Wellington Lions v Southland 2025

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ROUND EIGHT Lions boosted by All Blacks for Round 8 clash with Southland Please note, there have been several changes to the starting line-up since Wednesday’s team announcement.

The Lions are set to be boosted by the return of three All Blacks for Saturday’s Round 8 Bunnings NPC Championship clash against the Southland Stags at Porirua Park.

Kyle Preston (halfback), Peter Lakai (no 8), and Ruben Love (fullback) will inject the firepower and intensity the Lions need as they look to regain winning form while teams begin to cement their places in the playoff race.

With Love resuming duties at fullback, Callum Harkin shifts to the left wing, while Tjay Clarke remains sidelined through injury. In the forwards, Akira Ieremia returns to lock alongside Dominic Ropeti, while Sione Halalilo will start at openside flanker.

Potential Debut - John Falloon (19)

Kyle Preston

Unavailable for selection: • Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Billy Proctor (All Blacks) • Asafo Aumua (HIA) • Hugo Plummer, Kenshi Yamamoto, Brad Shields, Matt Proctor, Tjay Clarke, Matolu Petaia (injured) • Riley Higgins (season-ending injury) Although Southland sit 12th on the table, they can’t be underestimated after their heroic 25–10 Ranfurly Shield win over Waikato in Round 5. With just one fewer win than Wellington, both sides will be desperate to secure maximum points as the round-robin nears its conclusion.

The Stags will be captained by Sean Withy, with the match also marking milestone appearances for Jack Sexton, Mitchell Dunshea, and Byron Smith (from the bench), who all bring up their 15th and blazer games.

KUBOTA SPEARS & WELLINGTON RUGBY History of the Kubota Spears Kubota Spears were founded in 1978 as a company rugby club for Kubota Corporation. In 2003, with the launch of the Japan Rugby Top League, the team officially adopted the name Kubota Spears. In 2021, Japan’s top league was rebranded as Japan Rugby League One, and the team became known as Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay. Under the leadership of head coach Frans Ludeke, who took over in 2016, the Spears steadily climbed the ranks, claiming their first-ever championship title in the 2022–23 season and finishing as runners-up in 2024–25.

Kubota Spears and Wellington Rugby’s Relationship Hurricanes coach Dan Cron has worked with Kubota Spears for over 10 seasons as a scrum spot coach. In addition, Alando Soakai spent 12 seasons with Kubota Spears, further deepening ties between the two sides. In 2024, this longstanding connection led to the start of a formal exchange partnership between the Kubota Spears and the Wellington Lions.

Representative players who played for Kubota Spears: Viliami Ofahengaue - 1999-2004 Joe Roff - 2005-2006 Jason O’Halloran - 2005-2006 Toutai Kefu - 2012-2016 Alando Soakai -2011-2016 Isaia Toeava 2014-15 Duane Vermeulen - 2018-2020 Ryan Crotty - 2019-2023 Dane Coles - 2023-2024 Liam Williams - 2023-2024 Malcolm Marx - 2021 Bernard Foley - 2020 Shaun Stevenson - 2024 -

Dane Coles

HIBIKI YAMADA Club: Eastbourne Weight: 82 Height: 174cm DOB: 2/05/2001 What’s the biggest difference between rugby in Japan and here in Wellington?

Intense breakdowns and off-load skills Which teammate has made you laugh the most? Riley Higgins/Peter Lakai What has been the most memorable moment of your season with the Lions so far? Relaxing with a few team mates prior to the season, drinking kava, playing quizzes, and listening to music What’s the biggest rugby skill you’ve improved since arriving?

Off-loading skills If you could take one thing about Wellington rugby back to Japan, what would it be? Intensity of contact What have you enjoyed most about being part of this squad?

The team competitions.

What’s one Kiwi food you’ve tried and loved? It’s not New Zealand food, but I tried kava for the first time!

KENSHI YAMAMOTO Club: Eastbourne Weight: 115kg Height: 186cm DOB: 7/09/1997 What’s the biggest difference between rugby in Japan and here in Wellington?

Physical strength, especially in breakdowns and mauls.

Which teammate has made you laugh the most? PJ Sheck What has been the most memorable moment of your season with the Lions so far? The team song after a victory What’s the biggest rugby skill you’ve improved since arriving? Cleanouts If you could take one thing about Wellington rugby back to Japan, what would it be? (On-field) The intensity of contact (Off-field) Support for foreign players.

What have you enjoyed most about being part of this squad?

Drinking with teammates and building connections What’s one Kiwi food you’ve tried and loved? Pies, Whittaker’s chocolate, and Marmite.

AKIRA IEREMIA

Club: Tawa Weight: 115 Height: 192cm DOB: 14/11/2001 From your perspective, what’s the biggest difference between rugby in Japan and in Wellington? The biggest difference for me was the speed that the game was played at.

It is a lot faster in Japan compared to home but it’s a great way to expand my game.

What stands out as your most memorable moment with Kubota last season? Most memorable moment would definitely be my debut against dad’s old Japanese team Suntory. A real full circle moment for the family and I’m hoping there will be many more opportunities to play.

Was there a particular rugby skill or mental skill you felt improved while playing in Japan? For me it would be the skill of living by myself, having to find things to do and living away from family and friends. As the season went on it’s been easier to connect with more people in Japan, as everyone is so friendly.

Have you incorporated anything specific into your game since your time in Japan?

My awareness around the field, and also getting off the ground quickly after a tackle or carry is what I’ve improved on since being back.

What did you enjoy the most about being part of the Kubota squad? The experience of being around such top individuals who I’ve watched since I was young, eg. Bernard Foley, Malcolm Marx. Pretty nerve wracking heading into an environment that has top quality players, but I’m glad I get to learn off multiple individuals.

What’s one Japanese dish that became a favourite of yours?

Definitely ‘Yakiniku’! In English, it is where you go to a restaurant and cook your own meat on a grill.

What were some of your favourite activities during your downtime in Japan?

I really enjoyed the company of the other boys as we went for coffees and connected, and also when my family came over, just explore what there is in Japan, especially reminiscing where I was born.

MEMORABLE MATCHES Wellington Reclaim the Shield - 1921 Saturday 10 September 1921: Wellington 28 – Southland 13 Wellington had taken the Ranfurly Shield on the road the previous year and lost it to Southland in Invercargill. The Southlanders were returning the favour, giving Wellington the opportunity to take it back.

Southland had just beaten a gritty Wairarapa side 10-8, and seen off a strong Otago 10-8 (the same score) at home before that so were always going to be tough.

The curtain-raiser was between the All Blacks and Wellington B, a practice match ahead of the third test the following week. The All Blacks won 28-18.

Four Wellington players played for the All Blacks in the curtain-raiser: Teddy Roberts, Jim Moffitt (Oriental), Eddie Ryan and Beet Algar.

Another crowd of about 10,000 was in full voice when the main match kicked off in fine, breezy conditions.

The men in maroon had the better of the first half and led 8-6 at the interval, after leading 5-0 early (three-point tries).

Mark Nicholls (Petone) kicked consecutive penalties early in the second half half to put Wellington up 12-8. Inside back F.C Hutchinson (University) dummied and scored under the posts to extend the lead to 17-8. Hutchinson kicked a goal from a mark to make it 20-8 and replacement C.J.M. Gair scored another try to make it 25-8. Southland hit back with a try of their own, but right on fulltime Syd Shearer crossed for Wellington to complete an emphatic win.

Wellington now had to prepare for back-to-back defences against Auckland and Otago – but first the rugby public had the third and deciding test between the All Blacks and Springboks to look forward to.

By Clubrugby - January 24, 2021.

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