Locker 71

What's the biggest thing players don't see behind the scenes?

Do players really understand what it takes to run a club?

Most of us see the game from the changing room, the sideline, or the grandstand.

But everything looks different when you step into governance.

Ioane Ioane talks about the transition from player to club leadership and the realities that come with it.

Budgets, facilities, volunteers, planning, and decisions that most members never see.

Running a rugby club is about far more than what happens on the field.

What surprised you most when you got involved behind the scenes?

Can a rugby club become part of your family?

For many, the club became a second home.

You can't replace genuine belonging.

What does your rugby club mean to you personally?

Have rugby clubs lost their place in the community?

Tony says the club is more than a rugby field.
It's a place where people can sit down, talk, and be heard.
A place where someone will always make time for you.

For some people, the club is still their support network.

Communities don't build themselves.

What's the biggest prize your club is still chasing?

When asked about East Tamaki's 10-year plan, Ioane Ioane spoke about one goal that stands above the rest.

The club has reached a Gallagher Shield semi-final.

But they've never lifted the trophy.

Every club has milestones.

Every club has unfinished business.

Some achievements mean more because they take generations to reach.

What's the highest honour your club has won — or is still chasing?

What rugby jersey means the most to you?

Ando reflects on the jersey displays throughout Pakuranga United's clubrooms.

Every jersey has a story behind it.
A team, a season, a friendship, or a moment that still means something years later.

One of the jerseys he treasures most is an Auckland Grammar First XV jersey gifted to him by his mate, Grant Patten.

Some jerseys are more than memorabilia.

Which jersey in your clubrooms carries the most history?

Are grassroots clubs just feeder clubs for bigger teams?

Francis Leilua has seen generations come through East Tamaki.

Future stars like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the Tuivasa-Sheck family, and the Rush family all started their journeys there.

Yet many young players eventually move on to larger clubs chasing opportunities and recognition.

The talent often leaves before the club gets the reward.

Small clubs build players. Bigger clubs often benefit.

Why are so many junior players disappearing before senior rugby?

Ioane Ioane says East Tamaki still has a strong junior presence throughout Ōtara.
The challenge isn't getting kids into rugby.
It's keeping them involved long enough to play senior footy.
Many clubs are seeing the same pattern.
Strong junior numbers don't automatically create strong senior teams.
The pathway matters.

Is your club seeing the same drop-off from juniors to seniors?

Does your club still inspire that kind of loyalty?

We asked Ioane Ioane what East Tamaki means to him.

His answer had nothing to do with results or trophies.

He said if you cut him open, he'd bleed red, white and green.

That's what years of commitment can create.

Some clubs are where you play rugby.

Others become part of who you are.

What memories made your club feel like more than just a place to play rugby?

When Ivan Tasi thinks about Marist, he doesn't just think about rugby.

He remembers young families filling the clubrooms.

Kids running around together while parents watched the game, caught up with mates, and enjoyed the day.

What's the best rugby trip you've ever been on?

The value of getting teams out together and experiencing more than just rugby.

From Taupō tournaments to trips away around New Zealand and overseas, it's about building connections that last beyond the season.

The strongest teams often spend time together away from the field.

Mateship is built between games, not just during them.