Short passes – 6 February

Short passes is Club Rugby’s  news in briefs and noticeboard column for 2019.

It is anticipated that this will be a regular midweek post when the season kicks into gear.

If you have news, notices or want a shout-out for anything email editor@clubrugby.co.nz or send us a message on social media. Club Rugby also welcomes assistance in putting this together, so if you want to help in the news in brief-gathering process please get in touch.

The Hutt Recreation Ground was transformed into a rock venue on Tuesday night with Jimmy Barnes taking centre stage. Working at the gig to see the Good Times singer were HOBM players Chase Tiatia, Joe Apikotoa, James O’Reilly and Francis Tunuvasa.

The Super Rugby pre-season continues this Saturday with the second and final match before the competition starts. The Hurricanes and the Blues meet at the Tui Brewery for the Big Tui Cup. This match is going to be commentated live on Te Upoko o Te Ika on 1161AM or bookmark this link here

If he plays, all eyes will be on Ma’a Nonu, re-entering Hurricanes territory. Another to watch could be Caleb Clarke, who scored three tries in the Blues’ 43-10 win over the Chiefs last week.

The Crusaders meet the Highlanders in Southbridge for the Farmlands Cup.

Ngani Laumape has re-signed this week with NZR and the Hurricanes until the end of 2021.

The National Club Sevens is this weekend in Auckland. Flyer below. Our preview of the tournament published here on Thursday.

More titles for the New Zealand men’s and women’s sevens teams in Sydney this past weekend. Both teams have a well-earned rest now after back-to-back tournament weekends. The All Black Sevens return to action on 1-3 March in Las Vegas, while the Black Ferns Sevens contest their next tournament in Japan on 20 and 21 April.  Check out the points tables HERE

Check out this short You Tube video below from the 1960s, featuring the Wellington Supporters’ Club’s pre-match parade and revelry, a stirring speech by coach Bill Freeman and some footage at the end of Wellington v Taranaki in New Plymouth. This would have been Ranfurly Shield on 14 August 1965 that saw Taranaki beat Wellington 11-3. Taranaki were to hold off vigorous challenges by Southland (6-6) and Hawke’s Bay (21-17) in the weeks ahead before losing the shield to Auckland (11-16) at the end of the season.

Tributes were recently paid to former Rathkeale College, Greytown and Wairarapa Bush rugby player Finn Yeats.

Yeats was last seen in the early morning on January 15 when he left his home in the Carterton area and the 20-year-olds body was found in in the Tongariro area on 21 January.

What is Rugby X?

It is a new five-a-side tournament indoor tournament being backed by World Rugby, with London’s O2 Arena looking most likely to host the inaugural get together at some stage this coming northern summer.

Rugby X will consist of 10-minute contests, with an emphasis on non-stop action.

No half-times, uncontested scrums and quick-fire throw-ins in lieu of lineouts, it is hoped the new variation will draw more interest from younger audiences and from different parts of the globe.

The Six Nations Championship kicked off this past weekend, with England’s win over Ireland a major talking talk. Another was Wales beating France in Paris and winning 10 in a row for the first time since 1999. They are going for the record 11  straight victories this coming weekend, which was set in 1907.

There are seven Saturdays left to the start of the 2019 Wellington club rugby season. To view the Swindale Shield draw go to Draws & Results across the top of this page or go HERE

The Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield draw is being inputted over the next several days.

In women’s rugby news, an article HERE about more females coaching the game, with a profile of new Old Boys University Impalas head coach Tara Horsnell