Rugby: Sione eyes development berth

MAC loosie Api Sione relishes the physical nature of his work at the Lowe Corporation tannery. Photo/Glenn Taylor

When MAC rugby loosie Api Sione was 17 he arrived in Hawke's Bay from Samoa with his family in search of better opportunities.

"There were my parents, five brothers and two sisters," Sione recalled yesterday.

A Flaxmere College product, Sione can't be accused of not taking his opportunities on the rugby field. He has represented the Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools, Under-20s and B teams in the past and at 29 he still has a Magpies squad berth on his list of goals.

"I'm hoping to make the Hawke's Bay Development team this year so I can use that team as a pathway," Sione said.

A skin remover at the Lowe Corporation Limited tannery in Hastings, Sione enhanced his chances of selection in the Development team with a player-of-the-match performance in MAC's nailbiting 30-28 win against Clive at Flaxmere Park on Saturday. This effort saw Sione become the ninth weekly winner in the battle for the Tui-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.

Sione had two seasons with the Clive club before spending three years playing for Petone in Wellington. There were no sneaky jabs or over-vigorous rucking from his former teammates on Saturday.

"They were all good," Sione said as a huge grin enveloped his face.

He pointed out several injuries at crucial times contributed to MAC's sixth placing in the Nash Cup and he is confident the side can secure a semifinal berth during the Maddison Trophy competition, which begins this weekend with a home game against the defending champions Napier Technical, if that injury list doesn't grow.

A father of three, including 7- and 5-year-old boys who play for MAC in teams Sione helps coach, Sione said he enjoyed doing his bit for the future of the club.

He regarded the Wellington club scene as tougher than Hawke's Bay's but said the Bay comp still has some rugged individuals.

He ranked Havelock North and Magpies prop Brendon Edmonds as the toughest player he has come up against this season.

The third-season MAC player is impressed with the progress the loose forward combination of captain and No8 Everard Reid, Malele Fa'aopopo and he are making.

The physical nature of his job helps keep him in shape. Reid, Sione and Fa'aopopo will have to be at their best if they are to beat Tech loosies Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Hugh Reed and Levi Guildford at breakdown time this weekend.

Should MAC repeat their 24-3 Nash Cup round upset win that will be another indication Sione is on track for Hawke's Bay Development team selection.