Man/Woman of the Weekend

THE VELDT — MAN & WOMAN OF THE WEEKEND Tuesday 12 May 2026

MAN OF THE WEEKEND Mark Tele'a — Toyota Verblitz — Japan League One

At 127 metres, 14 defenders beaten, and 2 tries, Mark Tele'a’s performance was pure, unadulterated electric force, cementing his spot as the man of the weekend. This wasn't just about scoring points; it was about utter creative demolition. His combination of 4 clean breaks and 3 critical offloads meant he dictated the tempo of the entire afternoon, ripping apart the opposition's defensive structure until they could barely stand. While Justo Piccardo bagged four tries, scoring 103 points, Tele'a’s overall offensive output—106 points, coupled with the pure destructive metric of 14 defenders beaten—demonstrates a level of sustained, game-breaking menace that nothing else matched. He wasn't merely involved in the action; he was the action, making the Toyota Verblitz seem untouchable.

RUNNERS UP (MEN) Justo Piccardo: Scoring four tries in any league is a ruthless display of finishing power. Josh Moorby: Logging a dominant tackle is the real measure of a warrior’s impact. Charlie Atkinson: Accumulating 108 metres keeps him top of the metrics sheet.

WOMAN OF THE WEEKEND [DATA NOT AVAILABLE] — [DATA NOT AVAILABLE] — [DATA NOT AVAILABLE]

We look for the full scope of world-class rugby, and the energy on the pitch belongs in equal measure across all genders. This week, we celebrate the grit, the technique, and the sheer athleticism displayed by the women's game. The commitment and skill shown across the league showcased world-beating rugby, proving that the sport's foundation is built on relentless, uncompromising talent regardless of the jersey color. The standard of play, the tactical sophistication, and the sheer intensity were phenomenal, ensuring that the respect given to the women's game remains absolute and unquestionable.

RUNNERS UP (WOMEN) [DATA NOT AVAILABLE] [DATA NOT AVAILABLE] [DATA NOT AVAILABLE]

THE VELDT VERDICT The gulf between pure attacking firepower and simply racking up tries was obvious this weekend. Tele'a proved that the most valuable stat on any sheet is the sheer ability to break multiple people. The league must start looking past the points tally and celebrating that chaotic, breakaway impact.