Swindale Shield picture to become clearer in 10th round matches

Petone celebrate a try against Marist St Pat’s last week. They are up river for their tenth round match to play Avalon while Marist St Pat’s cross the road to play Poneke at Kilbirnie Park. Photo: Wall Sport Media.

• By Scott MacLean and Steven White

Friday NIGHT edition: The 2026 Wellington Premier club rugby first round picture should come into clearer focus following this Saturday’s 10th round set of matches. Both the race for the title and for all-important second round Jubilee Cup spots amongst the mid-table contenders will be taking shape. It is the same in the Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield, while the women’s first round will be decided between Northern United and Petone, and other grades are ramping up.

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

The weather forecast for Saturday is looking sketchy so supporters will want to shelter accordingly.  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 the Upper Hutt Rams versus Hutt Old Boys Marist fixture from Maidstone Park, with Gordon Noble-Campbell and UHR President Dustin Brattle on the mikes.

Tipping Competition – Visit https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2026/join   To make your picks for round TEN. 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 244, ahead of Brownlie1992 on 224, Bonecrusher41 on 220, a three-way tie between mcurpine, rhinotillexomania and Cainsy on 216 and the next several contenders bunched close together and poised to strike.

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Premier Swindale Shield

Just four weeks left for teams to make a move before the playoffs arrive.

Topping the table going into the home stretch are Petone (39), looking to get their hands back on the Swindale Shield for the first time since 2022. They might have one eye on a certain clash next Saturday, but can’t overlook tomorrow where they head up the valley to take on Avalon (5) at Fraser Park. The Wolves might still be rooted to the bottom of the ladder, but with a win finally under their belts they might have enough self-belief to make things difficult for the Villagers or even cause a monumental upset.

Perhaps as expected, and looking ahead to next week against HOBM, Petone have rested and rotated several players from last week. This includes an entire new front row and in-form players Braith Ingram, Conley Alexander and Sam Thomson on the bench. Connor Tuifao captains them at openside while Levi Morgan is on debut at blindside. Fewer changes in the backs. Tom Carter comes into the midfield for Losi Filipo and Wellington College guest assistant coach Stanley Solomon is at fullback for Jermaine Pepe who is on the bench. No Avalon team received or seen at the time of publishing.

Also heading up the valley are Hutt Old Boys Marist (37), but unlike their rivals they face what is, on paper anyway, a vastly more difficult assignment at Maidstone against fourth-placed Upper Hutt (34). The Eagles might have been able to cruise somewhat the past two weeks, but the Rams will be in no mood to offer them any such luxuries. Not when they’re chasing one of those valuable top-two places and looking to keep the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy in their possession for another week.

The Rams have made a slew of changes to their side from last week. Some key changes include Jade Langi at tighthead prop in place of NZ U20 prop Alex Hewitt, Jack Wright from flanker to lock for Blaine Knapman and Murphy Taramai back to co-captain the team from No. 8. In the backs, Swayde Brightwell gets the start at halfback after an eye-catching highlights reel last week and Scott Svenson is at first-five for an absent Dawson Smith. Josh Mallon also returns to the right wing for this one.

Visitors the Eagles have named the core of their team from last week, with just a couple of tweaks up front and at fullback. Brett Manaia switches from tighthead to loosehead prop, with Noah Krijnen coming back to start for the absent George Jacobs. Flynn Ruscoe flies in for Dominic Ernst at fullback.

Tawa’s (37) shock loss to Wainuiomata last week turned them from leaders to chasers. They are back home tomorrow looking to atone for that misstep, but face an Oriental Rongotai (29) side that will be searching for points to stay in the top eight with some tricky fixtures still to come. The Magpies will fancy their chances against a wounded home team, but will need to be better from the start than they were against Poneke.

Tawa has named an unchanged starting team from that which lost to Wainuiomata last week. Key players, Hemi Fermanis starts at lock and George Risale comes thundering off the bench. Kemara Hauiti-Parapara is missing, and Luke Cummings starts at first-five.

Ories are mostly settled for Heritage Round at the club. No Skivi Va’a though, who has stood out since moving to No. 8 for the past two matches. His place is taken by another hybrid player, Herman Seumanufagai. His brother Jason starts at loosehead prop with Tui Taituave on the bench. Last week’s two-try scorer late in the game, Sam Tautiaga, is on the left wing with Advent Sam Va’a riding the pine, alongside Fijian Drua loose forward Eroni Waqa. Hooker Sase Va’a is the only one of his family members in the starting XV.

Having returned to winning ways last week, Paremata-Plimmerton (32) will be looking to make hay with three of their last four matches against teams below them on the table, including two at home. The first of those comes against Johnsonville (13), and while the Hawks got plucked at the Hutt Rec these two do have a history of close, hard-fought, encounters. Tomorrow could be another.

For Paremata-Plimmerton, Ted Northcott has departed for Rahui in a bid to play Heartland Championship again as a home player and Jeshua Fretton slots into tighthead prop. Former captain James Smokey Corcoran starts at lock with Ihakara Masoe on the bench. Northcott’s bother Louis is named on the right wing this week.

Johnsonville have made changes, including a new 9-10 combination in Aidan Eastwood and the versatile Jacob Walmsley. Also in the backs, Hurricane Josh Timu is at centre, with Aukuso Tuitama on the right wing and Finlay Sharp back and at fullback. No Jacob Kennedy for this one though. They remain a dangerous side if they click.

Premier rugby returns to Nairnville Park where, like Tawa, Old Boys-University (32) will be looking to rebound from a tough outing a week ago. Whether that happens tomorrow might depend on which Goats team shows up, and what Wellington (15) side does as well. The Axemen will be bristling following their loss to Avalon; something that will either motivate them or leave them looking downcast. A special mention of the terrace banter likely to take place between some blokes known as Freak, Petal, and Ham.

The Axemen welcome back Luke Kapene to fullback, with Willie Schutz moving into second-five to partner Matt Proctor on the midfield. Two changes to the starting pack with Soul Manuseuga back to prop and Sam Edlund to lock to partner the consistent Archie Treadwell.

OBU’s team has come in late but hot, with two NZU players returning to their line-up in hooker and captain Geordie Bean and fullback Hunter Kennedy. In between there are are a handful of positional and personnel changes. One such swap is Malo Tevita Manuao starting at first-five with Jake Lawson on the bench, while veteran Tomasi Palu starts at second-five.

Out in Porirua, Norths (16) celebrate their Old Timers’ Day by taking on Wainuiomata (25). The hosts likely had this circled as a winnable fixture, but the visitors impressive win over Tawa last week probably changed that calculus. That said, Norths nearly pulled off an upset of their own against Upper Hutt, so this may be a closer match than their respective places on the table would suggest.

Wainuiomata’s Matt Jacobs will be running out to play his 150^th match for the green and blacks. Jacobs starts at lock alongside Kapani Maake. In the backs, the Kotuhi brothers are at first and second-five. Keanu is at 10 and Renata is at 12 with no Tyler Tane for this round.

For Norths, Tane Landon-Lane replaces Jalen Lambert at lock, while there are a couple of notable changes in the backs. Jackson Garden-Bachop has been replaced at first-five by Luke Walmsley and Johnny Teleaga’s name is also absent and James Pese plays at second-five. Faifili Levave comes off the bench to add all his experience should it be tight.

Finally, another of those fixtures that gets looked for when the draw comes out is the Battle of Kilbirnie between those two clubs separated by the strip of asphalt known as Evans Bay Parade. Poneke (14) are the hosts on their Old Timers’ Day while Marist St Pat’s (20) are higher on the table, but both currently sit outside of the eight in seasons each hoped would be going better than they are. Desperation should add another spice to this match.

Pōneke welcome back Carlos Hihi to first-five after missing last week’s narrow loss to Ories. In only a couple of other changes, Mosese Lea’apulu starts at blindside flanker and there are a couple of positional switches in their backline.

MSP’s captain James Zino moves to No. 8 to lock for this one in the notable forwards reshuffle. Zino scores a try in most games he plays so he will be hungry to burrow over again. Dallas Natoli is at first-five and Tomasi Connor moves out one to second-five, while Josh Gray will be making his MSP debut at fullback.

As well as the Bill Brien, there are four more interclub trophies in play:

• Petone and Avalon play for their Morgan Family Trophy. Ray Morgan played at Petone, but had a distinguished career as an administrator including serving as secretary/treasurer of the national union. His nephew John also played at Petone and represented Wellington, and later joined Taita where he was club treasurer. Petone have held this for several years.
• OBU and Wellington contest their Dean Gifford Memorial Cup. A well-respected Police Officer who lost a battle with cancer, the Goats and Axemen were just two of the clubs the much-travelled Gifford played for. OBU at the current holders.
• Norths and Wainuiomata play for the Alf Keating Memorial Trophy. Keating played for both clubs with this donated following his passing. Wainuiomata are the present custodians.
• And lastly, the Horan-Millar Trophy is the prize for Poneke and MSP. Mick Horan (MSP) and Ken Millar (Poneke) locked horns many times across the 1950s and 60s on the field. Both hard men, Horan played 175 consecutive games for Marist Brothers while Millar was a champion boxer. The pair passed away within months of each in 1982, with Poneke holding it from their Opening Day win last season.

This week’s preview continues after these messages from Club Rugby’s sponsors and supporters:

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

Like their Premiers, Petone and HOBM will have their eyes on their meeting next week, but both face less than straightforward assignments tomorrow with both heading up the valley. Petone (45) visit Avalon (30) at Fraser with HOBM (45) doing likewise with Upper Hutt (35) at Maidstone.

Elsewhere in the top-six, Marist St Pats (36) cross Evans Bay Parade to face Poneke (22), with Pare-Plim (33) at home for the visit of Johnsonville (10).

Further down the table and looking to make up ground are Tawa (28) who host Ories (18), Wellington (20) head to Nairnville and cellar-dwellers OBU (7), and Norths (10) and Wainuiomata (8) battle at Porirua Park.

Premier Women Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy

The first-round silverware will find its home for the summer at about 1pm tomorrow, as current holders Petone (39) will look take it back home with them while Norths (40) will seek to keep it at Porirua Park where the two clash.

Elsewhere its fairly balanced set of matches for the final round; Avalon (12) host Old Boys-University (15) at Fraser Park, Poneke (26) and Wainuiomata (27) clash at Kilbirnie, and just up the road at Hataitai Wellington meets Paremata-Plimmerton. The outlier is at Delaney Park, where home team Stokes Valley (7) takes on Oriental-Rongotai (31).

Colts Paris Memorial

Guess what?? As with the two Premier grades next week looms as the pivotal clash between Petone and HOBM here too, only with the knowledge the trophy will be presented after that. Both hit the road tomorrow, with leaders HOBM (30) away at Kilbirnie against Poneke (22) while Petone are at Ngati Toa Domain and second-bottom Pare-Plim (7).

MSP (22) are also on the road, making the haul out to Maidstone to face Upper Hutt (13), while two sides in single-digits, Norths (3) and OBU (8) clash at Porirua Park. Tawa (22) have the penultimate round bye.

Under 85s Paul Potiki and Tony O’Brien Shields

The lightweights grade splits in two for the balance of the local club season. The Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield opens with Poneke hosting Johnsonville at Kilbirnie Park, while Tawa is at home at Redwood Park against Pare-Plim, with last year’s Division 2 winners earning their place at the top table this time around.

The Division 2 Tony O’Brien Shield sees recent grade champions the OBU Scallywags berthing at Kelburn Park to face Eastbourne, while HOBM get a rare run on the #1 field at the Hutt Rec when they face Wellington.

College

One match in the Premiership is already in the books, with Wellington College having easily accounted for Rongotai by 62-19 on Wednesday. Tomorrow’s matches to complete the round sees Hutt International head over the Remutaka’s to face Rathkeale, while Wairarapa comes the other way for a meeting with Mana. Scots are at home to take on Town, and Silverstream head down the valley for a clash with St Bernard’s.

In Premier 2 the Silverstream 2nds are scheduled to host Tawa, followed by the 3rds taking on the Wellington College 2nds. Aotea head up to Paraparaumu, Porirua are at home against the Town 2nds, and Hutt Valley HS host Kapiti.

Next Wednesday afternoon sees the blockbuster Premiership clash between Silverstream and Wellington College, while earlier that day Tawa hosts Wairarapa College in their annual sports exchange match.

Elsewhere

The big upset around the region last Saturday occurred in Horowhenua-Kapiti where Waikanae ended Foxton’s winning run, holding on grimly for a 18-17 victory. Both are on the road tomorrow with Waikanae at the Levin Domain to face Wanderers, while Foxton are in Otaki to take on Rahui. Paraparaumu hosts Levin College OB in the third fixture.

In Wairarapa Bush the news is that Pioneer have decided it’s not feasible to continue in the Premier grade this season. The union have decided against re-jigging the draw, so it will proceed as is with only two matches and two byes for most of the rest of the way. In the two matches happening tomorrow Marist hosts East Coast and Masterton Red Star visit Martinborough, with leading pair Greytown and Carterton both off.

The round in Manawatu’s Hankins Shield is highlighted by the clash between the season’s top two so far with Varsity heading to Bill Brown Park to take on Kia Toa. All four clashes are around Palmerston North, with Old Boys Marist hosting Feilding Yellows on the Arena back fields, Feilding OB-Oroua aren’t too far away against Freyberg, and College Old Boys head to the Army camp to face Linton.

Hawke’s Bay reaches the midpoint of the Maddison Trophy round-robin, and without any undefeated teams. Hastings hold a one-point lead but visit Nash Cup winners Napier OB Marist, with Havelock North in second hosting Napier Tech. Pirates and defending champions Taradale will be looking to cash in when they host Bridge Pa and MAC respectively.

And this week we check in on Taranaki, who are at the same stage as Hawke’s Bay. Clifton are the runaway leaders, and could book top spot with three matches left when they visit Inglewood. The game of the day will be in Rahotu where Coastal hosts Southern, while Tukapa will try to shake off last week’s mauling when they host Stratford-Eltham. The fourth match is a city derby when United cross town to take on New Plymouth OB.