TEAM MANAGEMENT
Our teams are consistently placed in the top-tier of both the Premier and Development competitions. Skill, attitude, loyalty and performance are key attributes that are the hallmarks of the ‘ Pirate-style’ of rugby.
The appointment of successful and highly skilled coaches and managers has been fundamental to consistently strong performances and has underpinned our competition successes.
Even more importantly, the club has been a nursery for players to achieve BOP Steamers, Super 15 and even All Black success.
We urge you to refer to the ‘success stories’ section of this web-site to appreciate the level of quality and commitment delivered by our club. You will note that quality coaching and management has Te Puke Sports players as high-achievers year in – year out!
SENIOR RUGBY
Mattie Wallis – Head Coach Premier Team
Has played 14 seasons for Te Puke Sports Prems and is only the 3rd player to reach 200 games for the club.
An outstanding rugby career includes 5 seasons for the Kamo club and 32 games for Northland, 14 games for BOP Steamers 2006-08. Mattie was selected for New Zealand Under 21’s in 2006, the Blues Development team in 2012.
He has been player coach for the 2018 / 19 / 20 and 2023 seasons.
The complete club man, Mattie is the club’s rugby pillar. Not only is he an outstanding player and coach, he is often seen mowing the grounds, participates at all club working-bees and is an all-round club champion.
Luther Hirini – Assistant Coach Premier Team
Kia Ora my name is Luther Hirini. Born and raised in Levin, I went to school at Waiopehu College and then to Feilding High School for my last few years. Spent many years playing junior rugby for Levin Athletic and watching my old man play for Horowhenua-Kapiti, where he was (and still is) the most capped player in their history.
After a brief stint for the Manawatu Turbos, I moved up with my partner to Papamoa Beach in 2018 where my brother Conor already was. Conor and I both ended up at the Pirates through a family friend and Pirates Legend Charles Baxter. Playing my first game for the Pirates in 2019, I’ve played 29 times for premier side with a handful being captain and now in 2023 as an Assistant Coach.
Mark Hollinshead – Manager Premier Team
Originating from Te Awamutu, Waikato I started playing rugby when I was 5 years old. Initially at a small country school called Pokuru Primary. In 1975 I moved to Te Awamutu Old Boys (now called Te Awamutu Sports) and then onto Te Awamutu College where I played College rugby from ‘77 to ‘79. I ventured over the ‘hill’ to Te Puke in late 1980 and soon after started playing for United Pirates, where the club was based out of King St, Te Puke. I played Colts rugby for a couple of seasons then moved into Premier grade with the same club.
In 1985 I moved to Pyes Pa, Tauranga and played a season for Greerton Prems before moving to Pukekohe, South Auckland in 1986. Playing premier rugby there until I moved back to Papamoa in 1993. It was then that a small group of ‘locals’ set up the Papamoa Rugby Club based out of the recreation centre at the Gordon Spratt reserve. I played Senior rugby there for a couple of seasons until moving to Te Puke and reuniting with Te Puke Sports. At this stage with a couple of young boys playing this great game at 7 and 4 years old, I started coaching the younger grades right up to 1st XV level at Te Puke High school. I kind of think that this was for 10 odd years or so. At this time I was also refereeing at junior level up to U21’s and over a period of 10 years, this progressed to Premier level and I still to this day help out with the whistle at the lower levels (when short).
Coaching became more important to me of late with the last 4 years (excluding 2021) being part of a very successful Development quad. Winning the competition for 2 years in a row and in the top four the following year. With our third son now playing an active role in premier level rugby at Te Puke Sports, its great to have been given an opportunity to take on the role of the Premier manager along with Flexi’s help with the Prem team.
For me It’s all about giving back to a game that I’m pretty passionate about.
Dan Goodwin – Assistant Coach Premier Team
Played 95 games for Te Puke Sports commencing 2003.
Selected for BOP Steamers in 2004 and 2012 – in 2012 selected for the Chiefs Development team.
In 2006/07/08/09 selected for Northland and played 44 games for this province. During 2009 was selected for NZ Marist representative team
2015 / 16 played 6 games for Poverty Bay
From 2010 returned to Te Puke Sports and today remains a key Prems player.
Jason Kahika – Head Coach Development Team
Jason grew up in the eastern BOP township of Opotiki before shifting to Shannon in the Horowhenua. From there the family moved to Gisborne where he attended Kiati Primary and Gisborne Boys High. Having re-located to Opotiki and become an enthusiastic club player, Jason put his mind to coaching. His first experience of senior level coaching came with his appointment to Counties Māori team and a position as Counties B operations-manager. Jason was responsible for taking these teams through to competition winners over a period of 3 seasons. During this period he played for Karaka, a Counties premier division club in South Auckland.
Moving to Raglan as player-coach of the Development side, Jason lifted the team through to Premier Division where it remains.
Moving to the Sunshine Coast in Australia he coached the University team at both colts and senior level – at times simultaneously! During this period Jason coached both Premier men’s and women’s sides with outstanding success.
More recently Jason has coached locally at Papamoa and Te Puke. He coached Papamoa college 1st XV and lifted Papamoa seniors to 1st Division championship winners.
Te Puke Sports members will remember with great pride the Development team win over Tauranga Sports to take the 2020 WBORU championship. Look at these statistics………..
- 2nd Baywide round of 12
- Top qualifier Baywide round of 8
- Baywide champions beating Tauranga Sports 10 – 8 in the final.
- 4th Baywide win in 8 years
- Won 16 games lost 2 Drew 1
- Points for 591 against 249
Jason Kahika, an outstanding coach.