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The HOBM Colts side – unbeaten first round Paris Memorial Trophy Colts competition winners.
Monday high tea edition: We are now into week 15 of the Wellington club rugby competitions, with just three weeks to play in most grades including this one.
In the Premier grade, it’s knockout rugby now. Win and progress to next week’s semi-finals, lose and head to the beach and start building sandcastles, as commentator Ron Snowden would say. This coming Saturday’s Premier fixtures at a glance are (with first round finishi in brackets):
- Jubilee Cup: OBU (1) v Upper Hutt Rams (5) and Petone (2) v Oriental-Rongotai (6). HOBM (3) and Tawa (4) byes.
- Hardham Cup: Paremata-Plimmerton (7) v Avalon Wolves (14), Marist St Pat’s (8) v Wellington Axemen (13), Wainuiomata (10) v Northern United (12) and Johnsonville (9) v Poneke (11).
Premier 2 knockout matches this coming weekend too, as well as the second round of the Colts competition and the second week of the second round of the U85kg competition – more details to come for all of these in the Draws & Results of both our website (tab above) and the WRFU site, as well as in our preview at the end of this week.
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As far as we know (please let us know otherwise) there are no college matches during the week this week and no school games this coming weekend, with the two-week school holidays now upon us.
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Tawa have won eight games in a row something they didn’t achieve in their Jubilee Cup wining seasons of 2013, 2016 and 2021.
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Old Boys University was beaten 24-25 by Hutt Old Boys Marist in the first round of the 2021 Jubilee Cup playoffs when Swindale Shield champions. Oriental-Rongotai came from eighth to win the Jubilee Cup last year.
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Daniel Schrijvers has scored four hat-tricks for Upper Hutt.
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Fritz Raysai has scored 11 tries in 27 matches for Hutt Old Boys Marist.
His brother Salesi is going to France soon:
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Brotherly love department: Saturday’s Petone vs HOBM Jubilee Cup clash was the first time the Higgins brothers had met on the field. Riley started for Petone while Kienan was on the bench for HOBM, but pressed into action early when Jordan-Glen Bradbrook limped off in the first few minutes meaning the two directly opposed each other in midfield. That clash took an unexpected and humorous turn when Kienan was penalised and yellow-carded for a tip tackle on his younger brother, but he had the last laugh as the visitors were too strong and booked their place in the Jubilee Cup semifinals.
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Running the water for HOBM on Saturday was Chase Tiatia. The mercurial outside back has cut short his NPC deal with Hawkes Bay and is heading for the Land of the Rising Sun, signing a deal to play with Saeco in the third-tier of Japan’s leagues.
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Wellington Rugby, and particularly the Women’s game, lost one of its biggest supporters last week. Terry Taumoli might not have been a household name, but he was ever-present at Ories women’s matches and Pride home games and usually in his camp chair irrespective of the weather, and in the words of our correspondent and referee Scott MacLean “always up for a chat.” With four daughters amongst his five children, his support for the Women’s game probably isn’t a surprise with three – Fuamai, Janet, and Barbra – themselves having roles within the game here. Club Rugby sends it condolences to the family and friends.
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A New Zealand Under 85kg team will be selected to travel to South Asia (exact destination to be confirmed) in April next year following the exciting knockout 2024 Under 85kg National Club Cup competition.
The touring side will be selected from the 2024 Under 85kg National Club Cup competition, alongside any existing Under 85kg teams competing in their respective club competitions across the country.
Teams are able to register for the Under 85kg National Club Cup here. Registrations will close on 15 July 2024. The final for the Under 85kg National Club Cup will be a curtain raiser to the All Blacks versus Australia Test match in Wellington on 28 September 2024.
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Manawatu Senior 1 club rugby final this coming Saturday. It’s Kia Toa versus College Old Boys in the top tier Hankins Shield Final and Freyberg versus Linton Army in the consolation Val Holland Trophy final.
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Semi-finals in Hawke’s Bay club rugby’s Premier Maddison Trophy on Saturday. Top qualifier romped home to beat Napier Tech 59-12 in one semi-final and Napier Old Boys Marist beat Napier Pirates 30-27 in the other. So a Taradale v NOBM final.
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Taranaki club final this coming Saturday and no team from New Plymouth. It’s Southern against and Stratford/Eltham.
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A head-turning result, for us at least, from last week was the Aotea College U15s beating St Mary’s College U15s in the final of the College Sport Wellington Division 1 schoolgirls U15 competition last week.
In the several years this has been going, St Mary’s has won all previous titles. Aotea had beaten them 31-15 in 2021 but St Mary’s still won that year’s competition. St Mary’s had won their round-robin game this season 34-21.
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Nigel Hotham has departed Hamilton Boys’ High School after 21 years as First XV coach this week. He won 351 of 412 matches winning five National titles. Hamilton has had 33 Moascar Cup defences and 51 NZ Schools reps since 2003.
Who would have the most wins as a First XV coach in Wellington? Father Peter Blake had 201 wins in 279 games as St Pat’s Silverstream First XV head coach. Father Mark Walls had 170 wins and Father Matt Durning 158. Chris Wells, Lincoln Rawles and Greg Sharland were prolific at Wellington College.
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Poneke hooker Mitchell Gough leading the competition try celebrations:
Also in this game, Tauvaga siolo, David taoipu and Lupe Tafaovale are all Colts aged players this year and have debuted for the Premiers this year. All three scored their debut tries on Saturday, with David Taoipu (younger brother of current Captain DJ Taoipu) scoring a hat trick.
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Another top match by Tawa lock Akira Ieremia on Saturday. As well as scoring two tries, including the match-winner, Ieremia was a menace in the lineouts and gave tyro Harry Irving a tough time all match. If these two teams meet again this year, OBU will have to find a way to combat Ieremia. More so if Hugo Plummer is also playing for Tawa.
Who remembers Ieremia’s father Alama’s test debut? It was 30 years ago tomorrow at a heaving Carisbrook. Club Rugby was there – although we can’t remember much of it! Except Alama’s first touch (or an early touch) of the ball not far from our vantage point was a falcon – see the 45 second mark in the highlights below:
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A sizeable Wellington contingent in this year’s NZ Maori Rugby U18 Camp, being held in the capital next week. Those players are: Oliver Church (Wellington College), Daniel Hawes (Wellington College), Alex Hewitt (Upper Hutt Rams), Tane Landon-Lane (Norths), Preston Maraku (St Pat’s Silverstream), Levi Morgan (HOBM), Reweti Ngarimu (Scots), Thompson Tukapua (St Pats Silverstream), Jericho Wharehinga (St Pat’s Silverstream), Rangitiare Graham (Sacred Heart), Canon Hakaraia (Sacred Heart), and Keiana Roffey (Wellington Girls/Poneke).
In addition, Jayaiah Ashford (Paraparaumu College), Charlie Carroll and Lesharn Paku (both Wairarapa College) play in the Wellington competition.
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Ben Ross – Allan Tetevano – Josh Baldwin – Darrell Hopkins (Coach – Head coach – Coach – Manager).
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The 2024 Hurricanes Youth Council’s U19s schedule was released last week.
Club Rugby has covered and supported this competition for the Central Region Shield over the past several years and looks forward to continuing to do so this year.
Schedule
24 August
- Wellington U19s v Manawatū U19 at NZCIS, Upper Hutt
- Hawke’s Bay U19s v Hurricanes Heartland U20s, Napier
31 August
- Manawatū U19 v Hurricanes Heartland U20s at Massey University
- Hawke’s Bay U19s v Wellington U19s, Napier
September 7
- Manawatū U19 vs Hawke’s Bay at Massey University
- Wellington U19s v Hurricanes Heartland U20s, Wellington TBC
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Should Wellington Premier teams who can’t provide a teamlist without explanation at least 24 hours before kickoffs face consequences, such as docked points or other sanctions of it’s a knockout match?
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A good First XV to St Bernard’s College over Tawa College on Saturday, following up their midweek victory over Francis Douglas Memorial College. St Bernard’s prevailed 27-7. Tawa were down with no fewer than seven of their players out with injuries and concussion and the holidays are timely for the remainder of their campaign which resumes on Wednesday 24 July with their fourth and final Beard Trophy defence, against Aotea College.
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Check out the latest editon of the Rugby News below:
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Horowhenua-Kapiti Ramsbotham Cup semi-finals this coming Saturday. Rahui (1) v Shannon (4) and Foxton (2) v College Old Boys (3).
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Poneke’s Colts victory over the MSP Colts was Poneke’s first victory over their cross-road neighbours in nine years. Last win was 28-25 in 2015. It is to be noted though that in 2018,2019,2020 and 2021 there was no meeting between the clubs due to various times either club not having an U21s side.
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U20s watch. France’s Under 20 record is 46 wins in 67 matches with three tournament wins. New Zealand’s Under 20 record is 54 wins in 68 matches with six tournament wins. England’s Under 20 record is 50 wins in 67 matches with three tournament wins. South Africa’s Under 20 record is 47 wins in 67 matches with a tournament triumph in South Africa in 2012.
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The Māori All Blacks produced their worst performance since a 10-32 loss to the British and Irish Lions in 2017, stunned 26-14 by Japan XV. The Māori never led and scored two tries from rolling mauls. The worst Māori All Blacks performance was a 0-37 loss to the Springboks in 1956.
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International rugby watch
Marcus Smith has kicked 62 goals from 77 attempts in international rugby but missed a fifth of all the kicks he’s missed in England’s 15-16 loss to the All Blacks in Dunedin.
A profoundly different approach by the Springboks in their 27-20 win against Ireland with Tony Brown in the coaching staff. Ball in hand, flankers roaming wide and running with gusto. A breath of fresh air to watch and South Africa’s first win against Ireland in eight years.
Sir Graham Henry rated South African World Cup winners Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie the best opposition midfield pairing he saw. They were 22-7 together and beat the All Blacks four times. Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel equaled that number of Tests together in the Springboks 27-20 win over Ireland. They are 18-11 as starters with three one point wins in the World Cup finals an obvious highlight.
The most prolific backs pairing are Wallabies halfback and first-five George Gregan and Stephen Larkham who won 53 of their 79 tests together, including the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations, and British and Irish Lions series.
Another disastrous day in USA rugby losing 22-20 to Romania after the failure last year to qualify for the Rugby World Cup which the USA hosts in 2031.
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Petone’s physio giving Upper Hutt player a rub. Never seen before. The Petone Massuer is Wiki Henry, Logan Henry’s father.
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Reserve Grade watch. The Upper Hutt Rams J8s are the second round competition leaders with five straight bonus point wins. They defeated the Norths Porirua Boys 55-22 on Saturday. The MSP Internationals also lead the Division 2 standings with five from five, defeating the OBU 69ers 65-5 on Saturday.
Update: In Reserve Grade Division 1 (John Davies Cup), the grade will go straight into semifinals this week after a majority vote from the teams last week to remove quarterfinals. There was not a majority vote for Division 2 (Alan Seerup Cup) so the grade will continue with quarterfinals commencing 27 July.
The Wellington Lions have signed Stanley Solomon.
The Grant Batty of our time? Will be interesting to see how he is used – first-five, wing, super-sub?
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