Jun 21, 2021

The Tipene Family

L-R: Api, Mana and Tane Tipene
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The Tipene family have long been associated with Moorabbin Rugby Club and this year we were lucky enough to have a 3rd generation of the family join the club playing Pathway rugby.

Tane's son Mana has just joined the U9s this season and is loving running around with his new teammates while Tane is coaching the 3rd grade again this year. Although, for the first time in a few seasons he isn't actually playing as well.

Tane started at the club with his brothers in the Juniors and played all the way into the Senior ranks. He also has his dad Api in the team, who at the age of 64 has made the call that this will be his last season of Senior rugby. Although I'm sure the Masters comps will still see him making the occasional cameo appearance.

Api joined Moorabbin at the end of the 1980 season after Jack McDavitt found out another potential rugby player was in town and personally dropped round to pick him up for training.

Api had grown up in Pahiatua and had started rugby at age five playing at the well-known Maori school Te Aute College in Hawkes Bay. He played Junior rugby up to Colts for Mangatainoka Rugby Club before being snapped up by Pahiatua to play 1st Grade where his Uncle was coaching.

Api and his wife Donna made the move to Melbourne and started their family's association at Moorabbin with the first of many Senior Premierships in 1981. He has since played in Premierships for every grade from Firsts to Masters, taken the field for Moorabbin with 3 of his brothers, all 4 of his sons and a long list of cousins and nephews over the years.

1981 Premiership Team
Api Tipene - Back Row left standing next to Jack McDavitt

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Api told us that the club had filled a big void in his life once he landed in Melbourne and he considers everyone who has been involved at the club during his time here as part of his extended family. He's particularly looking forward to watching Tane and Mana's journey with the club and has his fingers crossed that a couple of granddaughters might also pull on a Rams jersey in the near future. He also wanted to let everyone know that his greatest joy and satisfaction has come from all the people he has played with or against and met over the course of his time at Moorabbin playing rugby here in Victoria.

Here at Moorabbin we consider ourselves very lucky to have had Api and his family associated with the club for so many years and are looking forward to continuing to build more great memories with them all.

2021_19 June Api Tipene_3rd Grade v Box Hill

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