Norths outside back Nene Va'alepu heading for a try in the northwestern corner of Porirua Park, v Avalon 2011 Swindale Shield.

Nene started his Premier club rugby career as a halfback/first five-eighth, before moving out to the centres. He played in both the 2010 and 2011 Jubilee Cup finals. Norths won the             final in 2010 and finished runners-up to Oriental-Rongotai the following year. 

A local player, Nene played his junior rugby for Paremata-Plimmerton, before joining the senior ranks at Norths.

He made his Premier debut in 2007, and also spent some time playing rugby league.

Nene's two younger brothers have also played for Norths. AJ also played Premier rugby for them and scored five tries in a Jubilee Cup semi-final for them agaisnt Poneke. Youngest brother Tia played for the Norths Colts in 2015. The brothers' younger cousin, Foliga Vaalepu-Austin, was a leading player at Bishop Viard College in 2015. 

With a ready smile, light footwork and speed, and the confidence of his then champion team Norths teams teammates such as Alapati Leiua, Buxton Popoalli and his brother AJ Va'alepu, Nene was a handful for oppostion defences.

 After a long battle with cancer, Nene sadly passed away in January 2016.