Rugby: Whaka No 4 heeds call

The Whakarewarewa faithful maybe thinking it's deja vu when their premier rugby side take to the field this week.

Especially if Harold Koia dons the No 4 jersey for the club he has played more than 150 games for.

The side, like most in the Baywide premier division, are battling injury woes.

Head coach Maurice Stone has had to call the lock out of retirement with his captain Dave Marinkovich out with an ankle injury and Shaun Coutts, Tamati Rhind and Daniel Ngawhika unavailable.

Koia hasn't played since last season although he had kept up his fitness through kapa haka and weight training.

The 36-year-old was in the kapa haka group Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao which performed at Te Matatini earlier this year.

"I work out at the gym every week and my kapa haka has kept me fit. It's just the match fitness and conditioning side of things. I'm not sure how I'll handle that side of things you only get that sort of fitness by clocking up the km on the pitch."

A proud Whaka supporter the rugged lock said he didn't hesitate when he got the call.

"When Brent (Drabble) gave me a ring all I said was oh yeah sign me up."

Koia who has seen a couple games this season has avoided going to watch too many games.

"I tried not to go ... because I knew I'd get itchy feet and I knew that I'd want to play. But I wanted to take some time away from rugby this year to spend more time with my daughter, Maddox who is 6 and goes to Montessori at Malfroy Primary School.

"Rugby and kapa haka has been my cycle for the last 10-12 years and this year I wanted to focus on the family. But now I'm back I can't wait to get that hunger for the red and blacks once more." Koia said the team seems to have thrived under the tutelage of Maurice Stone (senior).

"Just talking to the senior members and the players and management there seems to be a real positive vibe to the team."

Whaka travel to Te Ariki Park to play bottom of the table Rangataua. Rotoiti who suffered a big defeat to Greerton in round five will host Te Puna at Emery Park. The clash of the round is be between competition leaders Tauranga Sports and last year's champions Te Puke Sports at Tauranga Domain.

Elsewhere, Greerton Marist host Mt Maunganui at Greerton Park and it will be an Eastern Bay derby between Opotiki and Paroa at Princess St Reserve, in Opotiki.