Rugby journeyman Alex Thrupp, 28, found a home with the Thames Valley Meads Cup champion side in the 2024 Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship.
Currently based in Lisbon, the Matamata-born back has represented teams from Waikato, Bay of Plenty, King Country, Southland, Darwin, Spain, Portugal and now Thames Valley.
He’s played overseas with the New Zealand Ambassadors XV and the New Zealand Heartland XV, alongside fellow Matamata and Thames Valley man Alex Bradley.
Thrupp’s great-grandfather, Tom Thrupp, represented Waikato (1924-1925), as did other relations: the Johnston brothers – Mac (1923-1926, 1928-1929), Irwin (1925, 1929) and Leonard (1926).
“My family’s club Waharoa tragically burnt down in 1995. My family shifted to the new United Matamata Sports, and have sponsored the club ever since,” Swamp Fox 1286 Thrupp said.
Although Thrupp has been around the environment with three provinces, a National Provincial Championship (NPC) cap has eluded him.
“It’s something I always wanted to do as Waikato is my home province. I grew up watching the Mooloos’ success,” he said.
“It was cool to be in the 2021 wider squad, and playing the pre-season match against Bay of Plenty in Matamata is something I’ll always remember.”
Covid complicated his time in Southland, and after being named Bay of Plenty Development player of the year at the 2023 Zespri Bay of Plenty Rugby Awards, he still didn’t get a crack.
Winning the Meads Cup is one of Thrupp’s major highlights and his Portuguese team Belenenses also won the 2024 national championship – a year to remember.
“We went 38 phases, kicking a penalty in the 87th minute to win. The Portuguese competition is seven months straight, so it was rewarding for all the hours of hard work to come together for us,” Thrupp said.
“But it’s hard to look past the Meads Cup victory – it’s close to home, and I did it with some of my close friends.
“I played five years with King Country, and the closest I got to the Meads Cup was in 2018 when we lost to South Canterbury. It was a massive goal of mine, and to do it with the fellas from the Valley was unreal.
“A full-circle moment for me and something I’ll always treasure.”
After 35 Rams matches between 2016-2021, Thrupp wanted to stay loyal to them.
“Matty Axtens was Thames Valley captain, and we played a lot of rugby together in BOP. I was travelling from Albania to Prague to play for the NZ Ambassadors XV and I thought, ‘After this tour, I’m back home in NZ until November. What am I going to do for four months?’
“So, I voice-noted Matty – ‘What’s Valley’s overseas internationals looking like? I’ll be based in Matamata and keen for some extra footy.’
“Backs coach Joe Murray called saying they were keen to have me, and it worked out a treat! I débuted against North Otago in round two.”
Thrupp hopes to add to his nine appearances and eight tries in the orange jersey.
“I spend a lot of time in Whangamatā and the Coromandel during summer. Now I’ve won a title with the province, it makes it so much more special to me,” Thrupp said.
“I already knew a lot of the boys. We were misfits who never really got a crack. It was cool to go out there and do it for the union and for each other.
“I would love to play for the Valley again, and if it all works out, I will. If I can have a run for a club team, I’ll be eligible to be a Swamp Fox and eligible for the New Zealand Heartland XV, who are touring Samoa.”
After many years on the footy road, Thrupp is enjoying creating memories and stamping his passport.
In April, Belenenses will face Thrupp’s former team VRAC at Valladolid, Spain.
The two champion clubs will battle for the Taça Ibérica trophy and the title of best team from the Iberian Peninsula.
“After that, I’m looking forward to the NZ Ambassadors tour in Prague in June. Then I’ll return to NZ looking for another opportunity, wherever that may be,” Thrupp said.
“I’d love to help get the talent back to Matamata one day. So much talent leaves to go to the city clubs. Guys like my best mate, [2024 Māori All Black] Tana Tuhakaraina, have paved the way, showing that you can make it from a small country town.
“I’m in the final year of my bachelor’s degree in sport management and would love to help United Matamata Sports get that top premier spot with my degree and through the connections I’ve made. That would be a very happy moment for me.”
TEAMS REPRESENTED:
Clubs: United Matamata Sports (Waikato), Rangataua, Te Puke Sports (Bay of Plenty), Waitomo, Waitete (King Country), Star (Invercargill), Matakesi Invitational Sevens, VRAC (Spain), Belenenses (Portugal).
Representative sides: King Country, Bay of Plenty Development, Bay of Plenty Sevens, Southland Development, Waikato wider squad, Waikato Sevens, Thames Valley, New Zealand Heartland XV, New Zealand Ambassadors XV, Central Queensland Dingoes (invitational Sevens team).
