Right: Peter Sciascia playing for MSP against Tawa in June 2012

June 2012: It's no coincidence that when Peter Sciascia is on the field the rugby's invariably exciting.

The livewire halfback, who has recently returned from back-to-back seasons playing club rugby in Northern Ireland, has made an immediate impact in the three full Swindale Shield games he's played so far in 2012.

Sciascia is enjoying being back and playing for MSP in 2012.After seven consecutive seasons playing Swindale Shield and Jubilee Cup rugby, first for Avalon (2004-2007) and then for MSP (2008-2010), Sciascia moved to All-Ireland Division 2 club Rainey.

From the Hawke's Bay, he played two seasons in the Napier Boys' High School First XV that were national champions in 2002 and runners-up in 2003, alongside players such as Bryn Evans, Colin Bourke and Poneke's Ally Paine and Robbie Schaw, the latter also playing cricket for Central Districts and Wellington.

After school he moved to Wellington and hooked up with a then strong Avalon club. At the time Avalon were looking for a new halfback and they gave him the opportunity to play Premier rugby. "Another big reason in going there was to play inside their Hawke's Bay and East Coast NPC representative first five-eighth Mano Flutey and learn off him."

With teammates who also included Scott and Thomas Waldrom, Mahonri Schwalger and veteran lock and captain Jason Goble, Avalon played a hugely attractive brand of rugby in 2004 and were favoured to make the Jubilee Cup final. Instead, they lost their home semi-final at Fraser Park to a fired up Poneke 6-17.

Avalon remained a Jubilee Cup side in 2005 and 2006 before dropping away to the foot of the table in 2007.

Nevertheless, Sciascia himself was on fire, regularly picking up Player of the Day accolades, and in 2006 was a clear winner of that season's Billy Wallace Best and Fairest competition.

In his first season at MSP in 2008 he won the Swindale Shield and shared the Jubilee Cup with Norths when they drew 10-10 in the final at Westpac Stadium. The following year they beat Norths outright in the final, Sciascia joining illustrious company in recent times of players such as Tamati Ellison and TJ Perenara in being voted the Player of the Final and winning the Jim Brown Medal. He rates this as his second highest personal achievement after winning the Billy Wallace competition.

See also: Peter Sciascia - Avalon