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Above: Junior Time-Taotua and Faifili Levave taking the attack to Horowhenua-Kapiti for Ngati Porou East Coast on Saturday at Levin in their Lochore Cup semi-final. The Pair was joined by OBU player Morgan Poi and Wainuiomta midfielder Tyler Tane as Wellington club rugby players on the field, while others such as Norths duo Boston Hunt and Callum Watts-Pointer and former OBU flyhalf Hamish Buick were injured players for either team. Plus a number of current and former players watching on, and Ma’a Nonu who recently played for East Coast and rode in on a horse for one match. East Coast won 37-30 and will host Mid Canterbury in the final this coming Saturday.
UPDATED: It’s the second half of October, but the rugby rolls on.
The Wellington Lions face Canterbury in red and black country on Saturday in the final of the 2022 National Provincial Championship. The Lions are seeking their fifth title and first since 2000.
The Wellington Samoan Rugby Union are holding a bumper day of rugby to celebrate their 50th anniversary this Saturday at Porirua Park. There are a number of matches being played all day on Porirua 1 and 2, culminating in the fixure between the Wellington Samoa Men’s and Pacific Aoteraoa Men’s sides. More details later in the week, or visit their Facebook page for information.
Two Hurricanes unions, Whanganui and Ngati Porou East Coast, are in Heartland Championship finals this coming Saturday. Whanganui are away to South Canterbury in the top tier Meads Cup decider and East Coast host Mid Canterbury in the 5-8 Lochore Cup. We say that the latter will be the place to be in rugby in New Zealand this weekend.
Moving forward to next Monday, the Wellington Condor 7s school tournament is at Naenae College. More details of that tournament to come.
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When was the last time that a province has done the NPC -Ranfurly Shield double in the same season? Wellington did it in 1981.
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Most Wins In the NPC Since 2000
- Canterbury: 199/265
- Wellington: 165/238
- Auckland: 159/248
- Waikato: 136/247
- Tasman: 105/191 (Founded in 2006)
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Julian Savea for Manu Samoa squad for 2023 Rugby World Cup?
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Ardie Savea for Japan 2024:
Ardie’s in for 2023, then he’ll be headed on sabbatical after the Rugby World Cup – linking with Kobelco Steelers in 2024, before returning in 2025.
Read more: https://t.co/KpCrI6CRIT pic.twitter.com/eJRHyVvJKp
— Hurricanes Rugby (@Hurricanesrugby) October 17, 2022
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Wellington go into the NPC as favourites on form, but Canterbury go into the decider as favourites simply because they are Canterbury. They pumped Wellington earlier this season, before Wellington went on a nine-game winning streak, and they are at home in their own conditions. Did we mention Wellington’s dire NPC finals record in the 2000s? Maybe save that one for another time! Canterbury are also stacked with recently selected New Zealand XV players, whilst Wellington have one or two guys who will feel unlucky not to have made that side.
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29 All Blacks and 35 internationals played in the 2000 NPC final.
It is with great sadness that Hutt Old Boys Marist has advised of the passing of Murray (Muz) Drysdale on Thursday 13 October. Muz played his schoolboys rugby with Hutt Old Boys and continued to play after college in the Colts and Senior teams in both the Green and Gold and Red and White strips. Muz enjoyed several team tours with the club, starting with the Manly tour as a junior and as a senior going to Australia in 82 and Hawaii in 87. Muz was an avid supporter of the Eagles. For many years Muz has been a regular at Eagles matches and Old Timers’ Days.
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🚨 The 'King of Evans Bay' is now the 'Coach of Evans Bay'. Marist St Pats is delighted to announce Faatonu Fili as our Premier Men's Head Coach for 2023! #RedMachine pic.twitter.com/jAC7fc2GYO
— Marist St Pats Rugby 🏉 (@msprugby) October 13, 2022
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England extended their world record winning streak to 27 consecutive matches with a gritty 13-7 victory over France on Saturday. Emily Scarrett scored all of England’s points (try, conversion, two penalties) in the narrow success. France were defiant, making 227 tackles against 73. Marjorie Mayans made 28 tackles alone. France lost key players Lauren Sansus (9) and Romane Menager (8) in the first twenty minutes. England blindside Abby Matthews with 19 carries for 77 metres and 10 tackles was named player of the match. Hooker Amy Cokayne was accurate with 20 of 21 linouts. England shut-down the game with a brutal 15 phases in the last two and a half minutes. England captain and openside Sarah Hunter equaled the world record for the most test appearances with 137. She has led England to 64 wins in 80 tests. England have won their last 11 tests against France.
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England and France kicked the ball a combined 64 times in their World Cup match. The Black Ferns have kicked the ball 16 times the whole tournament.
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Portia Woodman was rampant on the left wing scoring two long range tries in the Black Ferns 56-12 win against Wales. Woodman is only one try short of equalling the World Cup record set by Sue Day of England with 19.
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Australian-born Fijiana 15s prop Siteri Rasolea is the third from her family to represent the country on the world stage. The Naitasiri lass is following the footsteps of her father Solomone Rasolea and brother Junior Rasolea who were Fiji reps during their time. Her dad played for Nadi and the Flying Fijians in the 1980s while her brother was a Fiji Under-20 representative. The run by Rasolea to set up the try for Fijiana’s first ever World Cup win, 21-17 over South Africa, will be remembered in the Islands for a long time
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There are 13 Brumbies named in the 36-player Wallabies squad to tour Europe in the coming weeks.
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English professional rugby appears to be in crisis, with the Worcester Warriors and Wasps both going into administration. Wasps cancelled their match this weekend against the Exeter Chiefs.
Some eye-watering debt figures amongst the clubs – as canvassed in this article here https://www.ruck.co.uk/two-more-premiership-clubs-in-trouble-as-leagues-debt-topples-500m/
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The Hurricanes have announced that they are returning to Palmerston North next year to play the Force on a Sunday afternoon in early April.
THE HURRICANES FULL SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC DRAW: (ALL TIMES NZT)
RD1: Reds v Hurricanes, Saturday 25 February, Queensland, 9:45PM
RD2: Rebels v Hurricanes, Friday 3 March, Melbourne, 10:10PM
RD3: Hurricanes v Blues, Saturday 11 March, Wellington, 7:05PM
RD4: Hurricanes v Waratahs, Friday 17 March, Wellington, 7:05PM
RD5: Moana Pasifika v Hurricanes, Saturday 25 March, Auckland, 7:05PM
RD6: Hurricanes v Force, Sunday 2 April, CET Arena, Palmerston North, 3:35PM
RD7: Highlanders v Hurricanes, Saturday 8 April, Dunedin, 7:05PM
RD8: Hurricanes v Chiefs, Saturday 15 April, Wellington, 7:05PM
RD9: BYE
RD10: Hurricanes v Brumbies, Friday 28 April, Wellington, 7:05PM
RD11: Fijian Drua v Hurricanes, Saturday 6 May, Suva, 2:05PM *
RD12: Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, Saturday 13 May, Wellington, 4:35PM *
RD13: Chiefs v Hurricanes, Saturday 20 May, Hamilton, 7:05PM
RD14: Blues v Hurricanes, Saturday 27 May, Auckland, 7:05PM
RD15: Hurricanes v Crusaders, Saturday 3 June, Wellington, 7:05PM
*Denotes matches Club Rugby cannot support. Saturday afternoons in this country are for community sport.
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