"It was pretty cool to complete three generations of one family in the same team ... it was the first time I've played with Dad and Koro," openside flanker Jamie said.
"Hopefully, weather permitting, we get the opportunity to play together again this weekend. I don't have any school games to worry about because it's school holidays."
Jamie plays for the Hastings Boys' High School under-15s. He is a former Hawke's Bay under-14 rugby representative and is also in the Hawke's Bay under-15 rugby league team.
"We gave Jamie the last 30 minutes when we were up 60-0. He handled the level of play pretty well," his grandfather said.
Haronga snr is in his first season with Suburbs after a lengthy career as a frontrower for the Tamatea premiers. He reckoned "politics" cost him Magpies selection when he was at his peak. "I gave as much as I could for Tamatea so I thought it was time to come and help Dad give Suburbs a lift," Haronga snr said.
"The three generations caught us off guard. It just happened ... we will be more prepared for it this weekend when we play Suburbs Two at home. With so many family members in the same team it's easy to fill the clubrooms for the after-match function."
Haronga snr said that despite his team's advanced average age, Suburbs One have a real chance of beating unbeaten favourites and first-round winners Maraenui come the business end of the second round.
"The family bond in the team is one of the reasons we are doing so well and are second on the points table," player-coach Kupa said.
A three-time Maddison Trophy winner's medal recipient with Taradale, Kupa last had a full season of rugby with the Taradale senior fours in 2004.
Both he and his brother are full of praise for the fitness work Havelock North premier player Levi Armstrong does with them at Patu Gym in Hastings.
"Levi gives us boxing training and crossfit drills to do. We've lost heaps of weight and this is why we can still play at our age," Kupa said. He has shed 32kg in 12 months and weighed in at 158kg after training earlier this week while his brother had lost 76kg on the way to a playing weight of 150kg.
The Kupa brothers and Tawera said that despite their ages they don't expect opposing players to take it easy on them.
"It's full contact and we wouldn't have it any other way," Kupa said before checking the weather forecast in the hope the three generations will be taking the field together again today at Ron Giorgi Park.
Today's Tui Maddison Trophy seventh round encounters will see Progressive Meats Havelock North host MAC in a top-of-the-table clash at Anderson Park, Carters Frame and Truss Taradale host Hawke's Bay Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist at Taradale, Clive host Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical at Farndon Park, Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports host IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports at Park Island and Hawke's Bay Seafoods Tamatea host Central at Bill Mathewson Park.
Wet weather forced the cancellation of last night's Hawke's Bay premier women's games. Hastings Rugby and Sports were to host Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Elwood Park, which was closed, and Clive were to play Napier Technical at Farndon Park.
All Hawke's Bay Unison junior rugby fixtures for today have been cancelled.
