Sideline Conversions 19 May (some rugby news and information to start the week)

Above: Joyner Gaualofa scores for Tawa against HOBM on Saturday. There have now been over 200 individual try-scorers in Wellington Premier club rugby this year. Photo: Stewart Baird.

We have breezed through the halfway stage of the first round Swindale Shield competition.

Round 8 games this coming Saturday at a glance are:

• Wellington v Johnsonville (Mick Kenny Cup), Hataitai Park
• Wainuiomata v Poneke (Hakaraia Trophy), William Jones Park
• Hutt Old Boys Marist v Avalon, Hutt Rec
• Paremata-Plimmerton v Oriental-Rongotai, Ngati Toa Domain
• Northern United v Upper Hutt Rams (Terry Farrow Memorial Cup), Porirua Park
• Petone v Old Boys University (Marc Verhoeven Trophy and Bill Brien Challenge Shield), Petone Rec
• Tawa v Marist St Pat’s, Lyndhurst Park.

The points table in the Swindale Shield is (unofficial): Oriental-Rongotai 35; Petone 28, Paremata-Plimmerton 28; Hutt Old Boys Marist, Poneke 26; Johnsonville 24; Upper Hutt Rams 22; Tawa 21; Wainuiomata 16; Marist St Pat’s 15; Old Boys University 13; Northern United 12; Wellington 8; Avalon 2.

Is the field starting to sort itself out?

The second round women’s competition also gets underway this week, as does the first weekend of college matches. So look out for these draws in the coming days.

Three school matches this week:

On Tuesday, St Pat’s Second XV meet the Hato Paora College 1st XV at Silverstream at 12.30pm.  On Wednesday, the Scots College finish their tune-up for the start of the Premiership with a fixture against visiting Napier Boys’ high School at 10.00am. This is followed by the first of the midweek ‘traditionals’ at Evans Bay Park between St Pat’s Town and Wellington College, kick-off at 1.30pm. The Town-WC match is now the established opening match of the Premiership ahead of the remaining matches on Saturday.

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A bit of a worry that there will be no Porirua / Tawa based college in the Premier 1/Premiership this year. When was the last time that this was the case?

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Good to see a pair of Hurricanes players on the sideline at the Polo Ground supporting their teams after their tough shift the previous night. Xavier Numia and Peter Lakai…both wearing moonboots! Stanley Solomon was also running the water for Petone after his U20’s stint. Meanwhile, Pasia Asiata was playing for the Poneke Premiers over at Kilbirnie Park not long off the plane from Sri Lanka with the NZ U85kgs side.

The Hurricanes lost some backs through injury during their tight win over the Highlanders on Friday night, so they pulled the previously named Peter Umaga-Jensen and Daniel Sinkinson from Wainuiomata’s line-up in club rugby on Saturday. A shame for the local fans.

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There was a potentially bad incident on the sideline at the Polo Ground in the main fixture on Saturday when one of the ARs collided with an elderly gentleman. Hit him at full speed. The spectator was knocked to the ground, his glasses flying off into the distance.  Not the officials fault as the spectator was over the wire, and he was  concentrating on a break towards the line. The issue was the wire around the perimeter. It  was narrower than the standard, which made running the up and down the sideline very problematic. Fortunately they breed them tough at the Polo ground and the gentleman jumped up quickly after the impact!

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A 10-6 win on Saturday for the MSP Colts over the OBU Colts – in what is believed to be their first win over them since 2018.

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A versatile shift for Wainuiomata 200-gamer Jason Love at William Jones Park in the Harper Lock Shield curtain-raiser. Love started the game at first-five, then was seen at times playing halfback, centre and perhaps fullback as well.

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A nasty apparent leg injury at fulltime for Wainuiomata Premier second-five Tyler Tane. With a thinning of player stocks at Wainuiomata this season they can ill-afford their experienced players going down. Waterboy Greg Lealofi has now missed two matches with an ankle injury and is sitting on 198 Premier caps. Wainuiomata host Poneke this coming Saturday for the Hakaraia Trophy on their Old Timers’ Day.

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Johnsonville’s 79-0 win over Avalon would just about be a record win for the club at Premier level wouldn’t it? In the first couple of decades of this century they were on the receiving end of some big losses like that themselves so their supporters will be happy.

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Wellington Swindale Shield top try scorers after 7 rounds

Esi Komaisavai (Pare Plim)	11
Louis Northcott (Pare-Plim)	9
Kapu Broughton-Winterburn (HOBM)	7
Kienan Higgins (HOBM)	7
Louis Magalogo (Jville)	7
Max Hosking (Petone)	7
Herman Suemanufagai (Ories)	6
Rewiti Leat (Tawa)	6
Dominic Ropeti (Ories)	5
Finlay Sharp (Jville)	5
George Risale (Tawa)	5
Ifeanyichukwu Nnebechukwu (Pōneke)	5
Jordan Glen-Bradbrook (Petone)	5
Lachie Forbes (Petone)	5
Nick Robertson (Pōneke)	5

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Wellington Swindale Shield Top points scorers after 7 rounds:

Tom Maiava (Ories)		84
Ken Kurihara (Jville)		77
Tomasi Connor (MSP)		74
Andrew Wells (Wainui)		68
Dale Sabbagh (Pare Plim)		57
Waylon Tuhoro-Robinson (HOBM)		55
Esi Komaisavai (Pare Plim)		55
Ieti Campbell (UH Rams)		55
Carlos Hihi (Pōneke)		47
Louis Northcott (Pare-Plim)		45

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Good to see Skivvi Va’a’s name on the scoring sheet twice on Saturday for Ories. It was in this match two years ago that he badly injured his leg and was subsequently sidelined for rounds 5 through to 13 when he made his comeback and went on and won the Jubilee Cup with his side. That was also the match that Ories won 30-29 with a last-play try in the clubrooms corner of the Polo Ground.

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Wellington club rugby tipping competition top 10 leadership after seven rounds.

Name	Rd:	1	2	3	3a	4	5	6	Total
1	jamieskin	**	20	12	14 +14	20	24 +10	12	22 +10 +32	190
2	Villager	**	20	16	12	14 +14	24 +10 +34	18	8	170
3	The Gonz	**	10	26 +10	14	10 +10	22 +10	12	20 +20	164
4	Tahanafirman	**	22	18	22 +22	10	14	14 +14	18	154
5	Tawa 65	**	14	16 +16	14	18 +18	22	14	20	152
6	SPC BLUE	**	14	24 +10	14 +14	12 +12	18	12	20	150
7	RugbyHeartland BLR	**	16	18 +18	20 +20	10	10	16	20	148
8	Nate W	**	12 +12	20	16 +16	8	24 +10	12	16	146
8	Oldbayboy	**	10	16	18 +18	20	18 +18	12	16	146
8	Bonecrusher41	**	20 +10	20	16 +16	12 +12	16	12	12	146

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Some big numbers in appearances for Tawa. Randall Bishop (193), Hemi Fermanis (140), Tito Ioane (131), Lotu Nuku (100), Faraimo Nofoaiga (77), Hugo Plummer (67).

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Sky Sport is recommencing coverage of First XV rugby after a two-season absence, with live broadcasts kicking off at the end of this month.

Sky last week announced plans to broadcast up to 20 First XV fixtures this year, with nine matches confirmed to date.

Two fixtures in Wellington – which the local existing media (the media that never went away) such as this publication and channels and Huddy Sports have every intention of still covering as usual – in italics:

• Thursday, May 29: Nelson College v Marlborough Boys’ College from 12:30pm.
• Saturday, June 7: Westlake Boys’ High School v Rosmini College from 12pm.
• Wednesday, June 11: Wellington College v St Patrick’s College Silverstream from 1pm.
• Tuesday, June 24: Quadrangular Tournament – Nelson College v Whanganui Collegiate
• from 11:25am
• Tuesday, June 24: Quadrangular Tournament – Christ’s College v Wellington College from
• 1:40pm.
• Thursday, June 26: Quadrangular Tournament Plate Final from 10:25am.
• Thursday, June 26: Quadrangular Tournament Final from 12:40pm.
• Wednesday, July 16: St Patrick’s College Silverstream v St Patrick’s College Town from 12:30pm.
• Saturday, July 19: Otago Boys’ High School v King’s High School from 12:30pm.

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Came across on our feed late last week – rather alarming for sevens:

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The annual Hutt Valley Sports Awards were held last week, which included a tribute to Hutt News/Post journalist Nicholas Boyack and a posthumous award for ‘Exceptional Service to Sport’ for Nick who passed away suddenly last year.

Rugby player Tyrel Lomax won the Sportsman of the Year title (despite never playing a game of senior rugby in the Hutt Valley that we are aware of).

From the blurb: “Tyrel Lomax of Wainuiomata has become one of the world’s top rugby props. Since joining the Hurricanes in 2019, he’s earned 66 caps and played 44 tests for the All Blacks, including the 2023 World Cup Final. In 2024, he was named Tom French Māori Player of the Year and selected in the World Rugby Team of the Year. From Tasman to the Māori All Blacks to global recognition, Tyrel continues to set the standard in world rugby.”

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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) have agreed with secondary school principals and the New Zealand Schools Rugby Union (NZSRU) to retain the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) team for two matches against Australia Under 18 in 2025.

The NZSS team will be selected under the same criteria as it was in 2024, but with an eligibility exemption for under 18 players who are playing club rugby due to the absence of a first XV programme at their school and who cannot access a combined school team.

NZR, principals, and the NZSRU will work jointly to review the NZSS 2025 programme at the conclusion of the campaign.  There is also a commitment to look more broadly at the governance arrangements relationship between NZR and schools, with a shared desire to have greater alignment with the wider rugby system in New Zealand.

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Following up on a message we received last week asking of Wellington’s involvement in this year’s Hurricanes U16s tournament to be played in Whanganui was changing.

In Division A this year, there are four teams: Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Wellington and Wellington Māori.

These two Wellington teams replace the Wellington ‘Black’ and Wellington ‘Gold’ teams.

In Division B, there are also four teams: Horowhenua-Kapiti, Poverty Bay, Wairarapa Bush and Whanganui.

There will be no Hawkes Bay Development side this year.

The only question we would have with replacing the two Wellington teams is what if there are a handful of players of European, Asian or Pasifika heritage who will miss out on the Wellington squad but won’t get to play for the other team because they are of the wrong genealogy? Unless that team allows a quota of guest players?

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Every week we publish a new ‘history’ profile on our website, looking at a player (or sometimes an administrator) from yesteryear who shaped the game in Wellington or left their mark. This week we are up to #100. Look out for a big profile to mark the century mark!

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A shout out to the OGs still playing Premier club rugby week in-week out. Here is one – Isaiah Petelo. Petelo was already an established player with a few seasons experience when he won a Jubilee Cup final in 2012 playing second five for Marist St Pat’s. A vastly experienced midfielder who continues to enrich the competition.

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MSP assistant coach Peter Sciascia is a former teammate of Petelo and was playing Wellington club rugby at the dawn of this website 20 years ago, first for Avalon and then for MSP for the majority of his career. The former halfback would have thrived out there playing for MSP on Saturday against Wainuiomata in a gritty, close match. He picked up numerous best and fairest points back in his playing days for his performances in just these sorts of matches.

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On the subject of former MSP Jubilee Cup-winning halfbacks, MSP Premier 2 manager and club stalwart John Poutawera has been doing a sterling job for years. After the Premier match on Saturday as the players and supporters disappeared into the changing sheds and the clubrooms, Poutawera was commandeering the scoreboard ladder to go and retrieve balls that were kicked into trees during the afternoon. John’s youngest son Reece was a leading player for the side from the mid 1990s to early 2000s while oldest son Vaughan, a super-talented all-round sportsman too in his youth and particularly dangerous on the counterattack in primary school concrete playground soccer – is an Orthopaedic Surgeon these days based in the Bay of Plenty.

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Havelock North upset Taradale 38-31 to end Taradale’s unbeaten streak of 25 matches in Hawke’s Bay club rugby on Saturday. Eroni Nawaqa (3) and Cooper Flanders (2) scored five of Havelock North’s six tries. Taradale still won first-round honours and took home the Nash Cup for the next 12 months.

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Congratulations to Sanita Levave for playing her 200th match for Norths in the women’s competition on Saturday, celebrating with two tries as her side shared the first round title with Petone. Her brother Faifili later played No. 8 for the Norths Premiers.

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College chat

A disappointing Moascar Cup challenge by Wellington College, thrashed 59-12 by National Top Four champions Hamilton Boys’ High School. Wellington schools have a sorry record in the Moascar Cup. The first time a school from the capital contested the trophy was in 1938 when St Patrick’s College, Silverstream held holders Te Aute College to a 6-6 draw. Te Aute is the old school of Wellington College coach and former All Black Piri Weepu. Wellington College briefly held the Moascar Cup in 1972 when they beat Whanganui Collegiate 13-6 in the final of the annual quadrangular tournament. In 1973, St Patrick’s College, Silverstream thrashed Wellington College 36-6 to secure the trophy for the only time. Silverstream’s only defeat in 19 games that season was to New Plymouth Boys’ to surrender the Moascar.

The last time Wellington College had challenged for the Moascar Cup before Saturday against Hamilton in a classic 2013 National Top Four semi-final in Rotorua. Hamilton rallied from 10-0 down to prevail 28-16. Future All Blacks Sevens representative Isaac Te Tamaki turned the game in Hamilton’s favour with an outrageous chip and chase try over 65 metres. Hamilton’s coach on Saturday, Te Raina Richards-Coxhead, played fullback. Since 2008, Hamilton has won 40 Moascar Cup matches, the most of any school.

Dunstan High School stunned Otago Boys’ High School 22-19 in the Southern Schools Rugby Championship. Down 19-17 with time expiring, Dunstan earned a penalty and ventured into the hosts half. Nine attritional phases later right winger Flynn Donnelly crossed out wide to spark scenes of unbridled joy. It’s the first time Dunstan has beaten Otago on their home field of Littlebourne. In 2010 Dunstan upset Otago Boys’ 9-8 in Alexandra.

A Classic Taranaki Derby: New Plymouth Boys v Francis Douglas

Played: 30
New Plymouth Won: 23
Francis Douglas Won: 6
Drawn: 1 (2007, 25-25)
New Plymouth Biggest Win: 70-3, 2000.
Francis Douglas Biggest Win: 24-10, 2013.
New Plymouth Most Wins in A Row: 10, 1996-98, 2000-02, 2004-06, 2008-10, 2015-.
Francis Douglas Most Wins in A Row: 2, 2013-14
Last Francis Douglas Win: 2025: 10-8
Games decided by less than seven: 15

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The progression of the score is the quickest way to surmise the evenness of the Black Ferns’ 27-27 draw with Canada in Christchurch. New Zealand struck first with Braxton Sorensen-McGee capitalising on a Chryss Viliko charge down. Canada responded to make it 7-7. Then it went 12-7, 12-12, 19-12, 19-17, 19-22, 22-22, 27-22 and finally 27-27. The Black Ferns led twice, Canada enjoyed ascendancy for the first time in the 65th. Splitting the sides was difficult on the stats sheet, too. Canada outscored the Black Ferns five tries to four, while the Black Ferns will rue a less reliable lineout, inferior discipline, conceding 13 penalties to seven. Canada missed 44 tackles compared to the Black Ferns’ 22. New Zealand surrendered 19 turnovers compared to Canada’s 12. Meanwhile, the Black Ferns’ only previous draw was 8-8 against England in London in 2011.

Ories superstar Ayesha Leti-l’iga bagged another two tries to take her international tally to 19 in 26 Tests. Leti-l’iga has scored 198 tries in 84 games for Ories, 56 tries in 43 appearances for Wellington and six tries in a dozen games for the Hurricanes Poua.

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It’s hard to imagine the Hurricanes threatening in the playoffs without Cam Roigard. While the Hurricanes have shown they can win without key personnel, Tyrel Lomax and Kini Naholo didn’t start, and Baylin Sullivan and Brayden Iose were injured in the 24-20 win over the Highlanders; the halfbacks’ influence is profound. Roigard scored two tries, including the epic match winner in the 83rd minute following 21 phases. In 2024, the Hurricanes won all six games before Roigard was injured. In 2025, replacement halfback Ere Enari has played only 137 minutes. The most action Jordi Viljoen has seen was 22 minutes when the outcome of a 57-12 win against the Waratahs was already settled.

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Adam Vardey played for Northern United for a decade and also for Paremata-Plimmerton.

From Paremata-Plimmerton: “Adam’s family had a lot to do with club. His grandad was a life member. Dick Clarke. He gifted that jersey to the club. But played most of his rugby for norths. That jersey was from IRB Wellington sevens tournament 2009 Donated to the club on behalf of my grandfather Bill Vardey and Richard Clarke who both coached for the club many moons ago as well as both families always been involved with the club for 60 years I played for the junior club in the early 90s and I first played for the top team when I was 16 years old in 1998.”

The fundraiser was yesterday as we publish this, but please visit the link to find out more and how to help.

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Welsh rugby on brink of civil war with one region set to be cut

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have confirmed the Scarlets and Ospreys are still yet to sign up to the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25), and have now issued a two-year notice on the current deal.

As a result, it seems likely that the governing body will cut one of the four Welsh regions, despite CEO Abi Tierney insisting the outlook was to maintain four professional sides in Wales.

Read more HERE

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Photo galleries – remember all our current and historic photo galleries are posted here at https://clubrugby.smugmug.com/2025

We spent some time last week transferring the contents of an external drive to the ‘cloud’ for back-up saving and we also have about 500 and growing short ‘try videos‘ going back almost a decade and are pondering what to do with these in the future.

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