Valentine Meachen relishing hooker’s role with MSP Premiers

Valentine is a word that implies love, tenderness and commitment. In the battlefields of World War I such virtues were not immediately obvious on the surface at least, but between fellow soldiers deep bonds were formed.

Valentine's grandfather Ted Meachen (later mayor of Blenheim) served at Gallipoli. When his boat approached the shore it came under heavy gunfire. He turned to his close mate, shook hands and said if one of us die we should name any children we have after each other. Ted survived, his mate Valentine didn't.

"It's quite a story. I am proud to bear that family name," Valentine says.

Valentine's father Tony Meachen is the only man to captain two different sides Athletic (1977) and Marist St. Pats (1984) to Jubilee Cup glory.

"Dad's passion for rugby is huge and his contribution to my life has been enormous. I am very grateful," Valentine says.

In 2011 Valentine broke his leg in a tackle while playing for MSP. It was an injury that sidelined him for 18 months. He missed the whole of 2012, the last season MSP won the Jubilee Cup.

Valentine thought about throwing rugby away.

"It was great to see the boys win the Jubilee Cup, but I got very down about my injury and let everything go. I put on10kg and lost motivation for a while," he concedes.

Valentine survived that setback and played every game for MSP in 2013. By last year it became obvious though his career was stagnating somewhat. A horde of good flankers arrived at the club and Valentine was struggling to crack the staring XV.

"I was spending too much time on the bench for my liking so I approached the coaches seeking advice on how to get more game time and they suggested I switch to hooker. I didn't care where I played as long as I was on the field," Valentine says.

Valentine made such a successful transition to hooker he played every game in MSP's run to the Jubilee Cup final last year and has only missed a single game in 2016. Recently he travelled to Samoa to train with their National squad.

"Alama Ieremia called me up along with Isaia Petelo (fellow MSP teammate) for a training camp in the Islands. It was a great thrill to be involved and I would love to earn a Test cap one day, but that will be tough. The highlight of the camp was doing a yo-yo test in 36-degree heat," Valentine laughs.

Valentine is a member of the Wellington Lions wider training group and while ITM Cup and international rugby are definite goals, winning the Bucqui Jubilee Cup is the immediate focus.

Last Saturday Valentine scored two tries in MSP's 24th consecutive win against the Upper Hutt Rams. He scored two tries against Upper Hutt in 2014 as well. MSP are at the top of the table with two rounds left before the semi-finals, but the Reds aren't taking anything for granted.

"I feel like we are starting to hit our straps. The extra work we are doing on Monday and Wednesday is starting to payoff, but this is a tough competition and there are no easy games. We have to keep our feet on the ground," Valentine says.

Valentine identifies Oriental Rongotai and Old Boys University as possibly the toughest opponents MSP have faced this season.

This Saturday MSP tackles Wainuiomata at home Evans Bay Park, kick-off 2.45pm.