Bumper weekend for club rugby in Wellington and around the region coming up

The Avalon and Petone scrums pack down last week at Fraser Park. Avalon are back there in the 11th round hosting Marist St Pat’s, while Petone are at home against Hutt Old Boys Marist for the McBain Shield.

• By Scott MacLean 

It’s a bumper weekend for club rugby coming up, with top-of-the-table clashes as well as vital mid-table matches and desperate struggles developing further down the ladders across several competitions. It’s McBain Shield weekend in Wellington, but the affairs at Petone are just one part of the story that will be told tomorrow across the region’s fields. It is also the fourth round of college rugby, so lots to look forward to.

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

The weather forecast for Saturday is fair – cloudy and cool but dry. View it 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 the Petone versus Hutt Old Boys Marist McBain Shield clash, which is being simulcast from the Huddy Sports feed.

Tipping Competition – Visit https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2026/join   To make your picks for round 11. The Tipping Competition has Nate W proving to be the sage of the the Swindale Shield with a 32-point lead. But that can get quickly gobbled up by any one of the dozen tippers behind him all separated by about 20 points. There could also be a sleeper in the mid-pack chasers so watch this space and tip wisely.

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Premier Swindale Shield

As we do each year at this time, we take a look at what’s left for the contenders the rest of the way.

Petone
1st – 44 points
To play: HOBM (H), Pare-Plim (H), Poneke (A)

Hutt Old Boys Marist
2nd= – 38 points
To play: Petone (A), Poneke (H), Ories (A)

Whatever happens tomorrow, Petone will still have the competition lead when the sun comes up on Sunday. Whether that lead is one, five, six, or more depends on the outcome of their most eagerly anticipated clash of the year; the McBain Shield match against their rivals from across the river. Win, and they’ve taken the Eagles out of contention and put one hand on the Swindale Shield. Lose, and they bring as many as five others back into the race, which could include next week’s opponents.

Last week’s loss put HOBM on the back foot and leaves them chasing. Fortunately, they can directly impact matters tomorrow and put themselves back in the Swindale race with a win over the Villagers. Lose though, and they might struggle to even get one of those precious top four places for the playoffs.

Unsurprisingly both teams pick their strongest available lineups. The Villagers bring back Kafaongo Katoa, Sam Thomson, Kitiona Leitufia, and Braith Ingram into the pack, with skipper Connor Tuifao switching to No8. Losi Filipo returns to join Lester Maulolo in midfield, and Stanley Solomon is again at fullback. HOBM plug in a whole new front row in George Jacobs, Ignatius Kasiano-Sio, and Vili Tauafaga, while Mika Alaifatu’s absence is covered by moving starlet Rupeni Raviyawa to No8. Fritz Rayasi and Don Ernst make timely returns as well. The province’s leading referee, Matt Thomas, will be in the middle of it all.

Upper Hutt Rams
2nd= – 38 points
To play: Wainuiomata (H), Tawa (A), Avalon (H)

Since their clunker against Pare-Plim, the Rams have won seven on the trot to move into contention. Like others they’ll be hoping for a HOBM win down the valley, but given their own form they’ll consider each of their remaining matches very winnable. They will though need to be wary of tomorrow’s opponents after their toppling of Tawa last weekend.

With Alex Hewitt now back on NZ U20s duty Jade Langi replaces him at tighthead, with Blaine Knapman and Mitchel Taupau also joining the starting pack. Dawson Smith is back in the #10 jersey so Scott Svenson moves out one to join brother Todd in midfield, and there’s over 600 games of Premier rugby waiting on the bench.

Tawa
2nd= – 38 points
To play: Norths (A), Upper Hutt (H), Wellington (A)

In the space of two weeks, Tawa have gone from competition leaders to having things out of their hands in terms of lifting the Swindale. Their immediate concern will be getting back on track and avoiding an ambush at Porirua Park tomorrow, but that clash with the Rams looms large if they want one of those top four places.

Hemi Fermanis was badly missed last weekend but he is back tomorrow while they have both George Risale and Matolu Petaia as well. The backline is unchanged with Kemara Hauiti-Parapara to lead the side from halfback.

Paremata-Plimmerton
5th= – 37 points
To play: Wellington (H), Petone (A), Wainuiomata (A)

It’s hard to get a handle on the Hammerheads; poor against MSP, sublime against OBU, and scratchy against Johnsonville. Like Tawa, they have a big clash next week but need to avoid a slipup tomorrow; the Axe gave them all they could handle last year and they’ll want to again. They could finish anywhere from first, to eighth.

Brothers Marley and Jeshua Fretton prop the scrum, with Jermaine Avei-Collins returning to the back of it. Dale Sabbagh starts at first-five against the first club he played for in the capital, while there’s plenty of experience in reserve on the bench.

Old Boys-University
5th= – 37 points
To play: Ories (A), MSP (A), Norths (H)

Oriental Rongotai
7th – 33 points
To play: OBU (H), Wellington (A), HOBM (H)

The second clash between teams in the current top eight is out at the Polo Ground. The Magpies have clawed their way into the Jubilee places after an indifferent start that could have buried others, and their win over Tawa will have given them belief that they can hold on there; they’d certainly like to be safe before the face HOBM in the final round.  Freed from Super Rugby duties Penieli Poasa and Dom Ropeti are back in Ories colours and they bolster a pack that still has a makeshift look to it. It’s the same backline though, with the Isaac Bracewell/Declan Hay halves pairing proving successful.

With an epically long injury list, particularly to their front row stocks, it’s something of a miracle that the Goats are where they are which speaks rather well about their coaching and club ethos. Win tomorrow and they’re in the Jubilee after missing out last year, but a loss ahead of facing MSP next week starts making things a little nervy. Ethan Pule returns at tighthead which gives a degree of normalcy to their front row. Tomasi Palu stays in the #12 jersey with Malo Manuao inside of him, meaning Jake Lawson is once more on the bench.

Wainuiomata
8th – 30 points
To play: Upper Hutt (A), Johnsonville (A), Pare-Plim (H)

With back-to -back wins, Wainuiomata have roared into the Jubilee picture, but whether they stay there will depend on how they handle the next three weeks. Each of their games are winnable ones, but losing all three would put them at the mercy of what the team below them does.

Tighthead Daniel Fiso is the only returning member of their tight five tomorrow, while Jacob Renor and debutant Ah Hao Milovale come into the backs. Tyler Tane is once again deployed as a late game resource from the pine.

Marist St Pats
9th – 25 points
To play: Avalon (A), OBU (H), Johnsonville (A)

For Wainuiomata, that team is MSP, who have easier schedule to finish “on-paper”. Of course, that would mean little if they stumble against Avalon out at Fraser Park, but what is to be seen is if they play as if they have little to lose or the pressure to gain becomes too much.

They bring back Nathan Carr and Ben Gardiner into their forward unit for tomorrow. Tomasi Connor moves into the #10 jersey once more, with Sefo Aukustino and Francis Mettrick forming the midfield duo.

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Realistically, the hopes of the remaining five teams of making the top eight are already over and they’re relegated to seeing what they can spoil for the teams above them across the final three weeks.

Norths (17) and Wellington (16) are still mathematically alive, but that will be extinguished if they lose or Wainuiomata win.

Faifili Levave is back for another outing for Norths in their clash with Tawa. Paora Drake is at halfback, so Jayde Burns moves out to first-five and Luke Walmsley back to fullback.

Try-scoring machine Archie Treadwell is once more at lock for the Axemen as they take on Pare-Plim. James Tuiatua switches to the openside for Adriu Vosa at No8. Ben Tuiatua also returns, and Luke Kapene faces his old team from fullback.

Johnsonville (15) host Poneke (15) at Helston with the faint chances of both sides having gone in the closing minutes last Saturday. They’ll need to pick themselves up for what could be a future Hardham Cup matchup, and the winner could leapfrog the two teams above them as well.

Ha’amea Ahio starts is 200^th Premier outing in the capital at loosehead with Finlay Sharp at fullback for his 50^th. Jacob Walmsley continues at first-five. Poneke are largely unchanged from the side that took the field last week, but their notable absentee is first-five Carlos Hihi whose place is taken by Materangi Arahanga.

Trailing everyone is Avalon (5), but they can still impact matters with MSP and Upper Hutt either side of a clash with Norths. Their team is largely unchanged, but features captain and regular loose forward Matthew Andrews lining up at second-five.

It’s another week with plenty of interclub silverware in play:

• The McBain Shield is the sought after prize for Petone and HOBM. The oldest interclub trophy in the province, it was donated in 1934 by Hec McBain in memory of his father Alexander who was a passionate rugby man, the first headmaster of Eastern Hutt School, and elected a Life Member of the Hutt Football Club in 1928. Hutt won that first match 6-5, and HOBM will defend it after their 30-25 win last season.
• Upper Hutt and Wainuiomata play for their Peter Jones/Dave Ritchie Cup. Jones and Ritchie were colleagues on the staff of St Pats Silverstream and managers of their respective clubs Premier sides; Jones with Wainuiomata and Ritchie with Upper Hutt. The Rams are the holders and will again defend the Bill Brien Challenge Trophy
• Tawa and Norths contest he Sammy Saili Memorial Trophy. Saili was a prominent member of the Samoan community in Porirua, and played over 200 Premier games combined across both Norths and Tawa, and was heavily involved in coaching junior and college rugby with the latter. Saili died suddenly in 2009 with the trophy put in play the following year. Tawa has held this for the past few seasons.
• The Joe Aspell Cup is up for grabs between Avalon and MSP. Aspell played for Marist Brothers and became a publican, and presented the trophy for play between Marist and Taita when he was the licensee of the Taita Hotel. Later the President and Life Member of Marist, Aspell was also a Wellington City Councillor. MSP have held this for most of the decade, though one of Avalon’s most memorable wins has come in this fixture.
• And, Johnsonville and Poneke play for their Galu Taufale Trophy. A legend of Samoan rugby in capital who had to wait until the twilight of his career for a Lions debut, Taufale was a hard-working loose forward who started his career with the Hawks and ended it at Kilbirnie Park with a long stint for Western Suburbs in between; we credit him with 207 Premier outings but the actual total is believed to be north of 250. Poneke will look to retain it.

Lastly, are reminder of the tiebreak rules:

• If two (or more) teams are tied for the Swindale Shield after the final round of matches, the trophy is shared. No tiebreakers apply.
• If two teams are tied for position, the tiebreaker for seeding is the result of the head-to-head match between the two.
• If three or more teams are tied, the tie is broken by:
  • Firstly, the team(s) with the most wins in the Swindale Shield, then
  • Points differential.

The preview continues below after some words from our sponsors and supporters:

Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield

As important as the McBain clash after it is, the early game on the #1 at the Rec promises just as much. Petone and HOBM (both 50) have been deadlocked since the whistle blew at the start of the year, something that will be broken tomorrow baring a draw (which might be entirely possible) and should be a match – along with the Colts (see below) – well worth getting along for.

Behind them MSP (41) will seek to keep hold of third as they tackle Avalon (29) at Fraser, and Pare-Plim to stay fourth at worst when Wellington (25) come to Ngati Toa. Upper Hutt (35) and Tawa (33) could also cement top-eight spots when they host Wainuiomata (10) and visit Norths (15) respectively, Poneke (23) seek to get back inside the 8 when they visit Helston and Johnsonville (10), and Ories (19) can start a run with a win over bottom-placed OBU (8) at home at Helston.

The tiebreaker rules listed above also apply here.

Colts Paris Memorial

As above, it’s also an unbeaten clash at the top of the table at the Petone Rec though this one will have silverware being handed over at the end of it. HOBM have the perfect 35-from-35 going in, but that only has them two points clear of Petone (33) and everything, including the possibility of a shared title, is in play.

MSP (27) will look to keep hold of third when they visit Tawa (22) at Lyndhurst, Poneke (23) will hope to overhaul their neighbours as they venture into the Ian Galloway cage to face OBU (9), and Upper Hutt (13) and Norths (8) conclude this part of the season when they meet at Maidstone. Pare-Plim (8) have the final round bye.

Women’s Tia Paasi Memorial and Izzy Ford Cups

As mentioned last Saturday, the Women’s competition splits in two for the remaining six weeks. In the Champions Tia Paasi Memorial division, defending champions and Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy winners Petone have the bye to start with and their two main rivals are both at home. Norths host Wainuiomata while Oriental Rongotai face neighbours Poneke.

The Izzy Ford Cup division sees Old Boys-University and Stokes Valley take to Kelburn Park and Paremata-Plimmerton and Wellington reacquaint themselves after playing last week, only this time it’s at Ngati Toa. Avalon have the first-up bye here.

College

The first result of the Premiership’s fourth round is already in the books with Wellington College’s 26-17 win away over Silverstream on Wednesday

Tomorrow’s slate starts at midday in Masterton with the local derby between home team Wairarapa College and visitors Rathkeale clash. Back in Wellington it’s all 2.30pm starts with Town facing minnows Mana at Evans Bay, Rongotai head to Lower Hutt to meet St Bernard’s, and Hutt International are at home on the CIS carpet for the visit of Scots.

In Premier 2 it’s an early start up the coast with unbeaten pair Kapiti and the Silverstream 2nds facing off, while slightly north again Paraparaumu hosts Porirua. The Town 2nds are also unbeaten and they host Hutt Valley HS at Evans Bay, Tawa have a home match against the Wellington College 2nds, and Aotea face the Silverstream 3rds.

There’s a match of note in the Under 15 Division 1 grade, with the top Wellington College and St Pats Town squads clashing.

The Premiership comes around again early next week with Town and Wairarapa College playing their catchup fixture on Tuesday evening at Hataitai Park, followed on Wednesday by Silverstream hosting Rongotai.

Around the region

It’s heading towards crunch time elsewhere too. In Manawatu there’s a 10-point break between fourth and fifth, but little yet is certain. Kia Toa’s win over Varsity last weekend drew them level with the students, and they cross town to face Old Boys Marist while Varsity are in Feilding to face Yellows in a pair of top-four matchups. Down the table College Old Boys hosts Feilding OB-Oroua, and Freyberg welcome Linton to Colquhoun Park.

With points reset for the Maddison Cup round in Hawke’s Bay, you can throw a blanket over six of the eight sides. A trio of Napier sides lead the way, and you’d fancy that both Napier OB Marist and Taradale will bank maximum points as they host MAC and visit Bridge Pa respectively. Pirate have a local derby against chasers Napier Tech, while it’s also the Hastings derby when Hastings hosts Havelock North.

Leaders Foxton are back at home in Horowhenua-Kapiti where they’ll host Wanderers. Levin College OB are on the Domain to take on Rahui, while it’s the Border War as Waikanae takes on neighbours Paraparaumu.

Once again just two matches in Wairarapa-Bush. Leaders Greytown look to keep their undefeated season going when they host East Coast, while Carterton seek to stay in touch when they visit Martinborough. Marist and Masterton Red Star have the weekend off.