Family the focus for Thomas and Linwood

Bascik Transport Metro Premier semi-finalists Linwood get high praise from skipper Tepasu Thomas for having a strong family focus, something that also saw the club awarded Club of the Year at the Canterbury Rugby Awards last year.

Born and bred in Porirua, Thomas sought a team that aligned with his family values when he moved to Christchurch and found that at Linwood Rugby Club. Having played with Waitaha, Mid Canterbury and Southland Stags, Thomas has remained at Linwood for the last eight years, and now captains the Premier side. 

Thomas says Linwood Rugby Club is his children’s second home, attending trainings with him, as well as calling him coach for their own junior teams. “It’s a bit of a safe space for them” he says.  

Sport seems to run rampant through the Thomas family with his oldest boy playing rugby, basketball, touch and now league which Thomas also helps to coach. It’s special to Thomas to be able to watch them play and says “It’s important we can get behind our kids.”

Linwood Rugby Club is the “perfect spot for me and my family” says Thomas, “everyone is welcome at Linwood, and I think that’s the most special thing about it.”

Having teams in Premier, Premier Reserve, Colts and Women’s, Thomas notes that the Women’s team numbers have increased significantly this year “its amazing for them, they’ve been grinding for the last few years. They did struggle for a while there, but I’ve seen over the last couple years they’ve manged to get a few more women and girls come along and train with them.”

Not only does Thomas show pride in his club’s family orientated focus, he also speaks highly of their inclusivity of anyone wanting to lace up their boots, even if it’s their first time, saying there is a team for anyone “everyone’s really welcoming, and we can make it work somehow.”

Asked about his highlights at Linwood, Thomas is quick to say it’s being around the boys he plays with, due to the culture they have built over the last few years which makes it easy to bring in new people to their environment.

Despite rugby being a big part of their players lives, Linwood Rugby Club knows that family comes first, “You see people a lot happier when there’s not that added extra pressure. That’s our point of difference and what we find is important to us here at Linwood.”

Linwood will play Marist Albion in the preliminary finals after beating University last weekend 39-40.

Written by Hannah Yates