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Newsroom
5 days ago
- Business
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Bason and eggs: Talented Taufa and her brothers' cracking rugby
Eseta Bason enjoys an abundant supply of eggs as a manager for eg. – an innovative free-range farm in Bulls that supplies 90,000 a day nationwide. But every time she goes shopping, precooked sausages and tinned fish are purchased 'just in case.' It's a cautionary habit that stretches back to a less prosperous time. When Eseta and her husband, Stephen Bason, arrived in New Zealand from Tonga in 2007, they had three children under two and a hundred pa'anga, about NZ$70 to their names. Today the Basons own a house and pig farm in Marton with eight children – three of them among the most promising rugby players in New Zealand. Their 18-year-old daughter Taufa Bason was a breakout star in Super Rugby Aupiki this season. She was a dominant presence on the Blues championship-winning team and became a contracted Black Fern after being named in a 49-strong training squad last month. Two of her brothers – hooker Vernon and loose forward Mosese – are recent captains of the New Zealand U20s. All three have already played senior rugby for Manawatū, with Taufa winning all nine matches she's played in the Farah Palmer Cup. Mosese and Vernon captured in home art. Image: Supplied All three children are or have been employed on the egg farm. Indeed, on their return from the junior world championships in South Africa last year, Vernon and Mosese were back working at the farm at 5.30am – four hours after touching down in Wellington. 'They didn't have to work that day,' laughs Nathan Williams, founder of eg. 'It's unheard of, really. The Basons are a different breed.' Williams established his free-range egg enterprise in 2020 that now employs 75 people (four of them Basons) and turns over $12 million annually. He spent decades of trial and error as the owner of the Top Pub in Greytown and Settlers Motor Lodge in Petone, and was then an operations manager at Turk's Poultry. The Basons' work ethic appeals enormously to entrepreneur Williams, who was raised in a military family. He has an innate understanding of rugby, too, as a successful local coach. Taufa Bason only persuaded her parents to allow her to play rugby after causing carnage in netball. 'When I was eight, I hit this girl and she was rolling around crying for ages. 'Hurry up, get up'. Nah, this is not for me,' Taufa recalls. 'I told Dad netball is a sport for pussies. Those were my literal words. I asked Dad, 'Can I play rugby?' Only if I could tackle my brothers, he said.' Taufa on the wall at home. Image: Supplied The damaging loose forward was the only girl selected in the intermediate-aged Manawatū boys rugby squads. A serious knee injury, which ruled her out of all rugby in Year 12 at Feilding High School, threatened to derail her progress. But last October, she scored four tries for the U18 New Zealand Barbarians in their 29-15 victory over the New Zealand Maori U18 squad, Ngā Mareikura. That display caught the eye of Matatū coach Whitney Hansen who invited Taufa – then working on the egg farm – to train with the squad. Then, when injury struck at the Blues, Taufa jumped at a chance to play in the north and was a revelation. In her first start for the Blues against Matatū, she scored two tries and then started the final in which her former team were edged, 26-19, at Eden Park. Five days later, she helped the Blues win the inaugural Super Rugby Champions clash, 36-5, against the Waratahs during a storm at North Harbour Stadium, Albany. 'It's crazy. I've never been part of an environment so friendly and a team so talented,' Taufa says. 'In the Aupiki final, Matatū had us stressing, not playing how we play. Throw in a shoulder, see what happens. Let's get some momentum, some hype. The pressure might have been what we needed.' Taufa scoring against the Matatu during round five of Super Rugby Aupiki this year. Nathan Williams is not surprised by Taufa's ascent. 'I became close to Taufa because of her brothers. She's a bundle of joy, an unbelievable rugby player who routinely chopped others in half,' he says. 'She has babysat my two children and regularly FaceTimes them now she's in Auckland. A special young lady.' From 2019 to 2021, Williams coached Feilding Yellows to three consecutive Manawatū senior Hankins Shield championships. In his last season, Feilding was 16 and 0. Brother Jamie Williams is the Wairarapa Bush rep coach. The former England Sevens international coached Old Boys University to four Jubilee Cup wins in Wellington. Their father, Kerry Williams, is a former player and premier coach for Upper Hutt and more recently, Wellington Rugby development officer for Johnsonville. In 2022, Nathan hooked up with Feilding High School, helping the First XV win two Central North Island titles. Vernon and Mosese Bason were Williams' captains, both selected in the New Zealand Secondary Schools team. In 2023, Feilding were runners-up to Rotorua Boys' at the Condor Sevens, losing the final in extra time. Williams' farm has employed several members of the Feilding First XV and other first-class players, including Manawatū Turbos players Drew Wild, Logan Henry, Julian Goerke, Kyle Brown and Griffin Culver. 'Vernon is one of the toughest players I've coached. He's not the most natural talent, but he has an immense threshold to take and dish out punishment. He's smart and pushes those others around him to be better, though his golf needs serious work,' Williams says. 'Things come more easily to Mosese. He's extremely athletic, powerful and skilled. He has a cheeky-mischievous side, which I love; it's a lot of fun off the field, but when it's time to flick a switch, he's on.' In 2024, after playing 50 out of a possible 54 games for the Fielding First XV, Mosese was awarded the prestigious DJ Graham Memorial Medal as the player of the Super Rugby U20 tournament in Taupō. The accolade, named after the former All Blacks captain and leading educator, has been won by All Blacks Luke Jacobson (2016) and Fletcher Newell (2019). This month, Mosese was part of the New Zealand team who won the U20 Rugby Championship in South Africa. He started in all three games, drawing with Australia (29-29), thrashing Argentina (75-12) and shocking South Africa (48-45). Mosese was captain against Argentina scoring two tries. In a 15-try epic against the Junior Springboks, New Zealand flipped a 19-0 deficit after a dozen minutes to prevail. 'Feilding is the home of people who don't stop working. The work ethic of the people there is unreal. People are pretty grounded and that's why I think we've had heaps of good players,' Mosese surmises. Proud parents Stephen and Eseta. Photo: Supplied His dad, Stephen Bason, was supposed to be the rugby star. The first five-eighth had attended Rotorua Boys' High School on a scholarship in 1999. At the time he was recruited, Rotorua Boys' were the reigning national champions. In the '99 season, they won 22 out of 25 games with Bason attracting the interest of French scouts. A professional contract beckoned – until disaster struck on a trip home to Tonga. 'I was in a car crash. The scars from that can still be seen on my left knee. It took me two years to walk properly again,' Stephen recalls. 'When professional rugby was over for me, I promised Dad I'd have kids who would try to fulfil that dream for me. Eseta was a great athlete in her own right. She played soccer and was a sprinter.' When Stephen returned to New Zealand in 2007 with Eseta, they worked three jobs, night and day, to raise enough money to purchase their first house. From hard labour to washing dishes, nothing was beneath them. Things were so tight, Taufa recalled walking an hour each way to school. Every Friday, Eseta would present proof of earnings to Work and Income to acquire a weekly $150 food voucher. 'That would never happen in the Islands. People are always complaining. I'm so grateful,' Eseta says. Kids kept on coming. Joining Vernon, Mosese and Taufa in the Bason family are Fono, Levi, Stephen Jr, Ashwin and Samara. It's the oldest Basons who've had the most seismic impact on Eseta and Stephen. A trip to South Africa to support their boys in the New Zealand U20s last year was previously an unfathomable prospect. 'South Africa, amazing,' Eseta enthuses. 'I went on a safari… a safari! 'Not all the parents could afford to go that far, but the ones that did were such great people with flash jobs: doctors, lawyers, consultants, and the like.' She became close friends with Leah Simpson, whose son Rico is in his second year with the NZ U20s. 'Leah's a beauty therapist in central Auckland. The sis was always telling me to do my hair when we went out. I'd tell her: 'Babe, I'm an egg farmer from Bulls!' Eseta laughs. Stephen and Eseta will head to Italy for the World U20 Junior Championships in June. Such trips are made possible with the support of Nathan Williams, whose empathy extends to his hens. Since opening his farm, Williams has exceeded current Free Range standards with 1,000 fewer hens per hectare (outside) and fewer than 9 hens per sq m (inside). His hens can dust bathe, wander and forage, leading to a better quality of egg. His business will soon expand to a production of 120,000 eggs a day. Meanwhile, Mosese recently became a father. His two-month-old daughter Layla has already held a rugby ball. P.S. The author would like to thank delivery driver Matt for a thoroughly entertaining commute from Houghton Bay to Bulls. With Bruce Springsteen blaring on the car radio, signs of a good road trip were promising. One of 18 children, he has four of his own all employed and homeowners. In five decades of driving, he's negotiated seven-foot-high waves, power outages and car crashes to deliver produce while learning where all the good truck stop cafes are. Matt's breakdown of NRL, Super Rugby Pacific and the Basons' game was full of common sense.
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Chance for redemption for Joseph and Black Ferns
There is nothing people love more than a good redemption story. Otago halfback Maia Joseph could be in the thick of one when the Black Ferns look to reverse their fortunes against Canada in Christchurch tomorrow. Joseph has been named to start at halfback again in a repeat of the clash in the same city where Canada recorded their first win over the Black Ferns last year. Matatu prop Amy Rule returns to the starting lineup at tighthead, after coming off the bench in the Pacific Four opener against Australia last week. She joins three other Super Rugby Aupiki team-mates — hooker Georgia Ponsonby, lock Alana Bremner and centre Amy du Plessis — in the starting side. No 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker shifts to the bench and first five Hannah King will again make impact from the reserves. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u replaces Olsen-Baker in the back row, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has been named on the right wing, her first international union clash since the Rugby World Cup final in 2022, when she left the field early due to injury. Breakout 18-year-old Braxton Sorensen-McGee retains her spot at fullback after scoring a brace on debut last week, and Ayseha Leti-I'iga shifts to the left wing, with Katelyn Vahaakolo left out of the 23. Coach Allan Bunting has resisted the urge to name any of the sevens players who joined the squad this year, many only joining the Black Ferns in the past week. But there is no doubt Woodman-Wickliffe's return to the international stage will be a special moment in a hard-fought game. "I'm really excited for Portia to again represent her country in front of friends and whānau," Bunting said. "It will be a special moment for her. It's been awesome seeing the joy in her eyes and everything she does to enhance our environment. "Her willingness to learn and grow is contagious." Canada, who are ranked second in the world behind England, secured their first win over the Black Ferns in Christchurch last year to wrap up the Pacific Four title. They come in off the back of a 26-14 win over the United States two weeks ago, while the Black Ferns — ranked third in the world — beat the Wallaroos 38-12 last weekend. "Last Saturday was a great stepping stone towards where we want to be, and we look forward to seeing how we build off that this week against a quality Canadian side," Bunting said. "We are excited to play our first test at home." Canada are without captain Sophie de Goede, the powerful No 8 and goal kicker, who tore her ACL last year. They will be led by second five Alex Tessier. Kick-off is at 3.35pm.
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Rugby World Cup motivation for Gisborne's Black Fern Olsen-Baker
No 8 Olsen Baker said the focus would 'definitely be on the game review' and she was looking forward to the next match, which will be her 11th test after debuting in 2022. It's a return 'home' of sorts for Olsen-Baker, as she is based in Christchurch, where she plays for Matatū in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Matatū lost 26-19 to the Blues in the grand final at Eden Park last month. For Olsen-Baker, the game is about basics – from training to game day itself. The 2024 Black Ferns Player of the Year and Super Aupiki Player of the Year finalist says she trains how she plays. 'Don't over-think it.' The 23-year-old is constantly looking to develop her skillset, with the Women's World Cup in England later this year being a huge motivator. 'I've grown so much, I've learned so much from the coaching staff, improving my game. 'It would be super cool to make the World Cup.' Having shifted from Palmerston North to Christchurch last year, it did not take her long to adjust. 'It's not much of a difference,' she said of the weather compared to the North Island, noting she had not experienced the extremely cold southern winters just yet. She did miss the Gisborne weather, she said. She said she did not return to Gisborne as often as she liked, usually during Christmas and New Year, mixing socialising with her gym and fitness regime. 'It's all about balance and having fun with friends. Balance is key.' Olsen-Baker is Ngāti Porou. Her family originates from the East Coast settlement of Rangitukia, although she and her sisters – Te Uarangi and Te Mai Ora, also talented rugby players – grew up and schooled in Gisborne. Their parents are former Pirates and Horouta rugby man Jason Baker and netballer Gabe Olsen, who played goal shoot and goal-attack for several Gisborne and East Coast club sides. The Olsen-Baker sisters attended Awapuni School and Gisborne Intermediate School. Kaipo went to Gisborne Girls' High before shifting to character school Manukura in Palmerston North and playing sevens and 15s rugby. When asked what advice she had for other young women who might wish to follow in her footsteps, Olsen-Baker said: 'I would tell my old self to surround yourself with those that have the same goals. Love what what you're doing. 'Have fun and take every opportunity.'
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Terenure College RFC appoint New Zealand All Black legend as their new head coach
TERENURE College RFC have unveiled former All Black Carlos Spencer as their new head coach. The 49-year-old, who earned 44 caps for 1 Former New Zealand's ace Carlos Spencer has been appointed new Terenure coach The south Dublin side won the All-Ireland League title in 2023. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Division 1A outfit said: 'Carlos was the outstanding candidate following our recruitment process. "We believe this is an ambitious and exciting appointment for our club, the All-Ireland League and Irish rugby.' The former All-Black out-half said: 'Terenure [is] a club with a proud history, passionate supporters and a strong sense of community. I feel very lucky and honored to now be a part of that.' read more on rugby Best known for his time with the Auckland Blues, Spencer also lined out for English Premiership sides during his playing career. His coaching past includes assistant roles in Super Rugby with the Lions, Sharks, and Hurricanes. And most recently, he guided the Blues women's side to the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki title. Spencer earned 44 caps for the All Blacks between 1995 and 2004, scoring 383. Most read in Rugby Union He bagged 383 points, and often sharing a fierce selection rivalry with Andrew Mehrtens. He was part of the All Blacks squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup and became a global fan favourite for his attacking, fearless style. 'Dumbest game ever' - Former England star, 33, takes up violent new sport slammed by experts After leaving New Zealand, Spencer enjoyed successful stints in Europe with Northampton Saints and Gloucester Rugby .
RTÉ News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Terenure College RFC announce All Blacks legend Carlos Spencer as new coach
Terenure College RFC have announced legendary former New Zealand out-half Carlos Spencer as their new head coach. The Dublin club, who won the All-Ireland League in 2023, have appointed the 44-cap All Black on a three-year deal starting ahead of next season. "Carlos was the outstanding candidate following our recruitment process," said the club. "We believe this is an ambitious and exciting appointment for our club, the All-Ireland League and Irish rugby." Spencer (above) said: "Terenure [is] a club with a proud history, passionate supporters and a strong sense of community. "I feel very lucky and honored to now be a part of that". The 49-year-old played most of his career with the Blues, while he also had spells with Northampton and Gloucester in England. Spencer coached the Blues women's team to the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki title last month.
