By Coventry Evening Telegraph
July 30 2006

Coventry supporters had first hand experience of Aaron Takarangi's finishing power when the Kiwi winger twice blasted clear down the left flank to score tries for Pertemps Bees in last February's league clash at the Butts Park Arena.

Aaron raring to go!

Coventry Evening Telegraph

John Wilkinson

Jul 18 2006

 

Coventry supporters had first hand experience of Aaron Takarangi's finishing power when the Kiwi winger twice blasted clear down the left flank to score tries for Pertemps Bees in last February's league clash at the Butts Park Arena.

 

The home side battled their way back to a 30-29 win, but Takarangi's impressive double strike stuck in the minds of the fans who will be hoping for plenty more of the same in the new season following the 31-year-old's move to the Blue and Whites.

 

Takarangi, who was linked with a move to Nuneaton in the spring, was the first to leave Sharmans Cross Road at the end of a difficult season which saw them finish bottom of National Division One and only saved by the decision to expand the size of the league and scrap relegation.

 

But if his enthusiasm for the game took a dent, it has returned after just two weeks of training with Cov and he is looking forward to what new season offers.

 

"It's excellent - I'm settling in well, we've got a good bunch of lads and we are working well," said Takarangi, the played NPC rugby for Bay of Plenty and represented the New Zealand Maoris at sevens before moving to Wales where he played for Ebbw Vale.

 

The coaching is good and I like the way of training. Our fitness levels are up there already and it's looking promising - there will be some good competition for places.

 

"It got a bit difficult in the end at Bees, we struggled with injuries, and there are going to be a lot of changes there now with a lot of new guys.

 

"I was ready for a new challenge and moving to Coventry has given me that.

 

"I've done well against Cov and now I hope to pay it back in my performances here."

 

Takarangi is no stranger to Coventry - during his three years at Solihull-based Bees he travelled down the A45 daily to work, with his wife, at the pupil referral unit in Tile Hill where he teaches PE to year 8 and 9 children.

 

"I did the same work back in New Zealand and it gives me a lot of satisfaction," he said.