Sideline Conversions 21 September (some news and information to start the new week)

Horowhenua-Kapiti and Ories flanker David Leota-Johnson surges forward on Saturday, flanked by teammates, including Petone prop Kafa Katoa and HOBM No. 8 Mika Alaifatu. Photo: Stewart Baid. They beat Thames Valley 57-26. 

Monday morning edition: The first week of spring and the start of daylight savings at the end of this week mean the 15s rugby season is drawing to a close.

In representative rugby, attention turns to the U16s and the start of the HYRC U16s tournament this coming Saturday. The Wellington U16s host the Manawatu U16s at Lyndhurst Park. The other Division 1 tournament opener is between the two Hawke’s Bay teams in Napier. Wairarapa-Bush and Whanganui and Poverty Bay and Horowhenua-Kapiti contest the two Division 2 games. The tournament-proper is at Whanganui the following week.

Other matches coming up at the end of the week include the Wellington U18s and Manawatu U18s Girls teams in Palmerston North, the Wellington Maori U18s against Tasman U18s at Evans Bay Park (Friday), the Centurions and Hawke’s Bay Girls U18s in Pahiatua and the Wellington Co-ed Schools U18s playing the Taranaki U18s in Patea.

On Sunday, the Wellington Pride and Wellington Lions are at home in a double header against Tasman and Waikato respectively.

Whilst it is the end of the line for the Lions at home this year (just Taranaki away to come after this), with this weekend’s results, the Wellington Pride are top of the Division 2 Farah Palmer Cup table and a bonus point win over Tasman will ensure they are back home for a semi-final and then a final should they win that.

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Two rounds to play in the Heartland Championship before the semi-finals. The top four will play for the Meads Cup and the teams ranked 5-8 for the Lochore Cup. Horowhenua-Kapiti are currently third equal with North Otago and host them at Levin this coming Saturday, while Wairarapa-Bush are eighth and play Whanganui at home who are third equal with Horowhenua-Kapiti, North Otago and Thames Valley.

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Two players played their 100th matches for Horowhenua-Kapiti – with both Waikanae flanker Aaron Lahmert and Foxton prop David McErlean earning those milestones together.

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Kudos to Dion Waller and team for getting the Coed Schools U18 team up and running. You only need to look at the teamlist for the Centurions U18 side to know where the bulk of our leading age-grade players come from, so this team presents an opportunity for players from the schools with far less rugby resource to earn a representative jersey.

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Some heroic defence from Rick Withers, no more than 75kg, dripping wet for the Hawke’s Bay Under-18s in their 42-41 win against the Wellington Centurions on Saturday.

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One interested observer spotted at Maidstone Park on Saturday; Warriors Academy Manager Tony Iro.

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A loss for Wellington, but Tasman’s gain. Club Rugby understands that Wellington College and Centurions U18 captain ZK’deus Schwalger is heading across the Strait for the next stage of his rugby career with the Mako and the Crusaders Academy. It bears the obvious question of why?

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A trip home from Hell for the Wairarapa-Bush Heartland side. After defeating Buller 25-21, their original flight home was cancelled due to Westport Airport being closed. So it was on a bus to Nelson, and then onwards to Blenheim before a charter flight got them to Wellington, and another bus to Masterton. It’s unknown what time on Sunday morning the players actually made it into their own beds.

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“Dialled in,” “We go again,” “cheerful faces”- the Wellington Lions Social Media team have an uncanny knack for producing such upbeat content. By now they must be a weather-beaten special breed. The 2026 Lions are officially Wellington’s worst, matching the 2013-14 rabble with 10 consecutive defeats.

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Wellington lost 10 games in a row from the 2013 final against Canterbury (13-29) through the first nine games of 2014. They scored 169 points and conceded 376. The current team is worse. Though they have scored 249 points, they have conceded 472. The Lions have conceded 61 tries so far in 2026, a new record for a season and the first time they have passed 50. In 2014 and 2025, they conceded 49 tries, both times in 10 matches.

In the past two years, Wellington have won only three of 18 games, scoring 524 points and conceding 737. Of the 21 highest scores Wellington has ever conceded, 10 occurred in the last 18 matches. Some scores repeat, such as 66 conceded twice against Canterbury in 1995 and 2026. The 42 conceded against Tasman has happened in three previous games. In the past two years, three of the Lions’ top 20 defeats have occurred. Wellington have conceded 50 or more points 20 times; four were this season. The previous season record was two in 2016. Never until Saturday had Wellington conceded 50 in consecutive matches.

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The Lions have lost five consecutive home matches, equaling the runs from 2013-14 and 1955-56. Wellington has never lost every home game in a season but will have to beat Waikato on Sunday to avoid that feat. The Lions have already set a new record for most consecutive away losses with eight: the last four of 2025 and the first four in 2026. This is one more than the old record of seven, set when they lost their final four matches in 1991 and the first three in 1992.

At least Wellington won’t set the record for most losses in a season. With only 10 fixtures, they can’t lose 11 games like the 1926 team. The 1926 team played 16 games and had the unusual distinction of beating both the Maori All Blacks 21-14 and the All Blacks 28-16. The Maori and the All Blacks included Wellington players Mark Nicholls, Cliff Porter, Kenneth “Snowy” Svenson, Dodi Wi Neera and Lieutenant-Colonel Eruera Te Whiti o Rongomai Love. 0ur story from earlier this year on the 1926 team is here: https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/02/19/what-happened-100-years-ago-part-2-representative-rugby-in-1926/

The only season Wellington failed to win a single game was 1884, when they lost their only fixture, 9-0, to New Zealand before their first-ever tour to Australia, eight years before the New Zealand Rugby Union was formed and 21 years before the “All Blacks” name was widespread. Wellington had five New Zealand reps in 1884: Henry Roberts, Edwin “Ned” Davy, John Dumbell, Peter Webb and Hart Udy.

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An alarming result in Masterton on Saturday, with the Wairarapa-Bush U18s beating the Horowhenua-Kapiti U18s 116-0. Perhaps there were other factors at play such as injury and illness but on the face of it that should send alarm bells through the Horowhenua-Kapiti union. There are four colleges in the region as feeder schools, Kapiti College, Paraparaumu College, Waiopehu College and Horowhenua College.

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In First XV rugby pushing past a metre and a half in the scrum is not allowed. Understandable in some competitions based on grounds of safety. Why in U18 rep games don’t normal rules apply? These props are of a higher standard and experience. Kiwi props are taught to de-power then with no experience have to suddenly load up on the biggest blokes going.

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From a reader: “How much music is too much music at sports events? The traditionalists would say none at all during the match other than possibly pre match and halftime and at low volume. Music seems to be a constant theme at rugby matches nowadays with the consensus being it is okay for loud music during some breaks in play but the amount of music played on Saturday at the Stadium was perhaps too much. In the second half of the Pride match there was audible music or drumming playing over the PA for over 29 minutes of the 40 minutes (including 16 of the last 20 and all last 6 minutes). Even the most vociferous supporters of music at matches would have to agree that is too much. Music was even being played when conversions were being taken – what about respecting the kicker? The music kept playing continuously as the Lions match progressed. Who are the WRFU trying to attract?”

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Who said this prior to the Lions-Northland match: “Results tell us where we are, not where we’re going. There’s been a lot of internal growth.”

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Tara Turner after the Black Ferns win against Scotland: “We’ve got to work on the work-ons.”

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The Black Ferns can top the WXV I title standings for the first time with a draw against England at Twickenham next Saturday. They beat Scotland 66-14 in their second match in Edinburgh while the Red Roses and Canada shared a 26-26 draw at Sandy Park in Exeter. For Rugby World Champions England, this is their worst result since losing to the Black Ferns 34-31 in the 2022 Rugby World Cup Final. England are unbeaten in their last 40 internationals with 39 wins and one draw. They had won 52 consecutive home matches. A draw at home is their worst result since their last defeat, a 25-20 loss to the Black Ferns on November 19, 2016, at the Twickenham Stoop. Kendra Cocksedge scored 20 points for the Black Ferns with two tries, two conversions, and two penalties. Meanwhile, France edged Australia 29-26 despite two red cards, at one stage being reduced to 12 players.

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A take on last week’s revelations that the NZRU is in a spot of bother on all fronts, and is holding a emergency NZ Rugby Summit this Thursday. Details of where and when and if the public or media can attend are murky.

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Northland fullback James Ramm, 28, scored two tries, made four linebreaks, and charged for 175 metres in their record 52-28 win over Wellington. A former Australian Under-20 representative, Ramm was named Northampton’s Breakthrough Player of the Season and Player of the Season in his first season with the Saints in England. He went on to win two Premiership titles. A quality import.

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Following referee Ethan Jefferson’s unfortunate falcon at the National Top Four from a skewed conversion, Wellington U18 Centurions prop Mea’ole Ma’i was struck in the head by an errant pass on Saturday. This incident nearly led to a try 50 metres down the field. What is the most unlikely or ridiculous falcon? In a pre-season game between the Harbour Hawks and Southern Magpies in Otago’s premier rugby competition, a try created by Logan Allen for Michael Graham would have to be a contender. Allen receives the ball from a scrum and kicks toward his side’s left edge. The kick ricochets off an opposition player’s head as he leaves the field injured. It then hits the turf and bounces perfectly for Hawks speedster Michael Graham to rush away for a score.

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