not really. Um, “Once a Wesleyan, always a Wesleyan!”
So what do you think? Keen to join? Support? Play? Share your thoughts/ideas/suggestions here or else email commander@clear.net.nz .
posted by Commander at 11:31 am
16 Comments:
Bro, Ill sign up. I'll email you my details now.
Yep, count me in too. Just so long as that mad dog Eason isn't on the side of the scrum.
Mike.
Thanks for your interest. Those were great ideas. I've passed them on to Chris Bean.
By the way Westside, you could do a lot worse than have JP in the No.7 jumper. Word is that he's making a comeback for Old Boys v the College.
I'm sure we'll see an improved performance from him - last time he played (2004), he lasted a couple of minutes before he was taken to hospital.
How could Grinter coach the team He has spent the last nine years trying to beat Wesley with his Rotorua International 1st xv and has yet to win against Wesley
Remember North Harbour when Wesley posted the biggest score in the national champs final against Rotorua. Also he left the wqesley family family
Westside do not encourage JP The old man should be passing his skills onto the current crop of student by taking up Coaching a school grade and then 1st xv. I saw him playing for some small country clud this year It was not until after the game I realised he was a loose forward. If oyu watched the game you would have sworn he was a fullback Wesley needs him
Wesley Snipes we are not a cafe set out here Lets just be Wesley
mean and hard I have seen the types that walk around Ponsonby and Wesley is not the place for them
Enought talk lets do it
I think we need u19 u21 grades asa that is where are numbers are to start with.
You guys have set your sights too low. Check out the team that Beach named.
We need a Wesley NPC team!
this is what me and the guyz talked about all the time at our club rugby after matchez, enough talk, lets see some action!!
If you are really serious and want to start a WCOBRC team of some sorts in Auckland, we have three fields next to the club I work out of as a 'development' officer.
ORAKEI DOMAIN, Okahu Bay - is a central location.
You could start with a 'Social' or 'Senior Thirds' or whatever level you thought appropriate to get the ball rolling.
You could set up, register and play as a joint venture of some sort.
(Details to be nutted out of course, so all are happy)
Yes, I am X Wesley, 75 - 78, 1st XV loosie, when Willy Royal was the man. Senior Sports Champ with one Graeme Watene in 78'.
Clifford Watene was 1/2 back, and one Tem Morrison spent time in the centres.
My name is Kirk Jennings, Sports Development and part time coach with the 3rd XV Tamaki & U15B Selwyn College teams.
I managed to start three teams this season from scratch. Two are still going and one fell away after six games. Only thru lack of support!
After reading the comments here, there is support. It is just a matter of where, and how.
Now is the time to ACT.
Pre season starts FEB 1st!
Gives us time to find a sponsor choose a logo, uniform, coach?
Does someone want to have a meeting to get the ball rolling?
Lets see who's talking now?
Vinaka Bro!
Kirk Jennings
Orakei
Can this topic be added to the Old Student's day agenda? I've never attended an AGM before but i'll be keen to make the effort if this idea is progressed.
Anonymous et al,
We've been blown away at the level of support expressed by Wesleyans, past and present, for this proposed club. The Counties-Manukau union have swung in behind the idea so the next step is up to us.
So there will be a meeting after the Old Students' lunch (which starts at midday). This will start around 1.15pm, before the games which will start around 2.30pm. A firmer timetable for Old Students' Weekend will be posted on this site next week.
But we'll also be having a Old Boys Rugby Club meeting BEFORE Old Students' Weekend. The time for this meeting will also be posted early next week - check this site for where/when or else email me at commander@clear.net.nz and I'll send you the details.
There are at least 25 of us old boys playing in the counties premier competition at the moment...Lets go for it
Dear Wesleyans,
There is going to be a Wesley College Old Boys Rugby Club meeting on the Saturday of Old Students' Weekend (after the rugby). More details will be posted up in a couple of days.
Bula Bro,
How did the meeting go on Old Boys day?
Sorry I couldn't make it. But since my last 'comment' I have found five more X students interested in some form or another.
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