Lots of new news, updated February 27, 2010.
Tsunami halts rugby this weekend. Lets hope it is not too damaging and that no one gets hurt when it hits about an hour from now.
We need to raise $4,000 per team for the Spring Break Tournaments on Oahu. Donations of $200 are being solicited from business and people willing to sponsor one teenager for the trip. If you can help please send a check or a note saying you are willing to
donate frequent flier miles to Maui Rugby Org, 449 Kuikahi Drive,
Wailuku, HI 96793. Mahalo
Three U17 Elite named for summer program with Ontario Select. Vili Toluta'u, Solo Anitema and Sione Mahe have been named as the players who will spend part of their summer in Canada training with the Ontario U17 Provincial Select Side (one of the 7 provincical programs from which Canada selects its National Teams). Fund raising to pay for their airfare is beginning.
News from London remains great as the men from Maui keep helping Bracknell RFC win big late season matches.
Here are photos from the last two weekends. Several from the "Pit" feature our first father v. son match up as the Toluta'u family put a dad and two sons out on the pitch (and a great hit on dad was made by the younger son to the amusement of all in attendance).) The Lahaina photos are from our first annual Rugby 7s Tournament, (for which we just got a major sponsor for next year).
A great time was had by all on both weekends. A special Mahalo to our friend Cody from Bampf Canada who joined in the friendly men's match played after the conclusion of the tournament.
The Men's tournament was won by Kihei. Mone Takufua, Moona Lolohea, Siua Lolohea accept the winners' trophy, as tournament referees Kausiga Tukana, Siua Lolohea, Manase Soakai and Head Coach Jack Breen look on.
The Teen Division was won by Lahaina U20 by one try over Kihei U19 after the first match between then ended in a tie. Accepting the trophy is Coach Saia Siakumi
Most Valuable Man of the Tournament was Kihei's Saia Otuafe, who was the leading scorer by far
Most Valuable Boy Rookie Rugby Player was Simisi Soakai, shown with his dad, Manase, and Coach Jack
Most valuable U12 Boy and Rookie Rugby Girl Player were awarded to Sione Lolohea and Moona Lolohea shown with their dad, Siua, and Coach Jack
Most valuable Teen was won by 19 year old Namoori Uenroi, Maui's representative on the All Hawaii U19 Team in 2009, who had to leave for work before the award ceremony.
Two more weekends of great rugby, this past one at the Kihei Youth Center Field and the prior one at the field in front of War Memorial gym has Maui Rugby ready for its first island championships tournament on Feburary 20 at the Lahaina field. And good news from England. Pila Taufa scored two tries in his first match on English soil and Andrew Malafu Telu Malafu added another try to lift Bracknell to a huge win over one of the few sides to have beaten them earlier in the season. Then this past weekend Pila scored 4 more tries as he and Telu helped Bracknell to a Berkshire Cup quarterfinal win of 78 to 3. It looks like the BRFC is very please with its newest players with good reason. We look forward to more new from the other side of the pond as the season progresses. Here are some shots from this past weekend which saw Kihei display early dominance with a 30 to 15 win over Lahaina and a 30 to 25 win over Kahului/Wailuku.
What a great day of rugby last Saturday as we wished good luck to Telu Malafu and Pila Taufa who fly to London on Monday for a season with Bracknell Rugby Football Club and the opportunity to try out for professional contracts that pay six figures per year in US dollars.
The Kihei U12 team earned its new name "The Kihei Heat" as they played two blazing "touch rugby" matches, one after the U19s had a full tackle scrimmage and one after the men had their full tackle scrimmage. Here are some photos of the fun.
USA Rugby Runs IRB Referee Certification Program on Maui, 3 Maui Rugby Members Certified as Level I Referees
Manasi Sokai, Peta Totau and Moli Pousima passed the IRB Certification Course for Level I Referee, Congratulations to all three of them. This gives Maui a total of 5 certified referees as we look to begin the 2010 Rugby season.
Here are some photos from the recent match with the Pacific Coast Rugby Union Grizzlies U17
Maui Fearless in Lahaina before match with Grizzlies Oto Mafileo leads the Fearless in the Sipitau at Lahaina
The Fearless Sipitau up close Moving on to the next phase, an area to work on
Fearless Scrum against the Pacific Grizzlies Siueli Vaha disrupts a Grizzly through and Vili Tolata'u wins the ball
Lack of support costs a turn over, notice how the Grizzlies have all backs lined up and ready, check out body position of man over ball, compare team positions in support, more to work on
Fearless winning a ruck A couple of our youngest fans enjoying a half time snack
Photos from last season
Maui U16s looking good in their new orange uniforms, provided by the National Guard.
Referee Mac Schwenke sets the scrum in Maui U16 match v. Kahuku
Solo Malafu Anitema breaks the line during the U-16 State Championship semi-final against Waimea
Sione Tukuafu, Kiko Fonehema and Duke Waring follow in support.
The National Guard sponsored HYR State Championships Tournament was held at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki on May 1 and 2.
Kahuku are again the U19s State Champions after defeating UH Youth in a hard hitting final. Congratulations to the Rhinos and all the U19 teams who played this season.
Maui's U16s made it to the State Championships thanks to the sponsorship of Uncle Buddy Smith and the hosting of the National Guard and showed very well, scoring tries in the final seconds of each match.
Maui defense swarms a Waimea player in the U16 State Championships semi-final match.
However, in the semi-finals Maui were bettered by a single point by the Mud Hogs of Waimea,
28-29, the U16 HYR 2009 State Champions. Congratulations to Waimea on the win and to Maui on meeting their goal of finishing strongly in every match.
Thanks also to Kahuku for giving Maui another match, won by Kahuku, and congratulations to Kona's U16s on their second place finish.
Vili Tolutau takes a line out throw from Kahuku at State Championships
Kahuku forward makes a strong tackle on Vili Tolutau as Poini Kafoa comes to support
This year there were also U13s in the State Championships, but none yet from Maui. Next year, when Maui hosts the tournament, Maui plans to have teams in all three categories and in the girls divisions as well.
Mana O Maui U19s at Kapiolani Park at the foot of Diamond Head in Waikiki (From left standing) Coach Finau Hafoka, Timote "Valu" Kauvaka, Taniella Palavi, Peter Lino, Tulia Tei, Coach Jack Breen, (middle row from left) Selu Tulia, Aisea Fonua, Vili Toluta'u, Namoori Uenraoi, Taniella Bloomfield (seated) Stefano Sulanga, Nutie Pousima (captain) Jared "Leti" Langi, Uame Toluta'u
Maui captain Nuti Pousima eluding a would be defender at Aloha 7s where he scored 9 tries.
Namoori Uenroi breaks a tackle in an Aloha 7s U19 match while Nella Bloomfield supports him
Big Nella Bloomfield runs strong with ball in hand while Simeone Vehikite comes to support
Nuti Pousima scores one of his 9 tries at the Aloha 7s
Sepu Tulia breaks through on a pick and go as Peter Lino comes to support him at the Aloha 7s
The U19s took 4th place with 4 wins at the Aloha 7s Youth Rugby Tournament over spring break. The scoring was well spread out with 8 Maui players contributing to the 128 points scored, compared to 77 allowed. Captain Nuti Pousima, playing at wing, led the scoring, notching 45 points on 9 tries in the 6 matches. Namoori Uenraoi, playing at scrum half, added 27 points with 3 tries and 5 drop kick conversioins. Simione Vehikite, playing at center, added 20 points with 4 tries in the 2 matches he played in on Friday (druing which the team out scored its opponents 82 - 5), Peter Lino, playing at hooker, and Leti Langi, playing at wing, each added 10 points with 2 trys apiece, including the first one ever for Leti and the first in 7s for Peter, Tulie Tei, also playing at wing, contributed 6 points on 3 drop kick conversions and Valu Kauvaka, playing at prop, and Fano Sulanga, playing at center, each contributed 5 points with a try a piece. Maui won twice against Waipahu (17 - 12 on Thursday and 44 - 5 on Friday) and once against Kapolei (38-0) and collected a win against Kahuku (by forfiet) after opening with a 7 - 17 loss to Parkside, the eventual champion. In what many spectators dubbed the best match of the tournament Maui and Kalihi battled each other evenly in the semi-finals down to the last second, with Kalihi avenging the double overtime loss to Maui in the semi-finals the last time the two met at the Aloha 7s, by sqeeking out a 19 -21 win over Maui. Spent from that fantastic match Maui lost in the consolation match with UH Youth 7 - 22 in a contest Maui used to even out the playing time at the tournament for all of our players.
Peter Lino joins in a tackle being made by Nella Bloomfield in the match against Kapolei at the Aloha 7s
Simione Vehikite and Fano Sulanga close on a Waipahu runner at the Aloha 7s
Aisea Fonua heads to support a teammate making a tackle on a Kapolei player at the Aloha 7s.
Transportation costs to the Aloha 7s were donated by Marco's Grill & Deli, to whom we say Mahalo!
Uncle Buddy Smith, along with All American Framing, M.D.L. Builders, and Happy Kids Maui
sponsored us for team shirts (again), so our players look good when playing touch and traveling to tournaments and matches. Uncle Buddy and his pals have now provided 180 shirts to young rugby players on Maui, for which we say Mahalo!
Mouth guards for this season were donated by Maui Smile Works for all teens, Mahalo Dr. D.
U19s and U16s are now preparing for 15s rugby and the State Championships in Waikiki in May.
Men make playoffs, despite dropping last 2 matches.
This year's Aloha State Games will include Rugby and Maui will be sending players. Check back here for more information on the Games which will be held on Oahu on June 18, 19 & 20.
Mana O Maui was again represented on a USA National Age/Grade Team this year and has two players already selected for future National Teams!
Simione Vehikite was named to the USA U18 National Team shown here before their match as part of the
San Diego 7s Tournament. Congratulations to SImione and the other 2 players from Hawaii selected to
represent our country on the rugby pitch.
2009 USA U18 National Team (Eagles)
Simione Vehikite, Maui's second USA Age/Grade Eagle
And congratulations to Simione too for earning a football scholarship to USC. In honor of that accomplishment Mana O Maui's U17s are being nicknamed the Trojans. The U19s will keep the name Spartans, selected by the first team to represent our club in 2007. When we field our U14s we will name them the Lunas in honor of the high school most of the players on our first team. So that players who go all through our tackle programs will be Lunas first, Trojans next, and Spartans before graduating to the Maui Warriors, our men's side, or the Akala Wahine, our women's side.
U16 Lopua Hafoka selected as future USA Age/Grade Eagle, as was U19 Paula Toa
Congratulations Lopua and Paula!
Sione Pila Taufa, Maui's first USA Age/Grade Eagle
Maui born and raised Sione Pila Taufa played with the USA U-19 against Canada at the 2008 Freedom Cup, making him the first ever Eagle from Maui. Thanks to all who helped make this possible. Congratulations Pila!
*Josh Aquinde, 2007 U-19 Captain, now starting scrum half for California Luthern University,
Josh Aquinde, a 2007 graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Maui, who will forever be known as the "First Spartan" of Maui teen rugby, is in his 4th semester of studies and rugby at California Luthern (7-0), where he is the A side scrum half. Way to go Josh!