Lovelocks Jubilee Cup profile: Wellington Axemen

The Wellington Axemen have joined the Jubilee Cup for the first time since the mid 1990s. 

Club: Wellington FC
Home ground: Hataitai Park, AKA the Graveyard
Current Super Rugby players: Vaea Fifita
Jubilee Cups won: 1939, 1947, 1972 (shared with Athletic), 1978 (shared with Marist St Pat’s), 1982 (shared with Petone), 1983, 1985, 1987
Last year: Hardham Cup semi-finals
Swindale Shield this year: Fourth equal
Coaches: Richard Deck, Rodney So’oialo, Grant Cederwall
Captain: Tala 
Social Media: www.facebook.com/WellingtonAxemen and @WgtnFCAxemen

What is special about playing in the Jubilee Cup? 

It’s the ultimate in club rugby in Wellington; it’s a chance to play against the best week in and week out. It’s a chance to extend ourselves to another level and show the representative selectors our skills. 

Which club do you feel your team has the biggest Jubilee Cup rivalry with? 

 As we have been out of the Jubilee Cup for 20 years, we respect each and every team and see each of them as a must win game.

If you could choose a forward and a back from around the world to join your team for the Jubilee Cup, which two players would you select? 

Brodie Rettallick and Schalk Burger (he would play in the backs)

Who are the fittest, the strongest and the fastest players in your team? 

Paddy Hughes is the fastest and Vaea Fifita is the fittest and the strongest Axemen this year.

Describe any superstitions or pre-game routines that players in your team have? 

The players just just focus and listen to their own music before games and then come together to warm up and prepare.

Describe any special talents or claims to fame outside of rugby of a player or players in our team? 

We had three new-borns in March – so the next generation of Axemen players and supporters is on its way.

If money and work/family considerations were no object, how would your team and club best celebrate winning Jubilee Cup? 

We’d spend a week in Cuba with Peter Brooks (aka the dart man) as tour leader.

How important are your club’s supporters in lifting your team and who is your number one fan?

They are the key to our boys performing well and hanging in there when things get tight on the field. Individually, Katie Upton.