All grades underway in Wellington club rugby tomorrow

Wainuiomata will be seeking their second straight win to start the year when they host Old Boys University in Round Two of the Swindale Shield, while Avalon are at home for the first time and playing Hutt Old Boys Marist. Photo: Hugh Pretorius.

• By Scott MacLean

UPDATED: Welcome to the first full weekend of the club season, where after just the Premier and Premier 2 competitions played last Saturday, tomorrow sees everyone out there.

Draws & Results – visit https://stats.clubrugby.nz/ for these. Long-time readers will recall we had a disaster this time last year with the ‘old’ website (these stats 2005-24 are back online but can’t be edited). The ‘new’ website has 2025 included and with 2026 set up and ready to go. It is a bit different but every Premier game and every Premier player (assuming the spelling of their name is correct) has their own event and profile page and if you click on a game for the upcoming weekend or one that has been played the teamlists are there. Any feedback appreciated.

Radio commentary  – online at teupoko.co.nz or by tuning into 87.5FM or 1161AM is Johnsonville v Northern United from Helston Park.

Tipping Competition – Visit https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2026/join     join to join this year’s second tipping competition or to sign in and play. It is a basic website and self-explanatory to explain how it works once there. Not too late to join, and we have added four rounds of your choice out of 17 weeks where you can tick a ‘wildcard’ box so your points double that round.  There are prizes at the end, including by Dynasty Sports and others to be confirmed.

________________________________________________________________________

Premier Swindale Shield

There’s a pair of matches with first-up winners facing each other, and both are in the Hutt Valley.

The first port of call is Petone’s temporary home of North Park, where after a convincing win over Tawa last Saturday the home Villagers await the visit of Upper Hutt who themselves triumphed over Poneke. While it’s still early days, the winner puts themselves in a great position after the first fortnight.

The home side swap one of their Super Rugby contingent for another as Riley Higgins is back while Stanley Solomon has returned south. Higgins partners Losi Filipo in midfield. There’ll be two sets of pink headgear with Connor Tuifao back to lead the side from No8, joining younger brother Heath, while Kaleb Saxon starts at hooker in place of newly-minted centurion Ryan Imrie. With Alex Hewitt now away with the NZ U20s Jade Langi makes his starting debut at tighthead with Sio Fidow on the blindside for Josh Mellon. Todd Svenson moves to the left wing to accommodate Ieti Campbell in midfield.

The same applies over the Hill Road in Wainuiomata. The home side will be buoyed by their opening win over Avalon but will well know a sterner test is on its way in the form of Old Boys-University. The Goats will have been pleased to get the win against Johnsonville, but will be well aware they can’t start that slowly every week.

Kade Tiatia plays his 100^th game for the home side, with another veteran in Tyler Tane and Braydon Soi making returns to the starting lineup. Skipper Campbell Cowie and newcomer James Holbrook face a side they’ve previously turned out for. Goats skipper Geordie Bean moves to prop this week with Zac Pene at hooker, Cameron Jackson comes in for NZ U20 rep Johnny Falloon at lock, and there’s a first Premier start at No8 for former Pare-Plim Colts skipper Brooklyn Tapusoa. Wairarapa-Bush Heartland star Sam Walton-Sexton makes his first Wellington start at halfback.

The third match in the Hutt is out at Fraser Park, where the new-look Avalon side take on Jubilee champs Hutt Old Boys Marist. While a first win in two seasons eluded the Wolves against Wainuiomata, they at least gave signs of being more competitive this year than previously. The Eagles will take their hard-fought opening win over Wellington as they look to make the most of what they can before they get back to the Hutt Rec.

Former Eagle Brian Lima makes his debut in midfield for Avalon. Amongst their other changes Jordan Aquila has put retirement on hold to start on the left wing and stalwart Daley Ena starts a Premier game for the first time since 2023. Ale Peni and Callum Broughton bring thunder and lightning from the bench

Injuries are already an issue for the Eagles; they finished last week with loose forwards Luca Rees and Mika Alaifatu in midfield. Skipper Waylon Tohoru-Robinson, Caleb Robson, and Dom Ernst are all missing though Khya Wilson, who left the Axemen encounter, early is named. Up front teenagers Brandon Lo and Rupeni Raviyawa join the rather older Rees in the loose.

Back west, there will have been plenty of soul-searching at Lyndhurst Park this week. It’s not certain what’s more galling for Tawa; scoring only three points or conceding nearly 50. A return to the leafy confines will give them some solace, but they’ll need to be much better this week against visitors Paremata-Plimmerton with the Hammerheads already hardened after grinding out the win over Ories.

It’s not surprising Tawa have rung some changes. Joseph Ulugia starts at hooker, Omari Perera at lock, and Solomona Uelese into first-five in a reshuffled backline as they look for a spark. That win over Ories left Pare-Plim with a few niggles and some changes as a consequence. Skipper Christian Fa’avae is one of them so Trent Livesey moves to openside while Alex Fidow comes back on the blindside. Reigning Best & Fairest winner Esi Komaisavai returns and leads the side, but from centre in place of Ethan Webster-Nonu rather than halfback. Tawa centurions James and Tony Coburn are both in the 22 to face their old club.

Down State Highway 1 and up the hill Johnsonville run out onto their Helston Park home for the first time this year. The Hawks will have been frustrated in letting such a strong start slip against OBU and will look to put that right in front of their faithful. Norths are the visitors, and while they lost to MSP last weekend there was enough to suggest they could trouble some opposition for periods, but will likely need a big 80 here to come away with the win.

The Hawks get a dose of Hurricanes talent with Josh Timu, son of former All Black John, running out in midfield in a largely unchanged backline. Up front Regan Herbert makes his first start of the season replacing big man Anthony Pettett with Serge Hollis switching to lock. We haven’t heard directly from Norths, but it appears they’re largely unchanged with veteran Johnny Teleaga starting at centre.

The round concludes with a pair of eastern suburbs derbies.

Evans Bay sees its first competition rugby of the year as Marist St Pats take on neighbours Oriental Rongotai. The Scarlets looked good against Norths last Saturday, but facing the current Swindale holders will prove a better marker of just where they’re at. The Magpies will be disappointed to have lost at home in the opening round and after being largely stifled by Pare-Plim will be keen to unleash here.

It’s an unchanged backline for the home side, except their halfback is yet to be confirmed. Their sole change is at tighthead, where veteran Dan Leone tags in for Corban King. Ories have Dom Ropeti this week, and the Moana Pasifika player slots straight into No 8 with Sione Halalilo moving to the side of the scrum. Declan Hay and Ethan Smyth-Rangi form the halves pairing.

And finally, the two oldest clubs in the capital go at it when Poneke make the very short trip up the slopes of Mt Victoria to face Wellington. While both sides lost last weekend, there’s an element of each of them trying to figure out who they are with a number of personnel changes for both over the summer.

The Axemen start Ami Paongo and Semi Pasikalia in the forward pack, with Te Aranga Hakiwai in at halfback. Noah Tuifao-Galuvao makes his 30^th start for Poneke and earns his club blazer, with Aorangi Stokes on debut at the back of the scrum. Dominic Ririnui-Sipa takes the fullback jersey with Max Rodgers turning out for the 85s instead.

As usual, there’s a clutch of interclub trophies in play:

• Petone and Upper Hutt contest their Ted Connolly Cup. One of three brothers, Ted Connolly was an instrumental part of the Upper Hutt club either side of World War II and for many years ran an annual match for war veterans known as “Connolly’s All-Stars”. The Rams hold it after their 32-29 win last year.
• Wainuiomata and OBU play for their Peter Dunford Cup. Having played for Wellington College Old Boys, Dunford moved to the suburb and joined the fledgling club in the 1950’s. Played for since 1986, its currently held by the Goats.
• The prize for Johnsonville and Norths is the Barlow Trophy. Bert Barlow played for Johnsonville before shifting north to Titahi Bay, where he had a long association in several roles. Johnsonville are the current holders.
• Wellington and Poneke’s clash is for the Spud Lindsay Memorial Trophy. Lindsay was a Poneke player, administrator, and coach from the 30’s through to the late 50’s. After being replaced as their senior coach, he switched to the Axemen where he remained involved until his passing in 1973. Poneke are the holders.
• And finally, MSP and Ories will inaugurate an interclub trophy tomorrow, which seems odd given the lengthy history the two neighbours have. Unusually, it’s named for Joe O’Brien who didn’t play for either club or their forerunners. Rather O’Brien’s contribution to rugby came as the 31^st person on the field, taking up the whistle in 1944 and starting over six decades in refereeing. Professionally O’Brien was a butcher in the eastern suburbs, and came to know a great many people associated with all the clubs that have called that part of the city home.

The preview resumes below after these messages from our sponsors and supporters:

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

As with the Swindale, the match of the round on paper is at North Park, where Petone and Upper Hutt clash after both notching wins last Saturday. Up the round two more first-up winners clash when Avalon hosts HOBM at Fraser Park, while over in the valley Wainuiomata will look to reset when they host OBU at William Jones.

Tawa host Pare-Plim in the rematch of last years HD Morgan Cup final, Johnsonville and Norths will look to get into the win column when they meet at Helston and the final match going ahead is match down at Evans Bay between MSP and Ories. In somewhat ominous signs, defending grade champions Poneke have defaulted to Wellington.

The remaining grades were only confirmed on Monday.

Premier Women Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

Ten teams will start the Women’s season. Pleasingly there are three additions with the returns of Old Boys-University, Stokes Valley, and Wellington after absences of varying lengths, but the worrying concern is that MSP haven’t made the start line for the second time in three years. A second issue for us is that the union have opted for a single division; while this makes sense on some levels, the gulf in experience and ability between the leading teams and teams that might be full of new and inexperienced players perhaps could or should have taken priority with two divisions of five teams each.

Now that said, tomorrow’s slate opens up with a blockbuster clash between Oriental Rongotai and defending champions Petone at the Polo Ground. Norths head to the Ian Galloway cage to face returnees Old Boys-University, Wainuiomata will look to avenge last seasons Izzy Ford Cup defeat to Paremata-Plimmerton when they meet at William Jones, Poneke welcome Avalon to Kilbirnie Park, and Stokes Valley and Wellington mark their return when they meet at Delaney Park.

Colts Paris Memorial

The age-grade has also taken a hit, with both Wellington and Ories withdrawing and leaving just nine teams; something which must be of concern at headquarters. The Upper Hutt Rams get the defence of their titles underway with a trip down to face perennial contenders Petone at The Rec, while runners-up Tawa start their quest to go one better when they host Pare-Plim at Redwood. Poneke head out to Porirua Park to face Norths, and MSP and OBU meet on Kilbirnie Park. HOBM have the first-up bye.

Under 85kg JC Bowl

One side lost from here as well with Avalon withdrawing and leaving just eight teams for the season ahead. Defending champions the Tawa Ducks start with a trip to take on the rival OBU Scallywags at Nairnville, while national runners-up Poneke make their return to the local competition hosting last years Div 2 winners Pare-Plim. Johnsonville and Wellington clash on semi-neutral turf at the Ian Galloway cage, and feathers will flutter when Eastbourne and HOBM meet at HW Shortt.

Reserves and Presidents

The social side of the club rugby scene also gets underway. The Reserve Grade scene has a few changes with the Upper Hutt Pirates and – somewhat surprisingly – the Petone Brotherhood non-starters, but their absence along with Norths is partially offset by the returns of Stokes Valley and past grade champions the Ories Vatos who have joined in lieu of the club having a Colts team.

The Wellington Axemen are the playing through champions, and they’re already five points to the good after Tawa defaulted this afternoon, as are the Pare-Plim Punters after Ories conceded their match. In the matches that are happening

The Johnsonville Cripples and MSP Internationals meet in the Ian Galloway cage, while the two OBU sides head for the Hutt with the 69ers at Mary Crowther to face the Wainuiomata Legacy, and the Righteous Pink Ginners at Delaney Park as Stokes Valley’s first opponents. The sole match in the city has the Poneke Ruffnuts and Upper Hutt Thirsty Rams take to Kilbirnie Park, while the Mixed Veges who now come under the OBU banner have the bye.

Ten Presidents grade sides line up for their form of social combat. Norths and HOBM are in front of the Jerry Collins Stand at Porirua Park, up behind them Pare-Plim face the returning Poneke side, MSP and Stokes Valley are on Kilbirnie #3, Wainuiomata and Johnsonville are at Mary Crowther, and Upper Hutt and returnees Avalon are at Maidstone.

College

There’s a smattering of college-level rugby happening as sides start tuning up for their season.

Today saw the conclusion of the Presbyterian Quad at Scots College with St Kentigern’s beating St Andrew’s 29-22 in the final after winning with lopsided scores on Wednesday. St Andrew’s best Lindisfarne 54-7 in the opening match, while St Kent’s breezed past the hosts 80-7. The third/fourth match saw Lindisfarne beat the hosts by 41-19.

Earl Va’a’s Barker College from Sydney’s North Shore continue their tour of Wellington, facing Wellington College at the CIS campus tomorrow after beating Silverstream 40-36 on Wednesday. They conclude with a match against Scots on Tuesday.

Tomorrow Naenae welcomes Tawa for a hitout, while on Thursday St Pats Town host Brisbane State High School for both 1^st and 2^nd XV matches at Evans Bay.

Elsewhere

Rugby resumes in Horowhenua-Kapiti after the Easter break. The third round of the Ramsbotham Cup sees Foxton host Levin Wanderers, Levin COB have the Domain to take on Paraparaumu, and Rahui welcome Waikanae to the Otaki Domain.

Wairarapa-Bush‘s three matches tomorrow are all in Masterton itself. Masterton Red Star take the field for their first competition match of the season facing the challenge of defending champions Greytown while on the opposite bank of the Waipoua River Pioneer hosts East Coast, and just a couple of blocks away Marist welcome Carterton to the back fields at Memorial Park. Martinborough have the bye.

Manawatu’s slate sees two of the three unbeatens clash with Feilding Yellows hosting Old Boys Marist while the other – Varsity – has their bye. Te Kawau will hope for some relief after a pair of heavy losses when they host Kia Toa, College Old Boys face Linton at the Arena, and Freyberg head out to Kimbolton to take on Feilding Old Boys-Oroua.

Hawkes Bay’s Nash Cup round should see Napier Old Boys Marist stay undefeated as they host strugglers Bridge Pa, while fellow unbeatens Taradale should have a trickier assignment when they welcome Pirates. Hastings and Napier Tech will look to keep pace when they meet, while Havelock North is at home for the visit of MAC.

And finally, Whanganui’s Premier season kicks off tomorrow. Marist are at home to face Border, Ratana hosts Kaierau, and Taihape welcome Counties who have stepped up to the top flight for 2026. Ruapehu has the bye.