Fa'atonu Fili approaches 150 games for Marist St Pats
This article was originally published by Jack Biggs on clubrugby.co.nz
At the end of play on Saturday in Kilbirnie, Fa'atonu Fili will walk from Evans Bay Park having achieved a momentous feat, 150 games in the Wellington Premier club rugby competition for MSP. 
Flyhalf Fili has been a standout performer for MSP over his 14 years in the top grade having also had a brief stint with Oriental-Rongotai.
Most kids in our part of the world get brought up in a rugby environment from a young age; Fa'atonu Fili is no exception to that.
"My old man took me to down to play Marists under-5's and in my first game I was supposed to meet my cousin who's now an actor on Shortland Street, Pua Magasiva, his family were supposed to bring my boots but they didn't so I had to play in bare feet," laughed Fili.
27 years later Fili is set to embark on a noted milestone against Wainuiomata on Saturday, but he can still remember his first call-up to the MSP premiers in 2001.
"Yeah I got called up during the 2001 season, we played Wests and we had to win that game to make the semi's and we did.
"We ended up making the fourth position so we played Petone at the stadium who were ranked one and I don't think we thought we were going to win but we were lucky enough to do it."
Fili rates his premier highlights as the times he has reached the finals, having collected an impressive four titles in 13 seasons and still a chance to make that a full-hand in 2014.
Many tight contests for both MSP and the Wellington Lions have been decided by his accurate boot. His drop-goal radar is tremendous and he puts that skill down to his father.
"That's my old man bro, starting out in the prems he always use to tell me to try a drop kick because it's easy points, but my practice is always worse than in the games," remembers Fili.
From then on Fili seemed destined to eventually crack the Samoan national side which he achieved in 2002.
"It was awesome, I was just thankful to be in the team. We toured South Africa and Australia which was pretty cool but my first Test against Ireland in Apia, it was pretty hot, looking back now I was pretty nervous and made a few mistakes at fullback but it wasn't too bad" said Fili.
Fili has had many opportunities and experiences in rugby worldwide and upon leaving a stint in France was approached by the Australian domestic competition.
"The ARC comp, I played for the Western Sydney Rams, I was on my way home from France and my agent asked me if I was keen to play in the comp and I didn't think too much of it but gave it a go.
"When I arrived I thought I was playing 10 but there was a young guy called Kurtley Beale there" said Fili.
He played alongside some of Australia's finest in the former ARC competition. He lined up alongside; Lachlan Turner, Lachlan Mitchell, Rory Sidey and front row forwards Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson.
He finally made his way back to the Wellington scene and bolstered an impressive 2008 MSP side which went on to share the Jubilee Cup with Norths.
"We didn't want to share it but from that season I got picked for the Lions, I was always in those training groups but I was never what they were looking for so to play in the team was something I dreamed of, my story has always been starting late and having to wait sometimes."
Although he has been a fantastic servant to the MSP club his brief stint with Ories was something he always wanted to try out.
"My old man and my brothers played at Ories, so I'd always wanted to have a go there.
"I also wanted to challenge myself because I got too comfortable at Marist, it was pretty good, different scenery but some talented players keep coming out of there."
Now, in 2014, Fili keeps producing the same magic at the age of 32, playing a huge hand in their recent Swindale Shield triumph.
"This whole season has been quite tight and just to be in contention for the Swindale was great for us because we probably lost a 
few games we should have won."
The Jubilee Cup looks a far reach but not impossible as the strong competition goes into its final two weeks of round-robin.
"It would be special to win; every Jubilee has been special for me but just to help out the young guys coming up in the club is cool because I see a lot of myself in them".
"I think gone are the days where Norths and Ories dominate so it's quite refreshing to have this competition around because every team is tough," said Fili.
He still appears youthful and full of talent but for now he is taking his rugby year-by-year.
"I used to tell myself 35 [to hang up the boots] but now I take it year by year. Family time is important so it's important to have that balance."
"I'm just finishing my level two coaching so I'd love to get into that after rugby to stay inside of it."
Outside of rugby he contributes on another level, working with youth.
"I'm one of the leaders of our youth group ‘Warriors of Christ' where we try to encourage kids to use their gifts and it's not just one religion it welcomes all" said Fili, who plays a huge role in the community and also helps out with St Pat's P.E department on a regular basis.
Fa'atonu Fili is a special player who has contributed so much, not only to his club, but the wider region. He has ticked of many boxes in his career to date and no stone has been left unturned.
When he runs on to Evans Bay Park on Saturday I'm sure he will get the acknowledgment the humble five-eighth deserves.
A true servant to our great game.
Along with Fa'atonu playing his 150th game on Saturday, fullback Andrew Wells will play his 50th game for Marist St Pats.
Other significant recent milestones include captain Peter Sciascia who played his 100th game for MSP two weeks ago against Hutt Old Boys Marist and Isaia Petelo who played his 50th match in the first round.
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