All set for Premier and Premier 2 semi-finals this Saturday

Tawa’s George Risale takes on the Upper Hutt Rams’ defence in their most recent match two weeks ago at NZCIS. In tomorrow’s semi-finals, the Rams are back at this venue to host Petone whilst Tawa are playing Hutt Old Boys Marist at the Hutt Rec. Photos: Andy McArthur.

• By Scott MacLean 

Updated late Friday: So here we are, semi-finals weekend in the three Premier grades. Finally reached after an unprecedented and acrimonious fortnight that has called much into question.

Rugby is already underway for the weekend, with a Manawatu Turbos squad beating a Wellington XV 54-35 in their pre-season fixture at Feilding on Friday afternoon.

The weather forecast for Saturday is okay. No rain on the radar. View it here: https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/hourly-table/2-2179537/New%20Zealand/Wellington%20Region/Wellington%20City/Wellington?i=1

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

Radio commentary  – online at teupoko.co.nz or by tuning into 87.5FM or 1161AM is Upper Hutt Rams v Petone at NZCIS 1 with Gordon Noble-Campbell and team.

Tipping Competition – Visit https://www.faceyoursfears.com/games/WGTN2026/join   To make your picks for semi-finals week. This round has been entered into the system (and will be on a week-by-week basis from now on). We have added the Premier 2 semi-finals this week so there are eight matches to pick this week. Remember to use additional wildcards that have been added for the last rounds.

________________________________________________________________________

Premier Jubilee Cup

Hutt Old Boys Marist (4) vs Tawa (3). Referee: Ethan Loveridge

For the second time this season last years finalists meet at the Hutt Rec. The first encounter was a pretty spiteful one with a half-dozen cards issued, but Tawa got a measure of revenge for that 2025 final with a 36-32 win. They’ll be itching to repeat that and make it to next week, but in doing so they’ll need to be much better than they were a fortnight ago in their loss to Upper Hutt.

The Eagles will be both wary of their opponents, but also on something of a high after they put themselves into a home field situation by subduing an under-par Petone last time out. Being able to defend their title in-person next week is within their grasp – can they take it?

With presumptive Lions squad members out of the picture, HOBM go into tomorrow without James O’Reilly and young tearaway Rupeni Raviyawa. Ignatius Kasiano-Sio returns at hooker, while Brandon Lo is on the openside with Mika Alaifatu switching back to No8. Fritz Rayasi is on the wing, while Zane Ainslie is named at first-five having been back from overseas for a few weeks now.

Tawa makes one enforced change to their pack, with Matolu Petaia now on Lions duty and replaced here by Lafaele Lupo. Kalim Kelemete is handed the #10 jersey with Solomon Uelese at fullback in place of Randall Bishop, so it will be interesting to see how they line up on attack.

Upper Hutt Rams (2) vs Petone (1). Referee: Charlie Harris

With Maidstone Park again booked out for the Poua’s Aupiki match, Upper Hutt head to their home-away-from-home at the Campus of Innovation and Sport. History beckons for the Rams, who have never made it to a Jubilee Cup final; the closest they came was in 2005 when after winning the Swindale Shield they lost to Norths in a semi-final. If they repeat their effort of a fortnight ago, they’ll be there.

On the other hand, Petone will want to rid themselves of their last outing when they were flat and outclassed by their great rivals. It’s now over two decades since the Jubilee Cup was in the hands of the club that’s won it more often than anyone else, and this year’s squad will desperately want to end that.

The Rams seem to have escaped the Lions clutches, with only talismanic leader Murphy Taramai missing for the reason as we understand it. Jack Wright moves to the back of the scrum, with Sio Fidow and Leon Tuiloma on the flanks behind an unchanged tight five. Their backline is also unchanged while their bench is full of experience with Peni Taupau, Josh Hunt, and Kaide McCashin all there.

In contrast to their opponents, the Villagers are perhaps hit hardest by Lions selections, with Sam Thomson, Logan Henry, Losi Filipo, and Stanley Solomon all withdrawn while Braith Ingram is also absent. Archie Schrader and Jarrod Hrstich come in the pack, as does Heath Tuifao in a straight swap for Kafaonga Katoa up front. Cam Ferreira partners Jacob Waikari-Jones in the halves, Tom Carter joins Jordan-Glen Bradbrook in midfield, and Rory Woollett is given the fullback job. There’s a notable name on the bench with Thompson Tukapua there after a long time out of the game with injury.

________________________________________________________________________

Premier Hardham VC Cup

It does seem slightly weird that both OBU and Pare-Plim lost their last matches and are still playing, while the sides that beat them – Wainuiomata and Ories – are done for the year, but that’s the outcome that’s been reached, so here we are.

Old Boys-University (5) vs Wellington (11). Referee: James Taylor

The Goats’ back block at Nairnville Park is the setting for one of the Hardham Cup semi-finals. OBU land here after losing to Wainuiomata a fortnight ago in a game where they ran out of answers when the visitors got their tails up. The Axemen present a similar proposition in that they’ll be the bigger and more physical of the sides and once again the Goats will have to counter that. Wellington last played in a semi-final all the way back in 2014 when the-then Senior 1 side made it to the Hardham final, but they’ve got plenty of campaigners who have been on this stage before.

No team has endured more with injury than OBU has, and that continues tomorrow especially in their backs where Ben Gordon, Elijah Maene-Lokeni, and Malo Manuao are all absent while Hunter Kennedy is now with Manawatu. Jake Lawson is at 10, Josh Morgan-Ranui and Calum Koebergh are the midfield, and the Old Koro himself Te Wehi Wright is at fullback. Geordie Bean is also missing, with Sam Walton-Sexton taking on the captaincy.

Wellington are largely unchanged, though believe Matt Proctor is now on Lions duty. To’e Lokeni returns at hooker so Tui Tuiatua moves back to his more familiar tighthead role in their only change in the forwards, while after being a halfback last week Willie Schutz is at centre and Ben Tuia out to the wing. Lavakhi Tolai and Caleb Aiulu are this weeks halves duo charged with steering the team around the park.

Paremata-Plimmerton (6) vs Marist St Pats (9). Referee: Ethan Jefferson

Out at Ngati Toa Domain the host side will be wary; after all they haven’t beaten MSP in their last two meetings. Their earlier one this season came on Old Timers Day at Evans Bay where MSP bullied their way past their them, and naturally MSP would like to do the same again. Injuries have been a massive disruption for the Hammerheads which have really disrupted them over the back half of the campaign, but after a week off to refresh they may well come out firing.

That said, the home side have changed things up somewhat. Alby Hemopo comes in at lock for Trent Livesey in the forwards, but in the backs Dale Sabbagh is preferred over Zane Edwards and Joe Faleafaga over Louis Northcott. Those three all drop to the bench, where Ethan Webster-Nonu will make his return after missing time with concussion.

MSP retain the same tight five, but change flankers with Lakisipone Lamositele and Fabio Minelli recalled. Tomasi Connor and Sefo Aukustino return to the five-eighths jerseys, and Finlay Hagen tags in on the right wing. James Zino again captains the side from lock.

________________________________________________________________________

Premier 2 Ed Chaney and HD Morgan Memorial Cups

The decision made for the Premier competitions also affects Premier 2, with Upper Hutt and Ories the unlucky sides to win a fortnight ago and yet see their season end.

The championship Ed Chaney Cup matches take place astride the Hutt river, with Harper Lock Shield winners Petone (1) taking on MSP (3) and HOBM (2) hosting Pare-Plim (4). The two subsidiary HD Morgan Memorial matches pit Tawa (5) against Johnsonville (10), and Avalon (6) welcome Wellington (9) to Fraser Park.

Mathew Barnett and Quintin Renner are the respective referees for the Ed Chaney matches, with Kennosuke Furuhashi at Lyndhurst and Scott MacLean at Fraser Park for the HD Morgan clashes.

________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to Club Rugby’s sponsors and supporters.

________________________________________________________________________

Women’s Tia Paasi Memorial and Izzy Ford Cups

It seems to have snuck up on us, but the Women also reach their semifinals tomorrow.

In the championship Tia Paasi Memorial last weeks cancellation denied Norths the chance to leapfrog both Ories and Wainuiomata, meaning that they’ll go into tomorrow as the fourth seed and a trip to unbeaten Petone (1) instead. Oriental Rongotai (2) and Wainuiomata (3) clash at the Polo Ground where there will be some real interest as Wainuiomata won their last meeting and should have won their Rebecca Liua’ana match as well.

In the Izzy Ford Cup, Avalon (1) will be warm favourites when they host Wellington (4) at Fraser Park, while in the city Old Boys-University (2) take on Paremata-Plimmerton (3) at Kelburn Park.

________________________________________________________________________

Colts John Kelly and Vic Calcinai Memorials

One grade not in playoff action is the Colts, with their finals still a fortnight away. Petone (16) and HOBM (12) are the likely John Kelly Memorial Cup finalists, but they meet tomorrow on the south side of the river. Petone could lock their place in with a win, but whoever losers will fall into the clutches of MSP (11) should they beat Tawa (7) in their meeting at Redwood.

In the Vic Calcinai matches, Pare-Plim host OBU at Ngati Toa and Poneke take on Upper Hutt at Kilbirnie Park with Norths on the bye. They move into semifinals next week.

________________________________________________________________________

Under 85kg Paul Potiki and Tony O’Brien Shields

We took a look at the Division 1 Paul Potiki Shield decider yesterday – at https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/07/16/poneke-and-tawa-to-meet-in-u85kg-division-1-decider/ –  but for completeness Poneke hosts Tawa on Kilbirnie Park for the first senior championship crown of the year, while up at Kelburn Park the OBU Scallywags face HOBM for the Division 2 title.

Chris Casey will referee the championship decider with Josh Budge taking care of the subsidiary final.

________________________________________________________________________

College

With it being the last weekend of the school holidays, college rugby doesn’t return in earnest until next Saturday. There is one match tomorrow however, with the Taita and Naenae 1^st XVs meeting at Fraser Park to play their annual Avalon Cup clash which also doubles as their Premier 3 grade match.

The next match up is the Traditional clash between St Pats Town and St Pats Silverstream at Evans Bay on Wednesday afternoon, while that night Aotea will look to lock the Beard Trophy away for the summer when they take on Porirua under the lights at Porirua Park.

________________________________________________________________________

Elsewhere

It’s Finals Day in Wellington’s two neighbouring provinces. Up the coast in Horowhenua-Kapiti, Foxton looks to repeat last year’s double. First up at the Levin Domain in the Reserves Bill Muir Cup final they’ll take on Shannon, before their Premiers face Paraparaumu for the Ramsbotham Cup.

All roads lead to Masterton for the finals in Wairarapa Bush where, remarkably and if you include last weeks Hodder-Steffert final, the eight teams come from eight different clubs. First up on the Memorial Park back fields is the Senior Reserve subsidiary Presidents Cup final between Gladstone and Eketahuna, followed by the Senior Reserve Ryan Cup championship final between grade powerhouse Tuhirangi and upstarts Marist. The main game of the day however is the Premier final, where Greytown look to complete an unbeaten 150^th anniversary season and repeat as champions, but Carterton will want to deny that fairytale and regain the title they last held in 2024.