Former Te Awamutu Sports players Gideon and Malachi Wrampling are preparing for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season with the Chiefs.
Gideon Wrampling is proud to be in the Chiefs squad alongside his brother Malachi. Photo: Jesse Wood
Fellow former Te Awamutu Sports representative Tai Cribb is also training with the Chiefs wider squad.
The Chiefs are set to face the Blues in a round one clash at Eden Park on Saturday.
Gideon, 23, made his Chiefs début in 2021 and has three caps to his name.
Younger brother Malachi, 20, is in his second season with the franchise but is yet to make an appearance.
The brothers reunited on the field with Te Awamutu Sports in 2022 thanks to head coach at the time, Travis Church. Older brother Jotham was also part of the coaching set-up before moving to Australia.
Malachi Wrampling is set to make his Chiefs debut in 2025. Photo: Jesse Wood
The pair went on to play for Hamilton Old Boys and Waikato together. This year the Chiefs may be added to that list.
“I liked it in Te Awamutu. The community was great and got around the club footy,” Gideon said. “We played a couple of games together. I came back from injury and Malachi was playing. It was awesome to run around with him.
“We’re living out our childhood dreams and doing it together makes it that much better.
“I’m just grateful to be a part of his journey, see him grow and be in his corner every step of the way.”
Versatile as both a midfield back and on the wing, Gideon is a former New Zealand Secondary Schools captain and brings a physical approach to the game.
He’s had a few injuries in recent years but is feeling fit for the start of the season.
“We’ve had a good pre-season with the team. I’m just looking forward to ripping in,” Gideon said. “The jersey carries a lot of mana, so you’ve got to do it justice and put your best foot forward every time.”
Much like his brother, Malachi makes his presence felt on the field but as part of the loose forward trio.
Number eight is his preferred position but he’s also handy at blindside flanker.
“I got struck by injury last year, so hopefully I can steer clear of that. I’m just trying to get to the start line first, to round one, and then hopefully be in the mix,” Malachi said.
“Being in the environment is special, we’re closely bound together. Donk (head coach Clayton McMillan) has taken it a step further this year, making sure our team is even more connected than last year.
“We’ve had a camp down in Taranaki and also did off-field activities pre-Christmas.”
With 2024 All Blacks Player of the Year Wallace Sititi out with a knee injury, there could be a chance for Malachi to get his debut early in the season.
“We’re all just here to make each other better. Wally is injured and he’s taken it on the chin,” he said. “He’s been helping the team out and helping our loose forwards out. Everyone’s just got a really good drive to make sure our team goes the whole way this year.”
If, or when, that first appearance comes, older brother Gideon will be an extremely proud man.
“I’ll be really proud to see him take the field,” Gideon said. “I’ve seen him grow from a young boy into the man he is now, and the footy player he has become. It will be one of the proudest moments of my career.”
Gideon, left, and Malachi Wrampling are in the 2025 Chiefs squad.
