La Salle Collegians Rugby

A tough day at the office yesterday for the Papatoetoe Lasalle Collegians old boys Presidents team against a very fit and drilled Pakuranga Presidents side. Pakuranga are a well organised Presidents team who usually have 30 plus player turn up to games and are a fit team who I believe can still be competitive in at least the First Grade of senior Auckland rugby competition. We were barely able to muster a full squad but in the true spirit of Presidents rugby, a number of Marist and GTEC Presidents players came over after their games and provided us with some much needed extra players.

As expected, the Pakuranga squad were very fit and utilised their fitness and pace well against us. We are a tough team that likes to keep the ball in the forwards however Pakuranga were smart to keep to their strengths and keep the ball out wide allowing their fast wingers to score tries. The score at half time was 6-1 to Pakuranga. About 10 minutes into the second half, the game was called off as a result of a serious injury to one of the Pakuranga players coming off the end of a hard tackle from one of the La Salle players. The final score remained 6-1 to Pakuranga.

Despite the score, the game was a tough game and at the end of the day, fitness and speed prevailed. Again a big thank you to the Marist and GTEC players who helped make up our numbers and as a result, they are all honorary Lasalle Collegian Rugby brothers.

Sila Iona (1999) once again captained our team this week and Daniel Page (2001) was the sole try scorer of our side taking his total tally of tries to 19 as our all time top try scorer.

A number of milestones were achieved in this game. Our captain Sila Iona gained his 30 game tag and Nelly Lemusu (Hon) gained his 10 game cap.

Congratulations to our honorary Lasalle Collegian rugby brothers who made their debuts with us this week.

#247 Cody Wetere (Pap Oldboys/Marist)
#248 Mitchell Henry (Pap Oldboys/Marist)
#249 Tevita Malolo (Marist)
#250 Warren Webber (GTEC French Sealions)
#251 Solomon Weilert (GTEC French Sealions)
#252 Lewis Bristowe (Marist)
#253 Tawariki Watene (Hon)
#254 Lawrence Faalogo Mele (Marist)
#255 Mavaega (Marist)
#256 Tusitala Filemu (Marist)
$257 Lino (Marist)

Bonum Certamen Certa

After two weeks without a game, the La Salle Collegians old boys rugby team took the field this weekend against the Suburbs Rugby Presidents side. Despite a beautiful clear day, and a good field provided by the Suburbs club, the temperature was a little cool, a sign that winter has well truly arrived.

At the beginning of the game, the Suburbs team indicated they were short of players and so in true Presidents rugby (and La Sallian) spirit, we gave the Suburbs three of our players. They weren't just any three players, they were the three youngest, fittest and fastest players we had on the team. By the end of the first half, we trailed Suburbs 3 tries to 1, with all three of the tries being scored by the players we lent them in the first half.

A few more Suburbs players arrived by half time so we got back our players and started the second half strongly, trying to claw our way back from the 2 try deficit. The Suburbs players seemed to shift into a higher gear and despite our efforts to climb our way back, we ended up going down to Suburbs 7 tries to 6.

Regardless of the result, it was a great game and as I say to the guys afterwards, regardless of the result, the win is always spending time with the brothers and pushing play.

Our inaugural captain from our first season in 2020, Sila Iona (1999) returned after a bit of time away to once again captain the boys.

Last week's debutant, David Peiwa (Hon) scored a hat-trick of tries with Daniel Page (2001) scoring a double to add on to his total tally of 18 tries and increase his tally for the highest try scorer for the team.

Nelly Lemusu also dotted down for a try of his own.

We only had one debutant in the game who was Travis Walker (Hon) #246.

The other milestone this week was Edmund Iona playing his 30th game for the brotherhood.

Well done to all the other brothers who turned up to spend time with the brothers and to push play.

Bonum Certamen Certa

#246 - Travis Walker (Hon)

Debut (Presidents) 13/06/2026 vs Suburbs

Position(s) - Second-Five,

2026 Games Played (Presidents) - 1
TOTAL GAMES PLAYED - 1

The La Salle Collegians old boys rugby team backed up last week's come from behind win to score another close win over the mighty Marist Presidents side this week 6 tries to 5. Marist always bring the heat and the power and it was no different this year. Marist were strong on both attack and defence but the brothers held it together and came away with the W.

Tai Leuluaialii (2008) skippered the side with the six La Salle tries being scored by Bartley Joseph (1998) - 2 tries, ET Johnson (2002), Mark Sopoaga (2005), Edmund Iona (Hon) and Korik Sopoaga (2023).

David Peiwa (Hon) made his debut as player #245 and
Beren Sopoaga (2022) and Korik Sopoaga (2023) both earned their 10 Game Caps.

Well done to the brothers for pushing play.