Club rugby pre-season matches continue this weekend

The Wainuiomata and Paremata-Plimmerton Premier squads are both lacing up again tomorrow, Wainuiomata back at Mary Crowther Park and Paremata-Plimmerton sailing Cook Strait in Blenheim. 

Updated 3: There are several pre-season club rugby matches this weekend, as the days countdown to the start of club rugby competition seasons in Wellington and neighbouring unions on Saturday 5 April.

There are four matches involving Premier squads in Wellington tomorrow afternoon.

In the first of two inter-provincial fixtures between Wellington and Manawatu teams, the defending Jubilee Cup champions Old Boys University host Massey University at Rugby League Park. Kick-off for this fixture is at 1.30pm.

In the second of these, 2023 champions Oriental-Rongotai host last year’s Manawatu winners Kia Toa at Rongotai College at 1.00pm in a game of three x 30 minute halves.

Both these matches have games preceding them at the same venues. At RLP, the OBU Green Colts and the Paremata-Plimmerton Colts meet at 11.30am. At Rongotai College, the home school’s First XV is in action for the second time this season, against the Tawa College First XV, at 10.00am.

The other two Premier pre-season games being played on the Ides of March in Wellington see the Northern United and Tawa squads kick-off at 11.00am at Bishop Viard College and the Wainuiomata and Wellington Axemen squads kick off at Mary Crowther Park at noon.

One of these matches has a curtain-raiser. At Mana College, the Paremata-Plimmerton Premier 2s meets the Kia Toa Premier 2s at 11.30am and at Mary Crowther there is an internal game between the Wainuiomata Premier 2 and Reserve sides at 11.30am.

Marist St Pat’s were previously scheduled to play Rahui in Otaki tonight, and the Petone Women were set down to play Waikato University at North Park tomorrow but both these matches have been cancelled.

In one further college pre-season game in Wellington tomorrow, local schools Porirua College and Aotea College kick off at Porirua College at 11.00am.

In away pre-season Premier matches, the Paremata-Plimmerton Premiers travel to Blenheim to play a game of three halves including against Marlborough’s sole Tasman Trophy representative this year, Central, and Renwick. 

Closer to home, the Avalon Wolves are in action at 11.00am at the Paraparaumu Domain against the host club in their first match of the season.

In the Wairarapa, Martinborough and Waikanae are having their semi-annual preseason hit out.

Several other Wellington clubs have internal trainings and camps as they calibrate their engines ahead of the 17-week season ahead, leading up to the Jubilee and Hardham Cup finals on Saturday 26 July.

This includes MSP, Poneke, Johnsonville, the Upper Hutt Rams, Hutt Old Boys Marist, Petone and Paremata-Plimmerton.

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Super Rugby U20s tournament starts today

The 2025 Super Rugby U20s tournament gets underway this weekend at Owen Delany Park, Taupo.

The eight teams competing are seeded 1-8, with today’s fixtures being knockout quarter-finals based on last year’s seeding.

The Hurricanes are seeded third and they are first up today at 11.05am against the 6^th seeds the Fijian Drua.

As of a fortnight ago, the Hurricanes are a good 30 points off the pace of top seed and last year’s winners the Cusaders. The Crusaders team plays Moana Pasifika at 3.05pm, while the Chiefs and NZ Barbarians U21s kick-off at 1.05pm and the Blues and Highlanders

The Hurricanes squad has been selected for the tournament and is below.

Hurricanes: Alex Hewitt, Conley Alexander, Johnny Falloon, Zach Taulapapa, Harry Irving, Mosese Bason, Jai Tamati, Will Cole, CJ Mienie, Liam O’Connor, Pita Manamanaivalu, Stanley Solomon, Finn O’Sullivan, Drew Berg-McLean, Le’Sharn Reiri-Paku, Thompson Tukapua, Bogi Kikau, Jericho Wharehinga, Leti Campbell, Jacob Kennedy, Jacob Denyer, Mako Blackman, Isreal Time, Nico Metuariki, Henele Oliveti, Taufaeteau Kaufonogo, Braith Ingram.