A century-long wait ends: Clarke puts the Chatham Islands back in black

Sam Clarke is the first All Black from the Chatham Islands in more than a century. With a population of just 600, this archipelago, located 800 km east of New Zealand’s South Island, doesn’t produce many international sportsmen.

Clarke, a recent debutant for the All Blacks Sevens, is the first rugby player from the Chatham Islands to wear an All Blacks-labelled jersey since midfield back Robert Mathieson contributed to the All Blacks’ victory in four matches during an Australian tour in 1922.

“I didn’t know that,” Clarke admitted to RugbyPass. “That’s pretty cool.” He laughed as he added, “I did beat my brother to a black jersey.”

Sam’s younger brother, Tjay Clarke, achieved Super Rugby status in May when he scored a try for the Hurricanes in their 64-12 slaying of Moana Pasifika at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Tjay has since signed a lucrative contract with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.

In contrast, Sam (yet to play Super) experienced a frustrating NPC season with Taranaki, unaware that an All Blacks Sevens jersey awaited him.

“I wasn’t making much progress in Wellington, so when I got a call from Taranaki showing some interest, I moved to New Plymouth. Unfortunately, in my first club game for Tukapa, I sprained the Lisfranc joint in my foot and was sidelined for twelve weeks,” Clarke lamented.

“When I joined Taranaki in the NPC, I needed time to learn the new plays and get comfortable, and then it was over.

“I’m on the fringes of professional rugby. It’s tough mentally to stay in shape while working, paying my own gym fees, and being ready for that phone call.

In October, Clarke was invited to play for the Power at the Ignite Sevens.

“We had the best record, winning four out of five matches, but unfortunately, we lost in the semi-finals. But, from that event, Riley Williams was contracted and made his All Blacks debut in Dubai. I was invited to train and play in some trial games against Samoa, and then, just before Cape Town, the phone rang again.”

Clarke, a first receiver or centre in the shorter format, made his debut for the All Blacks Sevens at the Cape Town Sevens, alongside Bradley Tocker.

After their cup victory in Dubai, New Zealand had a disappointing fifth-place finish, bouncing back from two losses on the first day to defeat Australia 28-21 and Great Britain 27-12 on the second day. During the win against Great Britain, both Clarke and Tocker scored tries.

“Cape Town is the loudest stadium I’ve played in. Man, the South Africans are passionate, and that place is intense. In the Chatham Islands, you walk everywhere barefoot. In South Africa, you cross the road with a security guard.

“It was definitely a tough first day. South Africa pulled away from us in the second half of the second game, and we didn’t perform against Fiji.

“From the bench, you might only get one or two touches. You try to do your role or leave a bigger imprint if you can.”

In February, Clarke left an imprint with his Wellington club, Paremata-Plimmerton, helping the “Hammerheads” win the Middlesex County Wavell National Club Sevens Wakefield Cup. This was the only serious domestic hitout in Sevens he had before Ignite.

Whether Clarke has done enough to retain his All Black Sevens place for the Singapore and Perth Sevens in January will be determined after Christmas. Regardless, Clarke will continue toiling away.

The son of a crayfisherman and an unabashed Crusaders fan, Darcy Clarke was always a promising age-group player. He moved to Perth when he was 10 and played league in the Western Australia representative teams at ages 13 and 15. He then shifted to Endeavour Sports High School in Sydney, where internationals Blake Ferguson and Martin Taupau were also educated.

Eventually, he settled at St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream. In 2018, he helped the First XV win the Wellington premiership, achieving 16 wins out of 18 games. All Black Peter Lakai was a teammate. Clarke made this progress despite suffering two broken ankles, a broken jaw, and numerous hamstring injuries.

It took Clarke three years after high school to make his first-class debut. In 2022, he played for Manawatu in the NPC. For the first time since 1919, the Turbos failed to win a single game.

“That was pretty humbling, but I think that experience taught me how to be a professional. I learned how to prepare better, recover effectively, and pay attention to the details required to reach the next level,” Clarke said.

In 2023, Clarke won the prestigious Billy Wallace Best & Fairest Award as the best player in Wellington club rugby, becoming the first winner from the Paremata-Plimmerton club of the annual award, which dates back to 1966.

An opportunity with Wellington followed, featuring seven All Blacks and England international Brad Shields. He won all six matches in a two-year span during which the Lions held the Ranfurly Shield and won the NPC in 2024.

One of his most memorable matches was a 36-31 victory against Canterbury in Christchurch in 2023, where he accidentally concussed his brother, Tjay.

“I was playing ten, and Tjay was at 15. A kick went up before halftime. I was running forward while Tjay was running back. When he went for the ball, his head crashed into my hip, and that was that.”

Chatham Islands Rugby

In 1931, a maritime tragedy in the Chatham Islands led to the sinking of the Te Aroha, resulting in the tragic loss of 11 lives. The crew was en route to a rugby match in Owenga. The master of the vessel, James Whaitiri – known as Jimmy Forty – was a notable local rugby figure.

The event is commemorated by a memorial at the Whakamaharatanga marae in Te One, which was established in 1946 to honour not only those who perished in the maritime disaster but also those who served in WWII.

Other prominent rugby players from the Chatham Islands include the Clarke’s cousin Chance Peni, who has played for the Reds, the Brumbies, and is currently with the Toyota Shuttles, as well as Vern Kamo, a hooker for Waikato and the Chiefs and a New Zealand Under-21 representative in 2004.

Brendan Tuuta played 16 tests for the Kiwis league side; Gerard Beale played 11. Beale also won an NRL Premiership with the Cronulla Sharks, and he’s a cousin of All Blacks Zinzan and Robin Brooke.