RUGBY ACADEMY

 Meet Taiso – Rugby Academy Coordinator

We’re excited to welcome Parataiso (Taiso) Silafai Leaana as our Rugby Academy Coordinator.

Taiso brings over eight years of experience as a professional rugby player in France, where he competed at an elite level across multiple clubs. His career demanded resilience, discipline and leadership in high-pressure environments — qualities he now brings into his work with young people.

Beyond his playing career, Taiso is deeply committed to mentoring and coaching students, using sport as a vehicle to build character, confidence and strong values. He works across school programs delivering engaging, structured training and mentoring that focuses on teamwork, perseverance and personal growth — on and off the field.

Known for his calm, positive leadership style, Taiso is passionate about helping students strive for excellence while feeling supported, challenged and connected.

We’re proud to have Taiso as part of our community 

The Mickleham Secondary College Rugby Academy has made a fantastic start to the term, both on the field and in the classroom.

At training, students have shown excellent commitment, energy and a willingness to learn. Sessions have focused on core rugby skills, teamwork, game awareness and physical development. It has been pleasing to see the growth in confidence and cohesion already developing within the group.

In the classroom, our Academy students have been building the foundations that support performance beyond match day. They have been learning about effective goal setting, establishing healthy habits, understanding recovery and nutrition principles, and developing the mindset required to succeed in both sport and life. These sessions reinforce that high performance is built on discipline, preparation and consistency.

Our Year 10 students have also taken an important step in their pathway by enrolling in the Certificate II in Sport Coaching. This qualification will provide them with foundational coaching knowledge, leadership skills and practical experience that can open doors to future employment and further study in sport and recreation.

A major highlight this term has been the arrival of our new Rugby Academy uniform and playing jerseys. Students are proudly representing Mickleham Secondary College in the new kit, which reflects the professionalism and high expectations of the program.

We are now gearing up for our first Rugby Union 10s trial match at the end of the term against Mernda Central College. This will be an exciting opportunity for our students to put their learning into practice in a competitive environment.

We are also working closely with Rugby Victoria to ensure our players have access to clear development pathways across Victoria and Australia. It is likely we will field Under 15 Boys and Girls XV teams in the Rugby Victoria Schools Competition this year. In partnership with Mernda Central College, we are also exploring opportunities for our older Year 10 students to compete in Under 16 or Under 18 XV-a-side Rugby Union fixtures.

We are incredibly proud of students representing the College in their Rugby League endeavours as well. Congratulations to Terewi Broughton-Adams on his Under 17 Boys Selection for the Ngati Wikitoria / Vic Māori, a fantastic achievement that reflects his dedication and talent. The tournament will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand in May later this year.

The term has laid a strong foundation for continued growth and success. The Rugby Academy is not just about developing skilled players, it is about developing disciplined, resilient and community-minded young people.