Club Rugby A-Z 2026

Supporters was Finals Day last year. Photo Peter McDonald. Some of the themes that could play out this year in club and community rugby are below in the annual A-Z.

• By Scott MacLean

It’s a bit of fun we have before the season gets underway. Here’s the 11^th edition of our season preview in A-Z form.

A: Aupiki: The change in when the elite Women’s competition is being played to mid-year raises issues as to what effect it will have on the back end of events locally. But the growth of the women’s game continues with a bumper crop of 11 teams fronting this year with Old Boys-University, Stokes Valley (for the first time in a decade), and Wellington (returning after 20+ seasons) all in for 2026.

B: Brooding: The last day of the season hasn’t been kind to Tawa the past two years, coming up short in consecutive Jubilee Cup finals. The Lyndhurst club have become a byword for consistency and always there or thereabouts, and not just in the Premier ranks. They’ve spent the offseason plotting their return to the summit, so will they achieve it this term?

C: Closing: The last ten minutes of matches last season were a rollercoaster for Paremata-Plimmerton and their fans – especially the rowdy bunch in “Coopers Corner” – as they veered between nail-biting wins and losses. The last of those was in the Jubilee Cup semifinal at the Hutt Rec and the surely provides a target for the Hammerheads as they enter the season as one of the favourites. Will they make these waters too dangerous to tread?

D: Divisions: One pleasing aspect of both the initial Colts and Women’s draws was the return of divisions for the first part of the season. While this is something of a numbers game to enable it in the first place, it should have meant there’s more meaningful matches and fewer blowouts that have blighted these grades in recent years. Unfortunately though, it appears at the time of publishing that the Colts one is being rethought; but we’re all for the idea where its sensible and feasible to do so.

E: Enterprise: Few sides in recent times have been as attack-focused as Johnsonville, who’s mantra has been to run their opposition off their feet. The flying Hawks aren’t slouches on defence either, and after last year’s heartbreaking extra-time loss to Tawa in the Jubilee Cup semifinals will want to break that glass ceiling and make the big final despite the turnover at Helston this summer. Will the excitement machines do that?

F: Finishers: What Wellington rugby isn’t short of are those noted for getting across the line. Some are out and out flyers, like Pare-Plim’s Louis Northcott and Johnsonville’s Jacob Walmsley, others powerful midfielders such as HOBM’s Kapu Broughton-Winterburn and Upper Hutt’s Ieti Campbell, and forwards like 100-try scorer Luca Rees (now with HOBM) and Ories’ Penieli Poasa. Last year Esi Komaisavai broke the single-season Swindale Shield record, so who will top the chart this year?

G: Grind: It’s been a long time since the Wellington Axemen tasted success, but the signs are there that the provinces oldest club might be about to turn the corner after some strong outings in defeat last season. Closing out those games seems to be the next matter for their Premiers to achieve, and if they do that Axe might start getting rather sharp. But will it?

H: Howl: It’s been a few very quiet years for Avalon, with their last Premier victory coming back in 2023. But there’s new hope at Fraser Park, with Siu Anae moving into the head coaches chair and bringing with him several of his charges from last year’s Harper Lock Shield winning Petone side. With others returning from league and injury, the Wolves will look very different this season. Will they be able to take a big bite out of the competition?

I: Injuries: The bug-bear of every team. They will happen, but when and to who can have a big impact on fortunes and who is lifting silverware at seasons end. Players will be hoping it’s not them and coaches crossing fingers it doesn’t happen to star players or positions where their internal depth is shallow.

J: Jersey: The symbol of every club and school, worn every Saturday and other days during the week. Some are simple single colours; black, red, or blue. Others are the colours that represent their local community, and yet more showcase the history behind them whether those chosen decades ago or through the mergers of the past. Whatever the story, they’re worn proudly by those inside them.

K: Kilbirnie:  The home of Poneke, who embark on another season under Ross Bond. Last year’s Hardham Cup triumph provided a satisfactory end to their year, though they will still hanker for more. The provinces second-oldest club is closing in on 150 years of existence, but they will want to have at least another Jubilee Cup under their belt before then. Does that come in 2026?

L: Leroy’s: the new inner-city off-field sanctum of Old Boys-University. It’s fair to say their Jubilee Cup defence didn’t go as planned. Several narrow losses scuppered their season and left them in the Hardham Cup bracket for the playoffs. It’s no exaggeration they’ll be looking to rebound in 2026, so will the region reverberate to the sound of Goat hooves again?

M: Moohan: The address of William Jones Park, the home of Wainuiomata. The local club celebrates 80 years in 2026 and have the old firm of Dan Farani and Daniel Smith back at the helm. Firmly ensconced in the mid-pack in recent years, can they push back into the Jubilee Cup section of the playoffs in 2026 and give the Green & Black Army on the bank something to really get behind?

N: New: Every year some different faces step into both the Men’s and Women’s Premier game. Some make the leap straight from school, others after maturing their game at Colts level, and some arriving in the province to experience our brand of rugby. There’s also been a decent amount of player movement as well, all adding to an exciting mix for the season ahead.

O: One-eyed: Every club has them, those passionate supporters who sometimes? often? let their emotions outpace reality. Nonetheless, they’re an important part of the grassroots game and the colour and atmosphere they bring adds to the fabric of the rugby community.

P: Perfect: Last season Oriental Rongotai achieved the ultimate. 13 wins from 13 in the Swindale Shield and each with a try-scoring bonus for a perfect total of 65 competition points and getting their name on the century-old piece of silverware for the first time. But despite that glorious achievement, what would have gnawed away at them was how they exited the season with successive losses in the playoffs. How much fuel does that give the Magpies this time?

Q: Quartet: The number of colours that make up the history of the Upper Hutt Rams; Maroon, Gold, Orange, and Black. The Rams have been solid performers in recent seasons and made their Maidstone home and its immaculate turf something of a fortress, but that first Jubilee Cup remains elusive. Will the elevation of one of their own in Dave Rennie into the All Blacks coaching hot seat inspire the current crop to change that this season.

R: Regional: Once again, our coverage will extend beyond Wellington and into Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wairarapa Bush, and Manawatu, where the challengers will be looking to topple Foxton, Greytown, and Massey as champions. We’ll also touch on Hawke’s Bay, where Taradale hold the crown. And in helping to promote and cover school rugby and later in the year representative rugby up the line as well as in Wellington.

S: Soar. Another glorious year for Hutt Old Boys Marist as they put their name back on the Jubilee Cup in the sun at Kilbirnie Park. Another club that you can count amongst the favourites and usually armed with a massive forward pack the Eagles are regularly fast-starters despite playing their opening matches away from their Hutt Rec “Nest” as it undergoes its annual maintenance period. Will those all hold again in 2026?

T: Twelfth: The finishing position for Norths each of the past three seasons. The decline of a side that has given so much to rugby in Porirua and the region has been sad to see, and their supporters must wonder if it will ever turn around again. But as long as there are those willing to pull on the blue and white jersey and do it proudly, they’ll be a threat. Will that be this season?

U: Unchanged: Perhaps to the relief of many, and not the least those charged with enforcing them, rugby’s Laws remain the same for the start of 2026 as they were for the end of 2025. At its sharp end, the Wellington Rugby Referees are as a good a group of officials as there are in the country and are always on the lookout for those interested in joining their ranks. If that’s you, get in touch!

V: Valley: Tucked away as they are and out of the Premier spotlight, it’s easy to forget about Stokes Valley. After only fielding a Presidents grade team last year the Rhinos are back in competitive rugby with both a Women’s and Reserve grade side, and while that might not seem much, it’s a testament to the work the club is putting in to keep rugby happening at Delaney Park on Saturday afternoons.

W: Wait: The drought for Petone goes on, now over 20 years since they last drank from the Jubilee Cup. The Villagers remain one of the teams to beat and their history demands respect, but they struggled to beat their peers last year. If the famous saddle jersey wants to bring the trophy back to North Park this season that’s something they’ll need to address. Do they do that and ride back to the top in 2026?

X: Xplorer: NZ Rugby’s new app system was widely panned in 2025 with a host of usability and technical issues. The Australian developers have made a host of tweaks but will it be any better and frustrations eased this year?

Y: Youth: No club had more teenagers in their Premier side last year than Marist St Pats did. 11th isn’t the usual return the Evans Bay faithful expect, but the experience gained last year should provide dividends this time around. Brendan Reidy – who knows a few things about winning in the famous red jersey – resumes the reins, so can he and his charges combine that talent and the experience they have on tap?

Z: Zoom lenses: As always, we reserve this space for those who spend their Saturday’s across the grounds armed with their cameras, capturing the action. To those, who do a terrific job showcasing our game, thank you! All photo galleries are here in the hall of records: https://clubrugby.smugmug.com/2026 

Draws & Results: Visit the new website (which has the 2025 season all entered and 2026 ready to go) at: https://stats.clubrugby.nz/