All set for Wellington club rugby kick-off tomorrow

• By Scott MacLean & Steven White

It’s all go tomorrow, with a full slate of fixtures for the 146^th season of club rugby in Wellington across Premier Men’s, Premier Women’s, Premier 2, Colts, Under 85s, Reserves, and Presidents.

Let’s go Season 2025!

But first these short messages (preview continues below).

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Public notice about our Draws & Results website:

• These pages were offline for a few weeks recently owing to a forced server change and a major coding breakage (2004 website meets 2025) . The pages are back live at https://clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/games-results.php?competition=71&season=22&Submit=Go
• BUT we still don’t have any access to the website administration section meaning we can’t update anything yet such as adding new teamlists.
• So, for Draws & Results please visit this page here https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2025-wgtn-club-live-scores/
• For this week’s line-ups please visit the attachment here:

ROUND ONE SWINDALE SHIELD TEAMLISTS: 

SWINDALE SHIELD TEAMLISTS AND SCORING 2025 RD1

Radio show: The “E Tu Whanau Footy Show”  kicks off for its 11^th season at Rugby League Park on Saturday for the opening round Old Boys University v Tawa fixture. Lead commentator Gordon Noble-Campbell is joined by Darren Larsen with Dave Piper in the studio. The start of this broadcast will usher in the 98^th consecutive year of club rugby broadcasting in Wellington.

Preview podcast: Listen to Club Rugby’s Round One preview on the new @Tackld podcast covering community and grassroots sport in Wellington  on Spotify HERE

Tipping Competition: Please join us in playing the inaugural Wellington club rugby tipping competition, by signing up at this direct link here https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2025/join and reading about it first at https://clubrugby.nz/wp/tipping-competition/ (tab in menu bar). If you have signed up remember to make your first round picks by 2.30pm Saturday.

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Premier Swindale Shield

As is the norm currently, the two sides that fought out last July’s Jubilee Cup final meet again in the opening round with champions Old Boys-University hosting Tawa at Rugby League Park, with both sides looking somewhat different to those that ran out on to Jerry Collins Stadium that day.

It’s a whole new backline for the Goats, with Tom Henderson – who played fullback that day – the only survivor. As expected, he moves into the halves to partner Mitch McLeod with the pair having the daunting task of filling the Kyle Preston and Callum Harkin shaped holes. Louis Calvert captains the side from the front row with lock Johnny Falloon, out of Rathkeale College and the NZ Schools side, into Premier rugby from the start as one of four debutants in the 22.

Bit of a blast-from-the-past for Tawa, with James So’oialo and Nigel Hunt back in the blue, red, and gold, and add in fellow returnee Faraimo Nofo’agia and 200+ gamer Randall Bishop they might be the most experienced backline in town. Lotu Nuku and Matolu Petaia will lead the side, with the latter and No. 8 George Risale again likely to feature heavily in their attack.

A mention here of the referee for this one with the vastly experienced Richard Gordon in charge. Currently based in London and making a name for himself in the England system, it’s his 130^th Premier match in the capital.

Heading east, it’s a rare opening day Battle of Kilbirnie for the Horan-Millar Trophy as Poneke make the short trek across the road to face Marist St Pat’s at Evans Bay. There’s no fewer than 11 debutants for MSP, though one, midfielder Alex Morrissey, is no stranger to this fixture have made the move this offseason. Prop Jake Wetere captains the side on debut having followed coach Jason Adamson down from Johnsonville, with fellow newcomers Jayde Burns and Luke Kapene forming the halves. Of their young contingent Preston Moananu starts, with Cazna Sale, Dante Ford-Tuveve, and Max Reynolds on the bench.

Poneke are a settled looking side and will be bolstered by returning lock Maea Temu-Schmidt. As usual, they’ll a lot on their loose trio of captain DJ Taoipu, younger brother David Taoipu, and Pasi Asiata. Jimmy-Lee Hongara and Carlos Hihi – playing his blazer game – will be trusted with guiding the ship, and the ever-dangerous Nick Robertson lines up at fullback.

Through the Cutting out at Polo, Oriental Rongotai start out at home on the Polo Ground, with the Upper Hutt Rams making the trek out to the peninsula.

The Magpies might have the team that looks the most like last years so should come out of the gate strong. Penieli Poasa again leads the side, and while they’ve named Dom Ropeti at No. 8 his involvement isn’t guaranteed owing to Hurricanes commitments. Isaac Bracewell and Jake Hamlin have the task of directing the side, and the dangerous Samoan 7s player Tom Maiava lines up at fullback.

Injuries are already a problem for the Rams, but it’s still a strong looking side they’re putting on the park. It’s a young but All-Star front row upfront with Senio Sanele, Leon Tuiloma, and Alex Hewitt starting with veterans Tolu Fahamokoia and Connor Lemon – debuting for the Rams against the side he played over 100 matches for – to come off the bench. Matt Luamanu captains the side on his return, the ageless Josh Hunt partners Emmanuel Solomona in midfield, and the keys have been handed to young first-five Angelo Winter-Robati who steps up from their Colts team.

The one Hutt Valley derby of the week is across the water and over the hills with Wainuiomata hosting Hutt Old Boys Marist at William Jones.

Like Ories, it’s a settled look to start the year for the home team. Greg Leolofi leads the side once more as he closes in on 200 games for the club, while the nearly as experienced duo of Andrew Wells and Tyler Tane anchor the backline. They get a boost with hulking winger Niko Patalesio back from injury, with veteran Tyler Tane and new arrival Elysium Tolova’a-Stanley on the bench.

No prizes for guessing the Eagles’ likely approach having named a massive forward pack headed by Harry Press and anchored by veteran locks Filo Paulo and David Filipo, and further underlined with a 5-2 bench split that includes both Brett Manaia and the returning Lise Soloa. Waylon Tuhuro-Robinson will again captain the side though starts at first-five tomorrow with Joseph Pinfold at halfback. Horowhenua-Kapiti rep Kapu Broughton-Winterburn debuts on the right wing.

Back over the hills the provinces third-oldest club hosts the oldest as Petone welcomes Wellington to the Rec. The Villagers start their 140^th year once again looking for championship glory and will fancy their chances against the recent strugglers. Theres three debutants for Petone; Wairarapa-Bush captain Logan Wakefield at lock, former Hutt Valley HS standout Marcus Alexopoulos on the flank, and ex-OBU Goat Jermaine Pepe at fullback. Marcus Roil is back at prop, and Ben Brooking returns to the side in the unusual position of inside-centre. NZ Schools selection and reigning College Sport Player of the Year Thompson Tukapua will have to wait for his debut with Rory Woollett starting at 10.

There’s a degree of the unknown about the Axemen, who’ll be led by lock Ami Paongo and the returning Tom Robertson, with the latter forming the loose trio with the always abrasive James Tuiatua and Cody Lokotui. Much could depend on the midfield duo of Caleb Aiulu and Siose Lokeni, and there’s interest in Fijian fullback Joji Vatuwaliwali

Two sides that would dearly like a winning start meet at Jerry Collins Stadium with home side Norths welcoming Avalon to their home on Mungavin Avenue. Hardworking flanker Olano Afutoto leads the side, and his partnership with young star Jeremiah Avei-Collins could be central to their chances in 2025. Toby Kennett gets the first crack at the #10 jersey, while there’s plenty of punch on the bench with veterans Luca Rees and Liki Siliga deployed there.

We didn’t have the Wolves side as of publishing.

Lastly, but certainly not least it’s down to Helston for the clash between Johnsonville and Paremata-Plimmerton. No matter where there’s two have sat on the table, their fortunes have largely mirrored each other in recent years and provided a series of close matches; tomorrow seems no exception.

The host Hawks start their 125^th with a largely familiar side. Anthony Pettett slots straight back into lock with veteran Serge Hollis back for another run, this time on the blindside. Niall Delahunt starts at first-five, and the job of he and Olly Paotonu would be to give space and opportunity to that dangerous quartet of Aukuso Tuitama, Jacob Kennedy, Jacob Walmsley, and Finlay Sharp.

The Hammerheads have nine debutants in their 22 including former Silverstream captain and Rams hooker Toby Mallon back at his childhood club; it’s likely that 200-game veteran prop James Coburn has more games of club rugby on his belt than the rest of the pack combined. The backline has Dale Sabbagh at #10 replacing the departed Sam Clarke and he’ll be outside the livewire Esi Komaisavai and alongside his cousin Matt Goosen. Ethan Webster-Nonu with have three debutants outside him in winger’s and former college stars Tony Solomona and Sione Baker, and fullback Emery McGill.

As usual there’s interclub silverware in play tomorrow:

• As mentioned above MSP and Poneke play for the Horan-Millar Trophy. Marist’s Mick Horan and Poneke’s Ken Millar were two friends who locked horns on the field for many years, and both enjoyed success in and after their playing careers before both passed away within months of each other in 1982. MSP won 25-12 last year.
• Ories and Upper Hutt contest their Bob Lendrum Cup. Lendrum played for Ories before later settling in and coaching Upper Hutt after a stint coaching Fiji. A Life Member of both clubs, Lendrum passed away in early 2021. Ories won 22-19 last season.
• Petone and Wellington play for two trophies. At Premier-level there’s the Bill Francis/Jack Taylor Trophy which honours two men from the Axemen’s lengthy history, and secondly is the Air New Zealand Trophy which is played for across all fixtures between the clubs. Petone hold both.

Tawa holds the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy to start the year, but this isn’t up for grabs tomorrow.

All seven matches kickoff at 2.45pm

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

As with the main game to follow, the opener at Rugby League Park pits champion against runner-up with double winners OBU facing Tawa with the latter keen to reclaim the crown they held for the three previous summers. HD Morgan winners Ories also face the side they beat in that final in the Upper Hutt Rams, while MSP and Poneke will be found halfway between their strongholds on Kilbirnie #2. Petone and HOBM will be warm favourites for their matches at home against Wellington and away against Wainuiomata respectively, while Norths and Johnsonville will both be looking to start with wins at home with Avalon and Pare-Plim the visitors to each.

All matches are 1.00pm kickoffs.

Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

Champions Petone open their title defence at home on the Rec against Paremata-Plimmerton, while the 2023 champion Marist St Pat’s side returns to the competition with a trip through the cutting to face Oriental Rongotai at Polo. MSP will also be taking the Gary Hilsdon Challenge Cup with them as their hiatus meant it wasn’t played for last year. Wainuiomata have first use of William Jones Park when they host Poneke, and Norths and Avalon take to Porirua Park

All four matches are at their usual kick-off time of 11.30am.

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Colts Paris Memorial

It could be feast or famine in the age grade this year, with some clubs reporting good numbers and others struggling to get a team together. Double winners HOBM will be hot favourites to continue their unbeaten streak as they take on Wainuiomata at Mary Crowther (12.30pm). John E Kelly Cup Runners-up Tawa head to the Ian Galloway cage to face what could be a very strong OBU lineup (12.30pm), while last year’s Paris Memorial runners-up Petone host Wellington at the Rec. Vic Calcinai winners Norths open against Avalon with the side they narrowly beat, Pare-Plim, at Newlands Park to face Johnsonville (12.30pm). The remaining matches have MSP and Poneke on Evans Bay, and Ories and Upper Hutt at Polo.

Unless noted, all matches are at 1pm.

Under 85kg JC Bowl

With just nine teams, there’s only four matches in the grade each week. The champion Tawa Ducks open their defence at Redwood Park against HOBM, with runners-up the OBU Scallywags facing Avalon in the Ian Galloway cage. Wellington start their season against Johnsonville, and the Eastbourne Gulls are at home for the visit of the Pare-Plim Piranhas. MSP have the bye in week one.

All four matches have a 2.45pm start.

College

A smattering of college preseason rugby on in the capital this weekend, starting later this afternoon with the Scots and Rongotai 1^st XVs meeting in Strathmore, while in more 1^st XV-level games St Bernards and Bishop Viard are at Fraser Park, Porirua hosts Upper Hutt/Heretaunga, Aotea hosts Tawa, and Hutt International and Paraparaumu are at the CIS Campus. Wellington College hosts Rongotai and Scots in their regular “club day” (not including 1^st XVs) with Silverstream doing likewise with St Pat’s Town.

Elsewhere

It’s also Opening Day across in the Wairarapa. In the four Premier matches in the short-format first-round for the Lane Penn Cup, three-time defending champion Moose Kapene Cup winners Carterton are at home against Pioneer, with the other match in that pool down the road in Greytown with the home side taking on Masterton Red Star. The other pool has runners-up Marist at home on the back field at Memorial Park against current Lane Penn Cup holders Martinborough with East Coast heading north to Eketahuna (which is where you’ll find the author).

The nine Senior Reserve sides are meeting in three non-competition “Games of Three Halves” ahead of their season proper starting next week.

It’s already round three in Horowhenua-Kapiti. The feature game of the days would be at the Levin Domain where Levin College Old Boys host Rahui. Foxton head south to face Waikanae, while Paraparaumu go inland to take on Shannon. Levin Wanderers have the bye.

The Hurricanes meet the Blues on Saturday night:

Aisle be Back: Hurricanes v Blues

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Details of the Wellington club rugby Tipping Competition: 

Tipping Competition