Poverty Bay Wekas midfield back Jacob Leaf in action against Ngati Porou East Coast. Leaf was named Back of the Year for the second year running and Player of the Year for the Heartland squad.
Poverty Bay Wekas midfield back Jacob Leaf in action against Ngati Porou East Coast. Leaf was named Back of the Year for the second year running and Player of the Year for the Heartland squad.
Poverty Bay will need to “step up” in line with other provinces if they are to be a force in the Heartland Championship, says union chairman Hayden Swann.
And he is confident they can.
Swann was commenting after a tough 2024 season for Poverty Bay Wekas who lost all eightof their Heartland games and finished bottom of the 12-team table.
“I think last year when we came fifth we probably felt we were in a good space,” Swann told the Gisborne Herald. “But everyone stepped up [in 2024] ... it shows you can’t sit back. Each year you have to keep upping your game - all the other unions are doing it.”
Swann stressed he was “not despondent” about the season.
“We know we have good players here in our [club] competition and if they put the effort in pre-season and during the season, we can be as good as anyone.”
Key to that will be a return to Rugby Park, which is undergoing multimillion-dollar development and was out of action for the entire season.
“We intend to have our Heartland games back at Rugby Park next year,” Swann said.
“For me, I think they’ve [Poverty Bay] missed that ... missed their base ... missed having a fortress - something to defend. While it has been good moving around the club spaces, and they have been fantastic hosts, we’ve missed our fortress.”
Swann said a review of the Heartland season was “still going on” and the union was “absolutely determined” not to have a repeat of 2024′s results.
On the positive side, Swann said there were some “shining lights” over the year, particularly in the age grade teams.
These included the Poverty Bay Under-16 boys’ team, coached by Reihana Wyllie and Mike Kora, winning the B Division of the Hurricanes U16 championship - beating Hawke’s Bay Development 40-19 in the final in Levin.
Swann also highlighted the development of girls’ and women’s rugby.
“That’s where the growth is. It’s great to see that these teams are sustainable ... showing there is some depth amongst those teenage and women’s teams.
“The key with them is they are wanting to get better each year - develop their skills and show that they can step up out of town.
“There are some amazing pathways for these girls and that is key ... and that’s where we are [at] - providing pathways for these girls and women.”
Other features of the season included the selection of backs Te Reimana Gray and Israel Fox in the New Zealand U20 Heartland squad after Poverty Bay finished a best-ever second behind Wairarapa Bush in the Hurricanes U20 competition.
Jacob Leaf receives the Paul Sceats Memorial Trophy for Heartland squad Player of the Year from Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union president Tom Crosby at the union's prizegiving.
Leaf Poverty Bay’s Player of the Year
Midfield back Jacob Leaf joined an elite list when he was named the Heartland squad’s Player of the Year at the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union annual awards held at the RSA.
Waikohu’s Leaf collected the Paul Sceats Memorial Trophy and was also named Best Back - the second year running he has picked up the award, reflecting his consistency in a tough year for the Wekas.
Wekas skipper and hooker Shayde Skudder’s leadership, dedication, and tenacity was rewarded with the Best Forward honour while utility back Matt Proffit won the Peter Brown Memorial Trophy which goes to a person who contributes extensively to a “positive team culture”.
Proffit missed his own graduation and a family wedding to play for Poverty Bay.
The Best and Fairest Cup went to loose forward Keanu Taumata.
Princess Tomoana was named Turanga Wahine Player of the Year at the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union annual awards.
Multi-talented first five Princess Tomoana was named Tūranga Wāhine Player of the Year; NZ Heartland Under-20 squad member Israel Fox won Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Māori Player of the Year; and fellow NZ Heartland U20 player Te Reimana Gray was presented the Benchmark Age Grade Award.
Reihana Wyllie, head coach of the Poverty Bay U16 boys’ team, was named Coach of the Year.
