PLAYER ACHIEVEMENTS

With a back-drop of strong administration combined with effective team coaching and management, Te Puke Sports players are provided the very best opportunities to succeed. This has never been expressed in a better way than the selection of Nathan Harris as an All Black in 2014. Nathan commenced his rugby career in our JAB section and played through the junior and senior grades to Premier level. He was selected for the BOP Steamers, the Chiefs and ultimately the All Blacks. You just need to take a look at the below list of players that have reached provincial, Super 15 and international level to understand the high standard that our club sets and the pathway of support that underpins these achievements.

Nathan Harris

Nathan is the first club member to join the club as a JAB player and progressed through all grades to premier level where he was selected for the Chiefs in 2014. In the same year he became an All Black.

He was selected for the Maori All Blacks in 2019. Nathan played 49 games for the club, at senior level, from 2011.

Jarod McKeown

Jarrod McKeown is the third most capped player since club stats have been kept.

He came down from Auckland in early 1990s and played his last games in 2006 (1) and 2007 (2) to help out.

He was captain for many years and also a member of the winning sevens team in the 1994/5 seasons.

Aidan Ross

Aidan played for the Prems from 2014 and was selected for the New Zealand Under 20’s (Junior All Blacks) in 2015. He went on to be selected for the BOP Steamers in 2015 and the Chiefs in 2017. He played 49 games for the club from 2014.

Aidan was capped as All Black number 1202 and played 1 game V Ireland in 2022. He also toured with New Zealand XV to UK in 2022.

Nathan Harris

When I grew up, I never had aspirations to be an All Black; my goal was always to be a Steamer.

I held people who played for the Steamers in high regard, so playing for the Steamers and being from the province meant a lot for me.

A stepping-stone for that was to play for Te Puke Sports. Making my debut in 2012 was an epic occasion – I remember the coach saying that he’d never seen a player run onto the field so fast!

Moments like those are a massive part of who I am as a person and what I am today.

I’ve made the hard decision to medically retire from the game. My ankle has really struggled after years of operations and this medical problem has completely disrupted my playing career. Trouble walking, a lot of swelling, and not being able to train and play to the best of my ability were hugely restrictive.

Also, looking at the bigger picture, I want to be able to run around with my kids when they get older. It was time for me to stop playing and think about my future and family as I need another operation.

The next steps for me – I have always wanted to be a P.E. teacher. I have two more years of study over in Hamilton, and from there, I hope to come back to the Bay and teach in the region I grew up in.

PLAYERS WHO HAVE REPRESENTED NEW ZEALAND WHILE PLAYING FOR THE CLUB

ALL BLACKS

Nathan Harris – 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Aidan Ross – 2022

NZ SEVENS

Charles Baxter – 2003, 2006, 2007

Solomon King – 2006-2010

Hayden Reid – 2006

Jack Wilson – 2012

NZ 15

Aidan Ross – 2022-2023

NZ MAORI

Anthony Tahana – 2006, 2007

Nathan Harris – 2019

Cole Forbes – 2024

NZ UNDER 17

Paul Fairweather – 1986 (Captain)

NZ JUNIOR ALL BLACKS / UNDER 21-20

Paul Fairweather – 1990

Andy Miller – 1992

Ben Castle – 2005

Solomon King – 2006

Matt Wallis – 2006

Nathan Harris- 2012

Aidan Ross – 2015

Cole Forbes – 2019

Lalomilo Lalomilo – 2019

PLAYERS SELECTED AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL WHILE PLAYING FOR THE CLUB

Andy Miller – Japan – 2002-2003 World Cup

Kane Le’aupepe – Samoa – 2018 World Cup

Aidan Ross – NZ Barbarians – 2017 British Lions

5PLAYERS WHO HAVE PLAYED SUPER RUGBY WHILE PLAYING FOR THE CLUB

Andy Miller – Crusaders 1996

Ben Castle – Chiefs 2004- 2007

Simms Davison – Chiefs 2004-2007

Jamie Nutbrown – Chiefs 2006

Anthony Tahana – Chiefs 2006-2007

Murray Williams – Chiefs 2007-2008

Taniela Moa – Chiefs 2011

Nathan Harris – Chiefs 2014-2021

Tim Bond – Sunwolves 2016

Aidan Ross – Chiefs 2017-2025

Dan Hollinshead – Highlanders 2019

Kane Le’aupepe – Hurricanes 2019

Luke Campbell – Hurricanes 2021

Cole Forbes – Blues 2024-2025

PLAYERS WHO HAVE PLAYED FOR BOP STEAMERS WHILE PLAYING FOR THE CLUB

Nathan Harris – 2012-2021

Tim Bond – 2013-2015

Junior Tofa-va’a – 2013-2014

Dan Hollinhead – 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020

Jonny Kitto – 2014-2015

David Whitecliffe-Davies – 2014

Aidan Ross – 2015-2024

Hugh Blake – 2016-2018

Luke Campbell – 2016-2021

Kane Le’aupepe – 2018, 2020

Jason Robertson – 2018-2019

Cole Forbes – 2018-2020, 2023-2024

Lalomilo Lalomilo – 2018-2019

Declan Barnett – 2019, 2024

Joe Johnston – 2019-2020, 2024

Alex Johnston – 2023

Grady Forbes – 2023

Taine Craig-Ranga – 2024

 

 

 

CLUB RECORDS FOR PLAYERS WHO HAVE REPPRESENTED THE BOP REGION OVER TIME AND PRIOR TO THOSE LISTED PREVIOUSLY

Please go to the Club History page, A 100 Year History:

1910 -1949 page 43

1950 – 1964 page 62

1965 -1992 page 132

1993 – 2000 page 212 – 213