Rugby: Baker's labourer delivers goods for Mighty Maroons

Taradale No 8 Iakopo Mapu prepares some pies for delivery while on the job as a baker's labourer at the Fire Station Bakery and Cafe in Whakatu. Photo/Warren Buckland

It's fair to say rookie No 8 Iakapo Mapu is having a cracker of a first season for Taradale Rugby and Sports in Hawke's Bay's premier club competition.

He's been one of the key architects of the Mighty Maroons' unbeaten run to date in the Tui Nash Cup. Mapu, 21, is the team's top tryscorer with 10, seven more than his nearest rivals and he could easily have had a couple more but didn't want to be accused of being greedy.

After scoring four tries in Friday's 48-7 drubbing of Maddison Trophy holders Tremains Andrew Clark Clive at Farndon Park Mapu was the logical choice as the seventh weekly winner in the battle to become the McDonald's-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year.

"I'm really enjoying it here and I'm glad I listened to Mo," Mapu said referring to former Taradale, Magpies, Samoa, Chiefs, Taranaki, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Counties-Manukau hooker Mo Schwalger.

"I had an offer to go to Otago but Mo told me to go to Taradale where if I worked hard I would have a good chance of making the Magpies. He told me Taradale was a good club with good players and coaches," Mapu recalled.

Mapu comes from the village of Faleula in Samoa where he started playing rugby as a 12-year-old. He attended Wesley College in Samoa before being awarded a rugby scholarship to attend Massey High School in Auckland during his Year 13 studies and he has also had three years in the Samoa Rugby Academy run by Schwalger.

After playing for Samoa A earlier in his career Mapu earnt selection in the top Samoa side last year which also included then Magpies fullback JJ Taulagi. Mapu played in a win against Spain and losses to the United States and Georgia.

"It is good to get that level of experience and while I'm not a contender for this year's World Cup the goal is to play for Samoa at the 2023 World Cup," Mapu said.

"I'm enjoying the training sessions with the Magpies wider training group and the feedback I'm getting from the Magpies coaches. I know I've got to improve my workrate especially my defensive workrate around the ruck area and blow outs at ruck time. I'm happy with my fitness levels but I will get a more accurate gauge this week when the training squad has the first of their big tests," Mapu explained.

One-on-one skill sessions with the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's talent development co-ordinator Jason Shoemark have enhanced his game.

Mapu works as a casual labourer at the Fire Station Bakery and Cafe in Whakatu.

"It's good physical labour and I don't mind the early starts as I often get up early for my own training," Mapu said.

Like his Taradale teammates, Mapu, is eagerly awaiting Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports at Taradale's Tareha Recreation Reserve.

"I know Hastings have a bigger team than Napier Old Boys Marist. We can handle their physicality. The boys know if we win this game we've got a good chance of winning the Nash Cup.

"It's important we take the right mindset into the game. It's important we keep working hard and treat every game like a final ... that's something else Mo taught me."

Mapu pointed out he is impressed with how well the Taradale players have bonded. They will have a team breakfast before a training session tomorrow as part of their build-up to Saturday's game.

Best & Fairest
Taradale v Clive: 3, Iakopo Mapu (Taradale); 2, Donovan Mataira (Clive); 1, Cristobal Niedmann (Taradale).
Hastings v Havelock North: 3, Timo Vaiusu (Hastings); 2, Jardine Chung Ching (Hastings); 1, Albert Hemopo (Havelock).
Central v Tamatea: 3, Scott Mathis (Central); 2, Harris Solomon (Tamatea); 1, Karl Lepelaars (Central).
Tech v Pirate: 3, Slayde Lange (Tech); 2, Elijah Martin (Tech); 1, Lance Tupaea (Pirate).
Leaderboard: 7pts: Elijah Martin (Tech); 6pts: Iakopo Mapu (Taradale), Donovan Mataira (Clive). 5pts: Jordan Kupa, Jacob Baker, Toby Single (all Taradale), Shamara Brooks, Neria Fomai (both Hastings), Liam Edwards, Matt Gardner (both NOBM), Jacob Stephenson (Havelock North), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate), Tom Iosefo (MAC). 4pts: Saia Paese, Sean Skeet (both NOBM), Zac Southwick (both Clive).