Iakopo hopes to revive local interest in rugby

Iakopo

Stanley Iakopo is back on Saipan where he hopes to organize a rugby association and in the process revive local interest in the sport.

“I’m excited for this project. This is my way of giving back to the community that I’ve been a part of. I came back to share the knowledge and skills that I’ve learned while I’m on active duty,” said Iakopo, who represented the CNMI in track and field in the then South Pacific Games in 1997.

He’s been away for seven years as he served as an Air Force Reserve Command recruiter under the 944th Fighter Wing with a rank of master sergeant.

Iakopo, who was also into bodybuilding and mixed martial arts, told Saipan Tribune that his first step in reviving the local rugby association is to seek help from and get sanctioned by the Northern Marianas Sports Association.

“There’s a lot of work to be done but first I need to inform NMSA that I want to get rugby back on Saipan. I will then call a meeting so we could hold an election and get the board organized,” said Iakopo, who played professional rugby with the Air Force team while in active duty.

“Rugby has been played here in the mid to late ’90s with the likes of David Banes, Bruce Berline, Jerome Ieomore, and Soni Poume leading the way,” added the former Public School System special education teacher.

Iakopo, who is married to the former Priscilla Flores Maratita, said before the CNMI always joined the Guam Rugby Invitational Tournament where they used to beat the hosts in several seven- and 10-aside games.

“But Guam now is at a different level. They are now a part of [World Rugby]. That’s why I’m also talking to [the Guam Rugby Football Union] for some guidance and how can they help us to get things going here,” added Iakopo.

Guam is currently ranked 72nd in the world and eighth in Asia—behind World No. 10 Japan, South Korea (25), Kazakhstan (43), Philippines (53), Malaysia (57), Singapore (59), Chinese-Taipei (66), and China (69)—since it joined Asia Rugby, the region’s governing body, in 1998.

Guam is also fresh from winning the Asia Rugby Championship Division III East title in Jakarta, Indonesia last June.

Iakopo said he is in contact with Guam national rugby union team member Leonard Calvo, who was part of the squad in the 2012 Asian Five Nations Division III, on how they could hold clinics here on Saipan.

“We’re going to do this slowly, step by step. I already have contacts who could help me in holding players and coaches clinics here on Saipan. I also played against Samoans and American Samoans and they could help me bring the All Blacks,” said Iakopo.

The All Blacks are New Zealand’s national rugby union team, the reigning World Cup champions. The All Blacks won their third World Cup title after beating Australia, 34-17, in the finals last Oct. 31 in Twickenham Stadium in London, England.

Iakopo said players who are seeing action in the Commonwealth Football League Association could easily transition to rugby.

“I’m already in touch with John Blanco and other CFL guys. They can easily transition in playing rugby. Football and rugby are almost the same. All they need to learn are the fundamentals of rugby and the rules.”