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'It's a young man's game these days': Zane Kapeli's last-ditch shot at Super Rugby

By Michael Pulman
Zane Kapeli. (Photo by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport)

It has been a whirlwind journey for Tongan-international Zane Kapeli, both on and off the field.

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Just a few short weeks ago, the 28-year-old was finishing off a builder’s apprenticeship and starting full-time work. Settled back in Hamilton with a young family, Kapeli had almost accepted that Super Rugby might not be for him.

Then, Clayton McMillan and the Chiefs came calling.

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It was far from the first roll of the dice for the 10-test Tongan international, nor was it uncommon for the Chiefs to have to bring in injury cover.

Kapeli had had his opportunities in Super Rugby. There had been his signing with the Highlanders in 2020, and when no game time came of that, Kapeli was a part of the Hurricanes 2021 preseason, only to find himself out of their plans as well.

It was time to come back to Hamilton, finish the apprenticeship, and find full-time work. Rugby-wise, Kapeli would turn out for Hamilton Marist in the Premier club competition, but a pro career in New Zealand was all but off the cards.

“I was back on the tools and trying to finish off my building apprenticeship,” Kapeli told RugbyPass. “I had just stepped into full-time work when I got a phone call from the Chiefs saying they were keen to bring me in, so I had the weekend to put the tools away, brush off the boots and then I was into training first thing on Monday morning.”

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With a contract for the remainder of the season on offer, Kapeli had just a few short days to get everything in order, including telling his boss he would not be back on the worksite.

Everything has fallen into place nicely since then for the laid-back loose forward who has impressed in his three outings. With versatility being one of the most desirable qualities for the modern loose forward, Kapeli has covered lock for the Chiefs and has emerged as a genuine defending powerhouse.

Impressive enough to warrant an appearance on the bench ahead of Liam Messam in the Super Rugby Aotearoa final, Kapeli is set to cover both roles during Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

“I’ve been enjoying the role of being a utility loosie as well as a lock. I want to do what is best for the team and at the moment my role is to cover that area. I’ve managed to be able to get my name on the board and contribute on the field as well as hopefully off it.”

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It took time for the 28-year-old to learn about his rugby strengths and the requirements of the sport at this level. After being a regular stand out for Waikato between 2013 and 2015, Kapeli took a break from rugby, a break that he now says gave him much perspective.

“It’s funny how things work out,” Kapeli said. “Having a break put a lot of perspective in terms of me figuring out what works best especially in terms of me learning the game and how important it is just to go hard with training, learn what works best for me with nutrition and all these things I think I’ve had to learn in sort of a roundabout way.

“I feel like I’m just starting to hit my straps now in terms of understanding my role and what works best for me come training day and game day. Things are really starting to click later in life I guess, I’m really old because in New Zealand it’s a young man’s game these days.”

There were questions bubbling away in the back of Kapeli’s mind about considering overseas offers or giving the pro game away altogether.

Based on his form for the Chiefs so far since taking up on their offer, it is fair to say the investment is already bringing solid returns, both for the franchise and the man himself.

Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:

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J
Jon 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

39 Go to comments
A
Adrian 12 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

39 Go to comments
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