Taranaki Rugby would like to extend its deepest appreciation to Stephen Perofeta, who will be departing the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls after an outstanding career in Amber & Black dating back to 2016.

Stephen first arrived in Taranaki as a highly talented 19-year-old from Whanganui, where he had already made waves in the Heartland Championship. His natural playmaking ability, vision, and composure saw him quickly establish himself as a key figure in the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls backline. Over the years, he has been a vital part of our squad, pulling the strings at first five-eighth and fullback with class and precision.

With 65 games for Taranaki, Stephen’s influence on the team and region has been immense. His ability to create opportunities, control the game, and step up in big moments made him one of the most exciting players to watch. His leadership, professionalism, and commitment to Taranaki Rugby have left a lasting legacy both on and off the field.

From Head Coach, Neil Barnes:

“Stephen has been a massive part of our team for years, not just with his talent, but more the way he carries himself. Caring, selfless, humble, honest – those are the words that come to mind straight away.

He’s the type of player that makes everyone around him so much better. Like all top-level players in his position, you need vision, evasive skills, pace, and a good boot. But the thing that makes Stephen special is he has instinct. He sees and feels things on the field, often before they’ve happened or before others have seen them – in that area, he’s second to none.

Honestly, I don’t believe the rugby public has seen the best of him yet.

While we’ll miss him, we totally understand and respect his need to now base himself in Auckland for family reasons. We’re all incredibly grateful for what he has given Taranaki Rugby and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.”

From guiding Taranaki to memorable victories to inspiring the next generation of players, Stephen’s contribution to the province will not be forgotten. While we are sad to see him go, we are incredibly grateful for everything he has given to Taranaki and wish him the very best in his next chapter, as he bases himself out of Auckland for Super Rugby and Bunnings NPC campaigns due to personal reasons. 

Article added: Wednesday 09 April 2025