Plenty on the line in round nine King’s Birthday Weekend fixtures

Trytime at Evans Bay Park last Saturday. Marist St Pat’s are on the road to play Petone tomorrow, while Paremata-Plimmerton return home to host Old Boys University. With a month to play after these games, both a big fixtures. Photo: Tane Nathan/Kinetic Images.

• By Scott MacLean

Updated from earlier: It’s a lighter weekend of rugby with the King’s Birthday holiday, with fewer grades being played in Wellington and some other competitions taking the day off altogether. There is much on the line for most teams across the grades that are going ahead. In two club celebrations, Wainuiomata are celebrating their 80th anniversary and Greytown their 150th. More in the preview below.

The Swindale Shield points table is here: https://stats.clubrugby.nz/table/2026-swindale-shield/ 

The weather forecast for Saturday is for continuuing fine weather and can be viewed here: https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/hourly-table/2-2179537/New%20Zealand/Wellington%20Region/Wellington%20City/Wellington?i=1

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Draws & Results – visit https://stats.clubrugby.nz/ for these. Click on a fixture for teamlists and match details. Teamlists as received and subject to change.

Radio commentary  – online at teupoko.co.nz or by tuning into 87.5FM or 1161AM is Petone

Tipping Competition – Visit https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2026/join   To make your picks for round NINE. The Tipping Competition looks set for an epic second half of the Swindale Shield and then on to the championship rounds. Nate W continues to lead, on 216 points, with Bonecrusher41 coming up the rails on 2010, Brownie1992 on 208, mcurpine 206 and rhinotillexomania and cainsy both also having the double century on 202. Club Rugby’s entry is looking to break into the top 30 this weekend and start its run.

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Premier Swindale Shield

Premier Swindale Shield

The hotbed of Premier footy tomorrow is in the Hutt Valley, with four of the top six sides playing in that part of the province including both joint-leaders Petone and Tawa.

After last week’s successful trip into town, Petone (34) are back at the Rec. Their opponents make the opposing return journey, but after knocking off Pare-Plim as Saturday Marist St Pats (20) will be looking to take another leading scalp and establish themselves inside the top eight. Petone though are chasing an actual prize and now is not the time to concede ground in that race.

The Villagers bring Conley Alexander and Jono Bailey back into an otherwise unchanged forward pack. Logan Henry and Jacob Waikari-Jones are restored as the halves pairing, Losi Filipo returns and there’s a debut for NZ U20s trialist Wesley Faitele on the wing. There’s only two changes to last week’s winning side for MSP; Ioane Aukustino comes in for Dan Leone at tighthead and Cam Burgess replaces Dallas Natoli with Tomasi Connor switching back to first-five.

Looking to keep pace at the very least, Tawa (34) will pass close to the Rec on their way to William Jones and a clash with Wainuiomata (20). The Lyndhurst side were able to rest several regulars and still comfortably account for Avalon, but it will likely be a different proposition against a home team celebrating the clubs 80^th anniversary that, like MSP, harbours a desire to play Jubilee Cup rugby at season’s end.

The home side re-jig their forward pack. Dion Leolofi returns at hooker, Matt Jacobs moves to lock and Braydon Soi to the side of the scrum, with the interesting selection being Emmanuel Solomona at No8. Campbell Cowie returns at fullback, with Mikade Fono taking Solomona’s regular place in midfield. Evan Paenga and TJ Fermanis rejoin Tawa’s starting forwards, Solomon Uelese and Luke Cummings are the halves combination, and the evergreen Randall Bishop is at the back.

Completing the lower valley triangle is the Hutt Rec, where Hutt Old Boys Marist (32) host feathered cousins Johnsonville (13). The Eagles will be strong favourites to deal to the Hawks, but while Johnsonville’s record isn’t pretty they’ve seldom been outclassed this season. If they can make it stick, they could trouble and even upset the hosts who have had their own issues at home.

Freddie Sunia makes his first start of the year at hooker, joining George Jacobs as changes to the front row. Their other changes are both on the wings, with Phelan Rona and Ratu Valegatu coming in. As usual these days, Filo Paulo is held in reserve. Regan Herbert is back at No8 for the visitors so Serge Hollis pushes into lock, while Tyler Hall is on the blindside. Aukuso Tuitama returns in midfield, so Jacob Walmsley finally gets back to fullback and ending up at centre last Saturday.

Completing the set is the match at Maidstone Park, where Upper Hutt (29) welcome Norths (15) over the Haywards. The hosts will see it as a golden chance to move into the top four and will be favourite to do so, but while its another far from vintage season for Norths they have been better than expected; including those that tipped them for the wooden spoon.

The Rams reunite the young front row of Sanele, Tupou, and Hewitt while veteran Josh Hunt – who played a swag of games for Norths earlier in his long career – tags in at No8 though Murphy Taramai is on the bench. Kaide McCashin starts at halfback this week. Norths welcome back Jackson Garden-Bachop and Johnny Teleaga in the five-eighths jerseys, while veteran Johnwhite Silva makes the start at hooker.

Along with the Eagles, splitting the Rams from the top four are Old Boys-University (32) who might have put a couple of wobbly performances behind them. The head up the highways to Ngati Toa Domain as the guests for Paremata-Plimmerton’s (27) Old Timers Day. Back-to-back losses have dropped the Hammerheads from the lead down to sixth and while they have a margin back to that eighth spot, a third loss in succession would be a concerning loss of form even accounting for their injury list.

Injuries aren’t the home sides only issues for tomorrow as both Christian Fa’avae and Jeremiah Avei-Collins miss this one. Alby Hemopo will add thump, while veteran Tia Va’alepu has a job to do at openside as will Alex Fidow off the back. The backline is unchanged from last Saturday however. Zac Pene joins Geordie Bean and Hunter Kennedy as the notable absentees for the Goats, while Malo Manuao curiously drops to the bench though his replacement Josh Morgan Ranui does have a decent strike rate against Pare-Plim. Te Wehi Wright is again on the bench.

First stop in the city is Hataitai Park. In recent years the match between Wellington (14) and Avalon (1) has been to avoid the wooden spoon, but the Axemen’s minor resurgence this year may have put paid to that. They will want to avoid a slip-up here though and keep their top eight hopes afloat, but this would be one match the Wolves will have targeted to break their duck.

Wellington are able to welcome back Matt Proctor as well as James Tuiatua after another enforced break. Ami Paongo and Perry Laumalili also return, while Siose Lokeni gets the nod to partner Proctor in midfield. Avalon get some welcome reinforcements as well with the returns of both Matt Andrews and Sam Tonise. Nik Kiri and Caleb Pohipi continue as their inside back duo.

Lastly, just around the corner is another of the eastern suburbs derbies when Poneke (12) welcome neighbours Oriental Rongotai (24) to Kilbirnie Park. The clash for the Jim Grbich Memorial Shield is one eagerly anticipated by both clubs, and although each would prefer to be further up the table it goes unsaid that no leniency will be asked for, nor given.

Impressive second-year prop Hamish Huggins continues to anchor the scrum for Poneke, who are boosted by the return of Maea Temu-Schmidt who captains the side with Bede Brown switching to No8. Kaden Bond is handed the keys by his Dad in the #10 jersey in the absence of Carlos Hihi. Skivi Va’a continues at No8 for the Magpies after an impressive outing there last week, and veteran lock Ola Va’ai makes an appearance. Tom Maiava starts on the right wing, and Jason and Herman Seumanufagai are back on the bench.

Once again there’s a swag of interclub trophies in play:

• Petone and MSP play for their Bill Elvy Memorial Trophy. Originally from Canterbury where he became an All Black, Elvy played for Petone on arriving in Wellington. His son Norm turned out for both pre-merger Marist and St Pats Old Boys, and grandson Martin played his rugby at MSP. Petone are the current holders.
• The Chris Stirling Cup is the prize for Wainuiomata and Tawa. A well-travelled and regarded coach, Stirling played over 200 senior matches for Tawa before serving as the coaching co-ordinator at both clubs before embarking on a coaching odyssey that has taken him around the world. Tawa are the present custodians.
• Upper Hutt and Norths contest their Terry Farrow Memorial Cup. Farrow was another instrumental in the merger of Porirua and Titahi Bay, and was anointed a Life Member of Norths before his passing in 1999. His father George was also a Life Member, but of the Upper Hutt club. The Rams hold this, and will also be defending the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy again.
• And finally, Poneke and Ories contest their interclub prize, the Jim Grbich Memorial Shield. Grbich joined Poneke in 1950 when still a teenager and became one of the greats of Wellington club rugby. Originally a midfielder, where he formed a formidable combination with Moray Bevan at club, provincial, and NZ Māori levels, he later moved into the loose forwards where he continued to star until his untimely death in a late-night car accident in 1962, aged just 31. It’s held by Ories.

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The preview continues below after these messages from Club Rugby sponsors and supporters:

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Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

For the second successive week, MSP (35) feature in the game of the round here as the third-placed side head to Petone to face the joint-leading Villagers (40) at the Rec. Across the Hutt River the other joint-leaders, HOBM (40), will be warn favourites to carry on from last weekend when they host Johnsonville (9).

Elsewhere Upper Hutt (26) will want to make the most of their match against Norths (9), Pare-Plim (28) will look to return to winning ways when they host bottom-placed OBU (7) at Ngati Toa, and Avalon (28) will look to do the same when they visit Wellington (11). Tawa (23) will seek to inflict further misery on Wainuiomata (10), and there’s a midtable squabble when Poneke (17) hosts Ories (18).

Premier Women Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

It’s the penultimate set of matches in the Women’s first round, and while Norths and Petone will have one eye on their clash next week they can’t totally overlook tomorrow even if they will be hot favourites in each. Petone are at home against Stokes Valley, while Norths head into the city to face Wellington.

In the remaining matches Old Boys-University and Poneke clash at Kelburn and there’s a second Hutt Valley derby as Wainuiomata host Avalon at William Jones. Oriental Rongotai have another weekend off with Paremata-Plimmerton defaulting.

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All other club grades have the weekend off, bar the Poneke and MSP Colts sides who play a match deferred from ANZAC weekend. Notably in the Under 85s Eastbourne have elected to default their already-deferred match against Tawa, meaning the Ducks claim the JC Bowl for the first part of the season.

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College

Four matches in the Premiership tomorrow, with all being played on this side of the Remutaka’s. There’s a 1pm kickoffs for Rathkeale’s return to Silverstream in a repeat of last years semi-final, while at 2.30pm Scots will have an early gauge of where they’re at when they visit Wellington College, Mana hosts St Bernard’s, and Hutt International welcomes Rongotai out to the NZCIS campus. The St Pats Town vs Wairarapa College fixture has been deferred to mid-June.

In Premier 2 there’s early starts for the Town 2nds as they host Paraparaumu and for the two Silverstream teams as they clash. Porirua head up the coast to take on Kapiti, the Wellington College 2nds host Aotea, and Tawa are at home to face Hutt Valley HS.

The next round of the Premiership starts on Wednesday, with Wellington College facing Rongotai in their annual clash.

Around the region

Manawatu starts the second round of the Hankins Shield tomorrow. In a reverse of last weeks fixtures Varsity look to stay unbeaten on the season when they host Freyberg, and Kia Toa will seek to stay in touch when they host Feilding Old Boys-Oroua. Old Boys Marist and College Old Boys clash on the back fields at the Arena, and Linton ‘hosts’ Feilding Yellows at the latter’s home ground at Johnston Park. Te Kawau have dropped into the Senior B Houlihan Cup for the remainder of the season, so byes won’t feature in this round of matches.

It’s a busy day around the fields in Napier in tomorrow’s Maddison Trophy matches in Hawkes Bay. Napier Old Boys Marist host long-time rivals Hastings, Pirates welcome minnows Bridge Pa, and Taradale are at home against MAC. The only game south of there is in Havelock North where the home team faces Napier Tech.

There’s a clash of the top two in Horowhenua Kapiti’s Ramsbotham Cup when Waikanae host runaway leaders Foxton. Paraparaumu head north to face Rahui, while the Domain is the scene for the Levin derby between College Old Boys and Wanderers.

Lastly, over in the Wairarapa Carterton host Marist and East Coast are at home to Pioneer with Martinborough on the bye, but the real achievement is at Greytown who become just the second club in this part of the world to celebrate 150 years when they host Masterton Red Star.

Greytown was formed in May 1876 as “Wairarapa”, and issued a challenge to the men of Masterton for a match which in turn led to the formation of that club, although that match didn’t actually take place. With the formation of the Featherston club in 1878 and Carterton the following year, Wairarapa renamed itself as Greytown, and together with Wellington and Athletic, formed the Wellington Rugby Football Union. Greytown won the Wellington championship in 1883, but with the formation of more clubs in the capital, chiefly Poneke and Petone, and the addition of Red Star in Masterton in 1886 the Wairarapa clubs left to form their own union and championship. We here at Club Rugby congratulate them on their anniversary.

Hurricanes

No Aisle be Back column today, with Kevin being away. So some insight about this week’s Hurricanes game is below:

After securing top spot during last week’s 45-28 home victory over the Highlanders, numerous changes have been made for this weekend’s encounter in Christchurch.

Tyrel Lomax returns at tighthead prop after being sidelined for two months with an ankle injury. He joins a fresh forward pack alongside front rowers Xaiver Numia and Raymond Tuputupu, while Hugo Plummer accompanies Isaia Walker-Leawere at lock.

In the loose forwards, Cooper Flanders will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut from openside flanker, Brad Shields takes over as captain as he prepares to become just the fourth person to play 140 Hurricanes matches, and Arese Poliko is picked at No 8 to earn his second Hurricanes cap.

Flanders, the younger brother of fellow Hurricanes loose forward Devan, has been promoted from the wider training group to make his first appearance at this level.

Cooper Flanders scores for the Hurricanes U20s against the Crusaders U20s in March 2023.

Cam Roigard returns to halfback after missing the previous three matches due to a calf injury. He links up with halves partner Callum Harkin, who moves into first-five.

Jone Rova is one of three players to retain a place in the run-on side, keeping his spot at second-five as part of a new-look midfield combination with debutant centre Josh Timu.

Kick-off for Friday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm.

HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY CRUSADERS (Hurricanes caps in brackets)

1. Xavier Numia (88)
2. Raymond Tuputupu (22)
3. Tyrel Lomax (71)
4. Hugo Plummer (12)
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere (89)
6. Brad Shields (139) – captain
7. Cooper Flanders (debut)
8. Arese Poliko (1)
9. Cam Roigard (57)
10. Callum Harkin (21)
11. Kini Naholo (35)
12. Jone Rova (12)
13. Josh Timu (debut)
14. Taniela Filimone (debut)
15. Josh Moorby (50)
16. Jacob Devery (23)
17. Pouri Rakete-Stones (59)
18. Tevita Mafileo (67)
19. Tom Allen (1)
20. Matolu Petaia (1)
21. Jordi Viljoen (9)
22. Lucas Cashmore (5)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (50th match)

UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION

Siale Lauaki (hamstring): 1 week
Du’Plessis Kirifi (shoulder): Week-to-week
Devan Flanders (concussion): 2 weeks
Brett Cameron (knee): Season
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Riley Higgins (shoulder): Season
Ngane Punivai (shoulder): Week-to-week
Anaru Paenga-Morgan (concussion): 1 week
Fehi Fineanganofo (hamstring): 2 weeks
Jordie Barrett (hamstring): 1 week
Drew Wild (shoulder): 2 weeks