item details
Overview
History
This plaque commemorates the rugby sevens pool match between Tonga vs Australia in the New Zealand tournament of the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Sevens World Series competition in February 2011. This international competition includes tournaments in Australia, Dubai, South Africa, United States of America, Hong Kong, Japan, Scotland and England. The Sevens competition involves a number of international teams from the continents of Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, Australia and Oceania. The competition runs over seven months, usually from November to May.
The first game of sevens rugby is thought to have been played in Scotland in the late 1800s.In recent times the sevens competition has become a highlight in the international events calendar, and Wellington hosts the New Zealand leg of the tournament. Historically, Fiji and New Zealand have dominated the competition. However in recent years, England and Sāmoa have been regular competition winners.
Materials and construction
This is a circle-shaped plaque made of wood and wrapped with tapa (bark cloth) backing. In the centre is a shield with a red cross, in which is a white dove holding an olive leaf in its beak. Around the shield at the top is the following text: HSBC Sevens World Series NZI Sevens, 2011. At the bottom is the text: Australia vs Tonga, Wellington, New Zealand, February 4th-5th, 2011.
Significance
Although Tonga had become a British Protectorate in 1875, rugby was introduced in Tonga in the early1900s by Tongans who had been educated in Australia. Supported by the royal family the Tonga Rugby Union was established in 1923. The Ellesmere Guardian newspaper reported on theTongan rugby team tour of Fiji in 1932, comparing the rivalry between the two island nations to that ofNew Zealand and Australia. Tongan players have contributed to New Zealand's rugby history with players such as Walter Batty who was former All Black vice-captain in the 1920s, and international All Black and sevens rugby star of the 1990s Jonah Lomu.
This plaque was gifted to Terry Callesen by the Tonga team during his time asassistant manager for the team in the Wellington leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series competition in February 2011. Callesen has been involved in grassroots rugby for the Johnsonville Rugby Football Union and wider Wellington region for a number of years. His roles have included: manager of the Colts and Under 19 rugby teams since 2005, executive committee member from 2001 to 2011, anda ssistant manager for Wellington Māori rugby in 2011. Callesen was awarded The Dominion Post Wellington Club Rugby Volunteer of the Year award in 2009, for his outstanding contribution by a Wellington rugby volunteer.
References
Anonymous. "Rugby in the islands', Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 68, 23 August 1932, p.7.
Dewey Jr, R. "Embracing rugby and negotiating inequalities in the Pacific islands," in Proceedings of the Traditional Knowledge Conference, Te Tatau Pounamu: The Greenstone Door. Traditional Knowledge and Gateways to Balanced Relationships (Auckland: Printstop 2010)
Mallon, S. "Conspicuous selections: Pacific Islanders in New Zealand sport," Mallon, S.,Mahina-Tuai, K.and Salesa, D. (eds.)Tangata o le Moana: New Zealand and the people of the Pacific.(Wellington, Te Papa Press, 2012).