Club Rugby By the Numbers 2026

The 2026 Wellington club rugby season kicks off this coming Saturday. The season starts with the opening round of the Premier Swindale Shield, Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield and Colts competitions. A mix of historical and recent stats and updated records is collated below. 

97 – The number of Jubilee Cups contested. First won in 1929 by University (a forerunner to Old Boys University).

14 – The number of teams in Wellington’s first division Premier competition.

15 – Different clubs to have won the first round Swindale Shield since 1969, with Oriental-Rongotai last year the most recent first-time winner.

65 – And maximum points. The number of competition points that first round winners Oriental-Rongotai accrued in their 13 games with bonus point wins every game. Ories were unable to do the ‘double’ and also win the Jubilee Cup like Old Boys University had done in 2024.

3 – Jubilee Cup titles this century by Hutt Old Boys Marist. Winning in 2025, to add to their 2007 and 2014 wins. HOBM had been third equal in the first round Swindale Shield.

80 – the milestone year that Wainuiomata is celebrating in 2026. Formed in 1946. Across the ‘other’ hill, Greytown is celebrating its 150th year.

42 – By our current count, the number of interclub trophies contested in Premier rugby in matches in the first round.

90 – Years the famous McBain Shield between Petone and (now) Hutt Old Boys Marist has been contested. The two sides meet this year in round 11 on 13 June.

26 – The known single season record for most tries scored in a Premier season – by Michael Knight for the Wellington Axemen in 1970. Knight was the National junior 100 years titleholder in 1964 with a dash of 10.4 seconds.

6 – The most tries in a single Wellington Premier club rugby match (in the modern era), by Mike Kingsbeer for Marist St Pat’s against Wainuiomata in 2009 and also by Sosi Tuimavavae for Poneke against Rimutaka in 2013.

100 – The number of career Premier tries that Northern United No. 8 Luca Rees brought up at the end of last year’s Swindale Shield. Not bad for a loose forward. He is looking to add to that tally at new club HOBM this year.

100- As in 100 Mungavin Avenue – also the street address of the Norths clubrooms. It has been a lean few seasons for Norths whose supporters are willing them to rise again.

150 – As in years. Wellington College will be celebrating 150 years of college rugby throughout April, culminating in a match against Nelson College on 18 April. Also: 100 – these two schools and Christs and Whanganui Collegiate will be contesting the 100th Quadrangular Tournament at the end of June.

286 – The most points in a single season of Wellington Premier club rugby by an individual, by Hutt Old Boys Marist’s Brandyn Laursen in 2013. This year Laursen is co-coaching Paraparaumu with Dane Coles in the Horowhenua-Kapiti competition.

127 – The biggest winning margin (known) in Wellington Premier club rugby, when Hutt Old Boys Marist defeated Rimutaka 127-0 in 2013.

52 – The Most points by an individual in a Wellington Premier club rugby match, by Brandyn Laursen for HOBM against Rimutaka in 2013 (see above).

145 – The most combined points scored by both sides in a Wellington Premier club rugby match, when Northern United beat the Wests Roosters 98-47 in 2013.

620 – The number of points that the famous Petone team scored in their record breaking 1973 season (conceding just 106), winning all 18 matches.

607 – The Most points scored by one team in a single Swindale Shield season (in 13 matches), by Old Boys University in 2024. This bettered the 564 points scored by Paremata-Plimmerton in 2023. In the previous format of 11 first round matches, the Northern United 2010 teams holds the record with 546 points scored. Last year Ories scored 494 points.

754 – The number of points that the Avalon Wolves conceded in 13 matches in 2025. The most ever is 896 by Rimutaka in 2013.

5,525 – The total number of points scored in last year’s Swindale competition, at an average of 60.7 per game. This is up from 2024 when 5,496 points were scored in the same 91 matches.

19 – The number of tries that Paremata-Plimmerton halfback Esi Komaisavai scored in 13 rounds of the 2025 Swindale Shield, going on to score 20 in total for the season. This bettered the 18 scored by Northern United’s Buxton Popoalii in 2010, although this was in 11 matches. Luca Rees scored 17 tries in 13 matches in 2018, the most in more recent seasons.  James So’oialo also scored 206 points in 2010, a first round points scoring record.

849 – The total accumulative tries scored in last year’s Premier club rugby competition in Wellington. This was up from 808 in 2024. Twelve players scored 10 or more tries. Ories loose forward Dominic Ropeti was the leading forwards try scorer with 11 whilst OBU hooker Geordie Bean led the front rowers with 10.

143 – Points scored by last year’s top points scorer in Premier rugby, Tom Maiava of Ories.

41 – The hottest winning streak by a Wellington Premier side, by Marist St Pat’s. MSP won all 20 games in 1979 and were heading for another unbeaten season in 1980 but were lowered by Petone in the final.

14 – the number of years since Marist St Pat’s won the Jubilee Cup. This is also the same number of titles that the club won between 1978 and 2012.

198 – The number of tries that Oriental-Rongotai women’s wing Ayesha Leti-L’iga is sitting on in Wellington club rugby. She has played 82 games. Will she get the opportunity to break this record this year?

155 – Continuous years the Wellington Football Club has been in existence. Founded in 1870, it is the oldest playing through club in New Zealand.

37 – As in 37-0 (three point tries), the heaviest defeat in the first match of a new season by the defending champion, when University beat Jubilee Cup holders Poneke in the season opener in 1952. University went on to win the first of three consecutive titles later in the season. Will this be threatened when last year’s defending champions HOBM play Wellington at Hataitai Park in round one?

3 – The number of weeks that Onslow’s supporters had to wait to win their historic maiden Jubilee Cup title in 1955. Club rugby was put on hold for three weeks for the representative season, before Onslow could play and beat Athletic and win the title.

2 – the Premier trophy title return of Upper Hutt / Upper Hutt Rams Premier teams in the past 35 years, winning the Swindale Shield in 1990 and 2005. Will 2026 be the year of the Ram?

11 – As in 11-9, the score in perhaps the most famous Jubilee Cup final upset of them all, when Poneke beat Petone to win the championship in 1975, for the first time since 1951.

101 – The number of years between drinks between Oriental first winning the club championship in 1910 and winning it again as Oriental-Rongotai in 2011.

66 – The number of years it took before Tawa was formed to it winning its first major Premier grade silverware in 2013. The wait was worth it, their side wining the Swindale-Jubilee double and also winning several big interclub trophies.

17 – The number of Premier club rugby rounds coming up over the next 17 weeks; 13 rounds of the Swindale Shield and four of the Jubilee/Hardham Cups.

27 – as in 27 June, the last round of the Swindale Shield, when this year’s champion will be crowned.

1161 – as in the number on the AM dial (and 87.5FM) that the Te Upoko Radio show can be found, with a feature commentary match each week.

31 –The number of individuals on the field at 2.45pm this Saturday when the 2026 Swindale Shield kicks off. Opening round matches are:

• Northern United v Marist St Pat’s (Maurice Standish Cup), Jerry Collins Stadium.
• Old Boys University v Johnsonville (Bill Cavubati Bowl), Nairnville Park
• Petone v Tawa, Petone Recreation Ground
• Oriental-Rongotai v Paremata-Plimmerton, Polo Ground
• Upper Hutt Rams v Pōneke, (Alby Makeham Cup, Bill Brown Challenge Cup), Maidstone Park
• Wellington Axemen v Hutt Old Boys Marist, Hataitai Park
• Wainuiomata v Avalon Wolves (Anthony Waldrom Trophy), William Jones Park