Club Rugby ready to soar in round four matches

• By Scott MacLean and Steven White

It is the fourth round of the Wellington club rugby Premier Swindale Shield and the competition is ready for lift-off.

It is also the fourth round of women’s and Premier 2 matches, while there are U85kg and Reserve Grade games and some more college pre-season rugby. The Colts grade has the weekend off.

SWINDALE SHIELD TEAMLISTS AND SCORING 2025 Round 4 Lineups

For Round 4 Premier teamlists, click the line above (the link opens a Word Document). Or visit this article here (link to another article Published on Friday on our website): https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2025/04/25/wellington-premier-club-rugby-teamlists-for-round-4-26-april/ 

+++++

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 second round picks by 2.30pm Saturday. It is not too late to join up, there are two ‘wildcard’ rounds so you can quickly catch up or play the spoiler role. There are some mid-round spot prizes coming, just not ready to broadcast these yet.

Podcast: Listen to Club Rugby’s Round 4 preview on the new @Tackld podcast covering community and grassroots sport in Wellington  on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MJa8Y36lCTtyrvPInOyGW?si=dgcbwiT9QQ6yZwFgvRnrxg

Radio Commentary. This Saturday, the E Tū Whānau Footy Show comes from Ian Galloway Park in the fixture between Old Boys University and Oriental-Rongotai. On air from 2.00pm Catch all the action on Te Upoko Radio – 87.6FM in the central city, 1161AM across the region, or stream it on iHeart Radio, the Whare Kōrero app, and online at www.teupoko.nz.

++++++

Draws & Results website. These pages and all historical information 2005-24 are/is 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!

• 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 article link here: https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2025/04/25/wellington-premier-club-rugby-teamlists-for-round-4-26-april/

Premier Swindale Shield

Tomorrow’s round is highlighted by two games at opposite ends of the province.

Oriental Rongotai are the lone side with a perfect record through three rounds, but put that on the line with a visit to a place they haven’t seen in over decade as they venture to the cage at Ian Galloway Park. There they won’t meet a bunch of roosters, but rather a mob of Goats. Old Boys-University find themselves well down the table with three losses to start their campaign and their hopes of retaining the Swindale are already paper-thin. They’ll be concerned at how they fell well-behind last weekend at Upper Hutt and desperately need a win against the competition leaders who were in impervious form against Norths.

The Goats get Mitch McLeod back tomorrow and he’ll partner Riley Forbes in the halves, but there’s an interesting move in the pack where prop Gareth Ward-Allen drops to No8 to join Jack Riley and debutant Nico Brown in the loose. Ories give Ton Da Vanzo a debut at lock with Ronaldo Seumanufagai back on the blindside. Ethan Smyth -Rangi moves into first-five in a re-jigged backline with Tom Maiava in his preferred position at the back.

The only other unbeaten side is out at Maidstone as second-placed Petone visit the Upper Hutt Rams who are one of five teams on 10 points. The Villagers may have fattened their account so far with wins over Wellington and last week’s romp over Avalon, but also have also beaten Tawa thus far. The Rams followed up their round two win over MSP by leaving OBU in their dust last Saturday, and a win here in front of their Old Timers Day crowd would be a significant boost to their title credentials.

The Rams are without midfielder Emmanuel Solomona, but evergreen veteran Josh Hunt steps into midfield to partner Ieti Campbell. Their only other change is at openside where Sio Fidow tags in for Jack Wright, with Connor Lemon continuing to deputise for Leon Tuiloma at hooker.

Petone present what is probably their best available side with a host of changes to that which started against the Wolves. Marcus Roil, Sam Tonise, and Max Hosking all come back in to start, with the power of Teddi Hern and guile of Cam Ferreira available from the bench

Heading south, third-placed Hutt Old Boys Marist finally get to run out on their Hutt Rec nest after it’s usual maintenance period. The Eagles might have had their wings clipped by the Hawks last week, but you get the idea that any time they return home with more wins than losses they’ll take it. Paremata-Plimmerton are the visitors and although they’ve toppled the hosts in their last two meetings, they would have been asking plenty of questions about their collapse against MSP. They’ll need to shake off any lingering effects quickly.

To little surprise, HOBM will roll out a monstrous pack anchored by Filo Paulo and Lise Soloa, and a 5-2 bench split means there’s plenty more in reserve including Brett Manaia and Mika Alaifatu. Captain Waylon Tuhoro-Robinson moves out to play first-five with Joey Pinfold starting at halfback. The Hammerheads make two changes to their starting side with Mitch Taupau starting on the blindside in place of Trent Livesey, and Dale Sabbagh back in the #10 jersey. Lock Zeek Fiso should see his first action of the season from the bench.

In between those two locations, Avalon are perhaps even more keen to get back home after three weeks on the road as Fraser Park underwent the same rest period. Each of those trips were met with heavy defeat, and while they’ll be considerable underdogs against Tawa tomorrow, staving off conceding 50 points again might just be considered a good day. The visitors arrive off the back of wins over OBU and Poneke, and although this might be a mismatch on paper they’ll be wary and will want to continue their form of the past two weeks.

The home team has several changes from last week; Prop Luke Uluiborotu debuts with Mateo Setefano at No8. Veteran Jordan Aquila steps in to run the cutter, though there is consistency outside of him with the same five players named. Jacob Faifai makes his season debut from the bench. Tawa have rotated players in and out of their starting side. Amongst the changes Solomona Uelese moves out to first-five with Tristan So’oialo at halfback, though the latter’s uncle James is their on the bench if required alongside Randall Bishop with Jacob Denyer getting a run at fullback.

One match that could be too close to call is at William Jones Park, as Wainuiomata hosts Johnsonville. While Johnsonville have beaten both Pare-Plim and HOBM who in turn have both beaten Wainuiomata, the hosts can be a rather different proposition in front of their home crowd. The Hawks look like real contenders again this year, and nothing less than a win here would suffice for them.

Blindside flanker Greg Lealofi will lead Wainuiomata out on to their home ground, in a team that features lock Kitiona Leitufia playing his 50th Premier game for the side. Andrew Wells is vice-captain of the side from the 10 posiiton, while Derek Lealiifano brings plenty of experience at fullback.  Three possible debutants off the bench too in Joshua Leweni, Liam Aitken and Logan Luke.

The visitors get captain and fullback Finlay Sharp back after his injury early in week one, but will be without their big man Anthony Pettett. Hardworking veteran Serge Hollis drops back to No. 8 while Yuu Kurihara returns at halfback.

The last two matches of the round take place back in the eastern suburbs, separated by that strip of asphalt known as Evans Bay Parade. On the eastern side Marist St Pat’s return home, undoubtedly buoyed by their Easter miracle late win over Pare-Plim and with it their first win. They’ll be looking to climb further against the other Porirua side, Norths, who’s own bright start was brought to a shuddering halt by Ories last week and coach Shane Pihema will want to see an immediate response from his charges.

No Jake Wetere for MSP this week, but Tui Tuiatua is a more than adequate replacement in the only change to their pack, while the return of veteran Isaia Petelo is the only one in the backs.

Northern United have Luke Walmsley coming into the side and starting at first-five, with Toby Kennett moving out to second-five. Faifili Levave starts at lock with Hawaikii Eden at blindside and Luca Rees at openside flanker in the absence of last week’s captain and openside flanker Olano Aufutoto.

Northern United Line-up:  1. Bradley Crichton, 2. Herman Fiu, 3. Jerome Va’ai, 4. Tane Landon-Lane, 5. Hawaikii Eden, 6. Jeremiah Avei-Collins, 7. Luca Rees, 8. Jermaine Collins, 9, 10. Luke Walmsley, 11. Seth Bailey, 12. Toby Hanrahan-Kennett, 13. Denny Lauvi, 14. Janadi Matangi, 15. Zion Fuiava / 16. Augustino Afele, 17. Reuben Ape-Tuputala, 18. Daniel Aiono, 19. Liki Siliga, 20. Samuel Talilai, 21. William Wood, 22. Alila Afutoto.

Across that road Poneke are back at Kilbirnie with Wellington making the very short trip down the hill from Hataitai. The home sides loss to Tawa dropped them from the ranks of the unbeaten and they’ll be looking to get back into stride, but the Axemen are a different quantity this year and if they start like that did against Norths and end like they did against Wainuiomata they’ll be a handful for their neighbours.

The home side had starting debuts to props Lee Franzoni and Elijah Talalupe with the Tuifao-Galuvao brothers to add their considerable impact from the bench; otherwise it’s the same side that started a week ago. The Axemen have had a couple of extra days since that last outing; they bring in Perry Laumalili to their front row with James Tuiatua switching back to No8 and former Orie Isalei Pouvalu starts at 10.

Tomorrow’s pieces of interclub silverware are:

• Upper Hutt and Petone contest their Ted Connolly Cup. Along with his brothers Adrian and Eric, Ted Connolly was a significant identity in the Upper Hutt club before, during, and after World War II. After the conflict he organises an annual match between returned servicemen. First played for in 1969, it’s held by the Rams.
• MSP and Norths play for the Maurice Standish Cup. A Jubilee Cup-winning player and coach with MSP, Standish also played for pre-merger Titahi Bay and coached at Norths. MSP hold this.
• The Spud Lindsay Memorial Trophy is the prize for Poneke and Wellington. Lindsay played for Poneke and was later an administrator and coach until being replaced as the senior team’s coach by Vic Calcinai with the side facing relegation. Switching to the Axemen he was involved there in many capacities until his passing in 1973 with the trophy donated the following year. Poneke are the holders.

All seven matches get underway at the regular 2.45pm start time.

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

The round of matches in the second-tier is highlighted by the meeting of two of the unbeatens through three rounds with OBU and Ories clashing at Ian Galloway, while the other unbeaten – Petone – head north to face the Upper Hutt Rams who currently occupy the last place on the table. Working down the table the three one-loss teams are all at home; Poneke welcome neighbours Wellington to Kilbirnie, MSP are across the road hosting Norths, and HOBM take on Pare-Plim at the Hutt Rec. The two remaining matches have Avalon at home to Tawa, and Johnsonville go looking for their first win when they visit Wainuiomata.

All seven matches are at the regular 1pm start time

+++++

Content continues below after this message from our friends:

+++++

Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

Another chance for the favourites to put space between them and the rest as their first-round reaches the halfway point. Unbeaten duo Petone and Oriental Rongotai will be expected to stay on course for what’s anticipated to be a trophy decider as they visit Avalon and host Paremata-Plimmerton respectively. Behind them Norths are scheduled to face Poneke at the JCS, while Marist St Pats are at home to take on Wainuiomata.

All four matches are at 11.30am as usual

Colts Paris Memorial

No rugby for the age-grade, with the redraw having opened up a couple of weeks off. Expect to see some suiting up for their clubs’ other sides however.

Under 85kg JC Bowl

No rest for the lightweights however. Defending champions the Tawa Ducks continue to show the way and tomorrow have a rare outing on Lyndhurst Park as they meet Pare-Plim. Johnsonville are also played three, won three, and the draw takes them to the back field at Fraser Park to face Avalon. There’s a midtable clash at Hataitai as Wellington hosts the OBU Scallywags, while HOBM take on MSP at the Hutt Rec. Eastbourne has the bye

All four matches are back at 2.45pm this week.

College

For those needing a fix of top-end 1^st XV rugby there’s a couple of options tomorrow. St Pats Silverstream host Christchurch’s St Bede’s at 12pm in the first of their Traditional clashes, while at 12.30pm St Pats Town host another side from the Garden City in Christs College on Kilbirnie #2. There is also a ‘Game of three Halves’ at Mana College between the host school and Taita College and Wainuiomata High School. They play for the Captain’s Cup, so named after Rodney So’oialo (Mana), Brad Shields (Taita) and Tana Umaga (Wainuiomata).

Elsewhere

Around the wider region rugby returns after having Easter Weekend off.

In the Manawatu the feature clash is in Feilding, as home side Yellows welcome Kia Toa to town. Massey are at home against a struggling College Old Boys outfit, Old Boy Marist are on the backfields at the Arena against Te Kawau, and Freyberg host Feilding Old Boys-Oroua. Linton Army gets some extended leave with the bye.

Levin College Old Boys have use of the Domain in Horowhenua Kapiti this week as they host champions Foxton, while Rahui are at home to take on Paraparaumu. The third match has Shannon hosting Levin Wanderers, while Waikanae get another week with their feet up.

Over in the Wairarapa the last round of the Lane Penn Cup starts today with both Pool B matches. Carterton and Greytown renew their rivalry – which goes back to 1879 – when they meet at the former with a place in next week’s first-round final at stake, while Pioneer host Masterton Red Star in the season’s first Masterton derby. Tomorrow’s Pool A matches have Martinborough at home against East Coast with the winner through to next week’s final, with Marist making the trek out to Eketahuna in the other match.