Rugby: Samoan siblings putting Afega on the map

Telesia Faiva (pictured) and her brother, Faiva, have set a first for the Hawke's Bay rep rugby scene this winter. Photo / Warren Buckland

Google Afega, a village on the island of Upolu in Samoa.

For world champion netballer and softballer in New Zealand colours, Rita Fatialofa-Paloto, and top Kiwi adventure racer Nathan Fa'avae, it's home. In 10 years time, the William Colenso College brother and sister duo of Faiva Faiva and Telesia Faiva may feature on Afega's list of famous athletes.

Faiva Faiva.

The pair are believed to be the only brother-and-sister combo from the same secondary school selected in Hawke's Bay representative rugby teams this season.

Fifteen-year-old year 11 student Faiva has been named in the Hawke's Bay under-16 team and 17-year-old year 12 student Telesia has made the Hawke's Bay secondary schoolgirls team who open their campaign with a match against Taranaki in Ashhurst on August 27.

What adds to the significance of their selections is the fact neither of them played rugby before their family arrived in Hawke's Bay six years ago because religion and studies were their priorities back home. In midfield back Telesia's case, she started playing just three years ago.

Last year she played for the Napier Old Boys Marist premier women's team and earlier this year for the club at the Hawke's Bay Sevens tournament in Waipukurau.

"My long-term goal is to play for the New Zealand Sevens team at the Olympics. Niall Williams is my hero," Telesia said, referring to Sonny Bill Williams' sister, who was a member of the New Zealand team which won silver in Rio.

Telesia played for the Ahuriri team, a combination of William Colenso, Te Ara Hou Kura Kaupapa Maori and Tamatea High School players, in this winter's Hawke's Bay secondary schools competition.

"We didn't win any games but we didn't finish last, either. It was awesome to have the other schools involved in the Ahuriri Sports Society as, without them, we would not have been able to field a team and the team is a pathway to representative honours," Telesia explained.

She is enjoying the coaching she is receiving from Hawke's Bay Tuis coach Terangi Maeva and Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union's development officer Jarvy Aoake in the rep team, which will also play games against Manawatu Development, Wellington and Whanganui.

A Hawke's Bay secondary schools volleyball representative since 2014, Telesia hopes to make the Hawke's Bay secondary schoolgirls rugby team again next year.

"While the Olympics is the long-term goal, I want to get a job here in the Bay when I leave school to help the family out. There are five of us children, four of whom play rugby," Telesia said.

Openside flanker Faiva plays for the Ahuriri B grade team which also includes players from Tamatea High School. They have a catch-up game against Napier Boys' High School's 3rd XV today and Faiva said his team has to win it to make the semifinals.

"Before coming to William Colenso I played JAB rugby for Tech but, like Telesia, this is the first year I have made a Hawke's Bay rep team," Faiva said.

He is keen to make a career out of rugby and ranked the Savea brothers, Ardie and Julian, as his heroes.

"I just want to focus on 15s," he said.

Faiva plays for his school's B basketball team in the winter and in summer plays school touch and volleyball. Like his sister, Faiva, was full of praise for the Ahuriri Sports Society.

"It was because of the Ahuriri team I made the rep team. Now I can learn from the likes of Matt Wyatt, Jason Shoemark and Eugene Gerrard," Faiva said referring to the Hawke's Bay under-16 coaches.