Shahn Eru looking forward to ITM Cup season with BoP Steamers squad

Above: A familiar sight in Wellington club rugby in recent seasons – Shahn Eru running strongly with ball in hand for Wainuiomata in last year’s semi-final win over Marist St Pat’s and inset in the lineout in the same game.

Twelve months ago, Shahn Eru and Chase Tiatia were on opposing sides in the Wellington club rugby Jubilee Cup final at the Hutt Recreation Ground. Shahn (for Wainuiomata) and Chase (for Hutt Old Boys Marist) scored the only two tries in the final, won by HOBM 14-11.

Now they are teammates in the Bay of Plenty Steamers squad that’s preparing to open the 2015 ITM Cup against North Harbour at home at Tauranga on Friday night.

“Chase and I have had a couple of recent pre-season games together, Shahn explained. “ In the opening minute of our first pre-season game against Auckland, we were running down the sideline together and he offloaded the ball to me to score the first try. So we’ve got this Wellington thing going on – it’s more of a Wainui-HOBM thing, we’re still repping our clubs."

The Steamers squad also features recent Marist St Pat’s Premier and Wellington U19s coach Clayton McMillan and other recent Wellington Premier players Solomona Sakalia (MSP) and Mike Kainga (Petone).

Shahn previously played several seasons for Wainuiomata in Wellington club rugby, as well as playing in various representative sides and for the New Zealand U20s in 2009. His consistent form, including being the joint winner of the 2012 Best & Fairest competition – alongside Ardie Savea – left many scratching their heads as to how he never got a look in for the Wellington Lions.

Known for his all-action, athletic game, the Bay of Plenty style of rugby, based upon an abrasive, gutsy forward pack and a freewheeling approach out wide, is perfectly suited to his game. Comfortable at either lock of blindside flanker, he said he’s playing as a loose forward at the moment in the Steamers squad.

Following last year’s Jubilee Cup, Shahn and his young family moved to Italy to play for the Petrarca Padova club in Padua, Northern Italy in the Series A Italian competition, an experience he said he really enjoyed.

“I was looking for an opportunity to play professional rugby and they had seen some footage of me playing for Wainuiomata and invited me over there for a one-season stint.”

Shahn said the style of rugby was different to what he was used to. “It was a bit different to what I was used to in Wellington. The speed of the game was fast, but it was less physical and a bit more mobile.”

One of his teammates was halfback Jeremy Su’a who was in the 2011 Samoan Rugby World Cup and 2013 Crusaders Super Rugby squads, while he caught up with several familiar players whilst over there.

“My former Wainuiomata teammate Genesis Mamea was playing in France, but he came over for a couple of weekend visits. Tawa hooker Lotu Nuku was living in Ireland and he popped over and stayed over to stay one weekend and Tawa loose forward Chucky Koroi stayed about half an hour from me so we got together a couple of times.”

He explained that the opportunity arose earlier this year to move back to New Zealand and to Bay of Plenty.

“I returned to New Zealand in May this year and came back to Wellington for a couple of weeks and was briefly Wainuiomata’s waterboy at the start of the Jubilee Cup round-robin.”

He played some club rugby in the Baywide Premier competition, joining the Te Puna club.

“I got into club rugby for Te Puna straightaway and played some games for them in the competition. They finished mid-table in the end.”

The former Wellington guys play for different clubs. Solomona Sakalia and Mike Kainga both play for Mt Maunganui and Chase plays for Rangataua. “We all kind of got split up. We all stay nearby to each other but we go off and play for different clubs."

To date, Shahn’s favourite rugby moment was winning the Junior World Cup with the New Zealand U20s in Japan 2009. “Although we didn’t win it, that Jubilee Cup final last year will always be a highlight for me as well.”

Whatever happens from here on in for Shahn, one thing for sure is he’s keen to come back play for Wainuiomata.

“I think I’m on 94 Premier games for Wainuiomata so I will try and go back get that 100th cap for my home club. Even if it takes a while, I’ll probably be like Justin Va’a and come back later and do it.”

In the meantime, Wellington rugby followers hope he gets game time with the Steamers in this year's ITM Cup, including their 4 October home match against the Wellington Lions.