Age Grade representative rugby, Heartland Championship and NPC competitions this weekend

By Scott MacLean & Steven White

The second round of the Hurricanes U18s competition is this Saturday, with two matches in Napier, one in Palmerston North and one in Masterton. There are also U18s girls and U16 boys games, while the Heartland Championship and men’s and women’s NPC competitions continue.

Representative

The senior representative season is rapidly heading towards a close, with the Centurions campaign already done.

The Wellington Lions are first up this weekend. Winless, and locked at the foot of the table a victory at this point would be greatly welcomed, but they face steep odds as they head to Christchurch to face Canterbury for the Harry Saundercock Trophy under the roof at the brand new One NZ Stadium tomorrow evening. Wellington are boosted by the return of Stanley Solomon at fullback while lock Johnny Falloon and halfback Logan Henry join the run-on side.

Canterbury are the Harry Saundercock holders, having won this 33-15 when they met last year in round one of the competition at Porirua Park. Wellington had won the previous three matches before that including 46-21 in Rangiora in 2024.

The trophy was presented by the Saundercock family in 1965 in memory of Harry Saundercock who was the first member of the CRFU to represent Canterbury Rugby sub unions in 1935.

Wellington and Canterbury have met in the NPC on 57 occasions. Wellington is slightly ahead with 28 wins to Canterbury’s 27. There have been two drawn matches. Wellington has played Canterbury more often than they have any other side. Auckland is next on the list with 51 meetings (including 2026).

Canterbury have scored 175 NPC tries against Wellington and Wellington have scored 171 tries in the NPC against Canterbury.

Canterbury have scored 1,473 points against Wellington and Wellington have scored 1,395 points in these meetings.

Overall, Wellington and Canterbury have met on the first-class rugby field 182 times. Wellington have won 93 of these, Canterbury 79 and there have been 10 draws.

Their first meeting was at Newtown Park in 1883 with Wellington winning 1 to 0 (one try to nil). They played their 100th match in 1968.

Just three Wellington players have scored three or more tries against Canterbury in one match. These are J. Magee (1908) and D.W Hanson (1988) who both crossed for hat tricks and wing Bernie Fraser who scored four in 1978.

The most points by a Wellington player against Canterbury in a single match is 22 by Jon Preston in 1994. The next most are: Jackson Garden-Bachop (2017) with 20, Ron Jarden (1953) and Brian Cederwall (1981) with 19 and J.R Watt (1959) and Riki Flutey (2002) with 18. Callum Harkin kicked 14 points in 2024.

The Wellington Pride are two-from-two and will be eyeing up their clash with Northland next week, but they’ll need to remain focused for Sunday afternoon’s clash with Hawke’s Bay at McLean Park. It’s little surprise that they’ve taken the chance to change most of the line-up for this week.

The Pride will be hoping to win their third straight match to start their 2026 FPC campaign.

This will be the 10^th competition match against the Hawke’s Bay Tui and the Pride have won seven of nine previously. Their meetings have been sporadic in recent seasons owing to the fact that the Pride have mostly been in Division 1 until recent seasons and the Tui in Division 2.

Their last clash was at the Hutt Rec in 2023 with the Tui winning 33-22. Before that it was at that same venue in 2020 and the Pride won 67-17 with Black Fern Ayesha Leti-L’iga scoring four tries.

The last time they met in Napier was in 2018 with the home team winning 25-22 that day. Their first clash was in 2009 with the Pride winning 25-5. The Pride have scored 330 FPC points against Hawke’s Bay and the Tui have piled on 138 against the Pride

The Under 20s have one final match, and they too are in Christchurch to face their Canterbury counterparts tomorrow afternoon.

The four Boys age-grade sides are all away as well. The Centurions U18s are in Palmerston North to take on Manawatu, while the Wellington Māori U18 face Hawke’s Bay in Napier.

Kick-off for the Centurions-Manawatu U18s match at Colquhoun Park is at the earlier time of 11.00am, as its school ball season and several players have to return to Wellington to put on their dancing shoes

The U18 Division 2 fixtures see Wairarapa-Bush hosting Whanganui in Masterton and the Horowhenua-Kapiti side meeting Poverty Bay in Napier.

The Wellington U16s are off to the River City to play Whanganui, with the Māori U16 also in Palmerston North against Manawatu.

The only sides playing at home this weekend can be found at a double-header at Rugby League Park. The U16 Girls are up first against Whanganui, followed by the U18 Girls against the Centurions selection.

There is also a school First XV traditional clash tomorrow, where Upper Hutt College host Heretaunga College at 11.ooam.

The Wellington U85kgs are hosting a warm-up match/trial at North Park, Petone at 2.30pm, to select their final squad for their upcoming matches.

Heartland

The halfway point has been passed, and both Wairarapa-Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti are mid-pack as the only sides with two-win, two-loss records. The Bush are at home on the Memorial Park turf for just the second time in the campaign, where they’ll take on new competition leaders King Country after the Rams comprehensively beat South Canterbury last week.

Horowhenua-Kapiti hit the road for what’s often felt as the best and definitely most-rural away trip in the country, off to Ruatoria and a meeting with East Coast at Whakarua Park. Both teams will be on a high after the ‘Nua took down Whanganui and the Coasters recorded an impressive win away over West Coast.

The feature clash of the round is down in Ashburton as Mid-Canterbury lock horns with neighbours and rivals South Canterbury. Thames Valley also have a local derby when they host Poverty Bay, and a third will see no love lost when Buller hosts West Coast in Westport. The only match with inter-island travel is in Oamaru with North Otago hosting Whanganui.

Teams (as supplied/seen):

Wellington Lions

1.Geordie Bean (OBU)
2. Penieli Poasa (Ories)
3. Alex Hewitt (Upper Hutt)
4. Caleb Delany © (OBU)
5. Johnny Falloon (OBU)
6. Dominic Ropeti (Ories)
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (Norths)
8. Rupeni Raviyawa (HOBM)
9. Logan Henry (Petone)
10. Callum Harkin (OBU)
11. William Davis (Petone)
12. Losi Filipo (Petone)
13. Matt Proctor (Wellington)
14. Divad Palu (Import)
15. Stanley Solomon (Petone)
16. Kaleb Saxon (Petone)
17. Jake Turnbull (Import)
18. Bradley Crichton (Norths)
19. Matolu Petaia (Tawa)
20. Sione Halalilo (Ories)
21. Riley Williams (Import)
22. Cam Burgess (MSP)
23. Jackson Ropata (Import)

Wellington Pride

1.Giavanna Leo (Norths)
2. Amaria Ranapia (Wainuiomata)
3. Emelia La’ai (Ories – debut)
4. Jessica Jackson (Poneke)
5. Sanita Levave (Norths)
6. Lynda Rabeni-Vautloka (Petone)
7. Sinead Ryder (Ories)
8. Jackie Patea-Fereti (Petone)
9. Te Vaine Maui-Komaisavai (Norths)
10. Keira Su’a-Smith © (Wainuiomata)
11. Emerald Tuhiwai-Polson (OBU)
12. Nia Sutherland (Petone)
13. Merania Paraone (Ories)
14. Fia Laikong (OBU)
15. Litia Bulicakau (Petone)
16. Paige Misky (Norths)
17. Keiana Roffey (Poneke)
18. Megan Tulili (Poneke)
19. Dylin Alaimoana-Asi (Ories – debut)
20. Rikki Fitzgerald (Poneke)
21. Milly Mackey (Petone)
22. Sophia Ropeti (Ories)
23. Phoebe Edwards (Poneke)

Wellington Centurions U18

1.Julius Toimata (Well. College)
2. Herman Tuiatua (St Pats Town)
3. Donncha McNamara-Taele (St Pats Town)
4. Kitiona Teleapa (Petone)
5. Eddy Weatherstone (OBU)
6. Laifone Kamoto (Well. College)
7. Ethan Lepou (Norths)
8. Z’Kdeus Schwalger (Well. College)
9. Axel Daken (Petone)
10. Decodah Silva (St Pats Town)
11. Ashton Hamer (St Pats Town)
12. Benjamin Faitala (Well. College)
13. Lome Va’a (Rongotai)
14. Tom Hughson (Well. College)
15. Maka Vaihola (St Pats Town)
16. Noah Leavasa-Tavoi (St Pats Town)
17. Harry Baddington (Well. College)
18. Remy Fitisemanu (St Pats Town)
19. Ryder Sao (Tawa RFC)
20. Blake Miscall (HOBM)
21. Arlo Cross (St Bernards)
22. Andreas Focas (Scots)

Wellington Centurions U18 Girls

1.Sina Ioane
2. Toakase Tali
3. Davina Leaana (CC)
4. Marino Sung Tafale
5. Kahlia-Haze Temarama
6. Malia Faiai
7. Ledayna Leavasa-Tavoi
8. Jordan-Paige Mano-Pedro
9. Seren Mawby
10. Kaewa-Li Lukitau (CC)
11. Katrina Sunia
12. Lani Fidow-Bird
13. Siobhan Sau
14. Gracie Watson-Siloata
15. Lesieli Maake
16. Puauea Galuvao
17. Aniva Neru
18. Mattelena Tepai
19. Koreti Poai
20. Maddison Hosking-Ah Chong
21. TBC
22. TBC

Wairarapa Bush

1.Stan Wright, Jr (Marist)
2. Leon Tuiloma (Loan – Upper Hutt)
3. Lewis Bush (Greytown)
4. Malakai Biumaiwai (Greytown)
5. Matt Masoe (Marist)
6. Folau Finau-Vea (Loan – OBU)
7. Van Prenter (East Coast)
8. Isireli Biumaiwai (Greytown)
9. Daryl Pickering © (Carterton)
10. Josh Pepperell (Marist)
11. Soli Malatai (Greytown)
12. Fiula Tameilau (Carterton)
13. Caleb Robson (Loan – HOBM)
14. Charles Mataitai (Marist)
15. Tom Maiava (Loan – Ories)
16. George Parkes (East Coast)
17. Jerry Mapusua (Marist)
18. Sam Siaosi (Marist)
19. Cody Cunningham (Martinborough)
20. Inia Katia (Carterton)
21. Archis Bennett (East Coast)
22. Josh Cavanagh (Carterton)
23. Harry Eschenbach (Martinborough)

Horowhenua-Kapiti

1.David McErlean (Foxton)
2. John MacNeilage (Paraparaumu)
3. Kafaonga Katoa (Loan – Petone)
4. Isaac Carter (Waikanae)
5. Massie Harvey (Foxton)
6. David Leota-Johnson (Loan – Ories)
7. Lesen Huiarangi (Paraparaumu)
8. Mika Alaifatu (Loan – HOBM)
9. TJ Barnsley (Paraparaumu)
10. Ethan Woodmass (Foxton)
11. Junior Sione (Wanderers)
12. Connor Paki (Foxton)
13. Taine Hata (Waikanae)
14. Leighton Ralph (Ranui)
15. Zane Ainslie (Loan – HOBM)
16. Michael Laursen (Foxton)
17. PJ Iakopo (College Old Boys)
18. Ted Northcott (Rahui)
19. Brad Reilly (Paraparaumu)
20. Aaron Lahmert (Waikanae)
21. Shaun Gardiner (Paraparaumu)
22. Darren Falaniko (Wanderers)
23. Ben Harris (Foxton)