{"id":30169,"date":"2026-04-06T08:26:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T20:26:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/?p=30169"},"modified":"2026-04-07T12:05:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T00:05:59","slug":"sideline-conversions-6-april-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/2026\/04\/06\/sideline-conversions-6-april-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Sideline Conversions 6 April (some rugby news and information to start the week)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Upper Hutt Rams celebrate a job well done, beating Poneke 66-32 in their Swindale Shield season opener. Is this the year of the Ram? Photo: Tane Nathan\/Kinetic Images.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wpls-fix-box,\n\t\t\t#wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1 .wpls-fix-box img.wp-post-image{max-height:250px; }\n\t\t<\/style>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wpls-wrap wpls-logo-showcase-slider-wrp wpls-logo-clearfix wpls-design-1 \" data-conf=\"{&quot;slides_column&quot;:4,&quot;slides_scroll&quot;:1,&quot;dots&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;arrows&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;autoplay_interval&quot;:3000,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;true&quot;,&quot;rtl&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:800,&quot;center_mode&quot;:&quot;false&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-showcase logo_showcase wpls-logo-slider  sliderimage_hide_border \" id=\"wpls-logo-showcase-slider-1\" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roblawmax.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/rmax24.jpg?fit=220%2C120&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geeksonwheels.co.nz\/locations\/wellington-computer-repair\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/images.jpg?fit=296%2C170&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/thecallcentre.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/TCC-Logo-400x260-1.jpg?fit=400%2C260&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div><div class=\"wpls-logo-cnt\">\n\t<div class=\"wpls-fix-box\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.partnersfinance.co.nz\/\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-post-image\"  src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/part2.jpg?fit=300%2C195&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" \/>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first weekend of Wellington club rugby saw seven entertaining Premier fixtures played throughout the region and the opening round of Premier 2 games.<\/p>\n<p>There were Premier Swindale Shield bonus point wins to the the Upper Hutt Rams, Petone, Wainuiomata, Old Boys University, Marist St Pat&#8217;s and Hutt Old Boys Marist and a win without a bonus point to Paremata-Plimmerton.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Games this coming Saturday<\/strong> at a glance are (check back here Friday afternoon for a full preview):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tawa v Paremata-Plimmerton, Lyndhurst Park<\/li>\n<li>Johnsonville v Northern United (Barlow Trophy), Helston Park<\/li>\n<li>Wainuiomata v Old Boys University (Peter Dunford Cup), William Jones Park<\/li>\n<li>Avalon v Hutt Old Boys Marist (Billy Herbert Memorial Trophy), Fraser Park 2<\/li>\n<li>Petone v Upper Hutt Rams (Ted Connolly Cup), North Park<\/li>\n<li>Wellington v Poneke (Spud Lindsay Memorial Shield), Hataitai Park<\/li>\n<li>Marist St Pat&#8217;s v Oriental-Rongotai,\u00a0 (Joe O&#8217;Brien Memorial CupEvans Bay Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>All other club rugby grades start up this coming Saturday<\/strong>, but we have been told to expect some imminent changes to the <strong>Colts<\/strong> draw after a reshuffling of clubs and teams participating this year.<\/p>\n<p>Local competitions in Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti are also in full flight again and Wairarapa-Bush also move on to their second round.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The fourth annual <strong>Club of Origin<\/strong> day is being played today at the Polo Ground. There are four matches, culminating in the Boys U18s Aukuso Cup which Ories have won three times and with Poneke seeking their first win in 2026. The Player of the Match is for the Hemi Tui Award after the Rongotai College old boy and 167-cap Premier player for Poneke. The day&#8217;s action is being livestreamed on the Poneke Facebook and You Tube pages at: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?<\/a>v=iaRCP3oUI44<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>It is school holidays and as such some college First XV rugby on. The <strong>St Pat&#8217;s Silverstream First XV<\/strong> host visiting Australian side Barker College on Wednesday, while the annual Presbytarian Quadrangular comes to Wellington and is hosted by <strong>Scots College First XV<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The Presbytarian Quad features Scots, St Andrew&#8217;s College (Christchurch), Lindisfarne (Hastings) and St Kentigern College (Auckland). Games on Wednesday afternoon and Friday finals from mid-morning to early afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>opening Premier round in Wellington<\/strong>, played in fine and breezy conditions, saw 470 points scored across the seven Premier games played and 75 tries. The contrast was Upper Hutt Rams&#8217; 66-32 win over Poneke with 15 tries and Paremata-Plimmerton&#8217;s 15-14 win with 4 tries over Oriental-Rongotai.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Congratulations to the players that reached <strong>100 Premier games<\/strong> on Saturday. Tom Robertson and Ben Tuia (both Wellington Axemen) and Ryan Imrie (Petone).<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Marist St Pat&#8217;s<\/strong> have won six of their last seven opening-round games; three of those wins are against Northern United.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Oriental-Rongotai<\/strong> have lost three in a row at the Polo Ground. When did that last happen?<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wellington&#8217;s<\/strong> first round score of 29 against HOBM is their highest since a 37-27 win against Johnsonville to start the 2017 season.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>Aotea College<\/strong> Kapa Haka group delivered a stirring performance at the <strong>Paremata-Plimmerton<\/strong> season launch on Friday night. They are heading to Nationals in June and July and are definitely worth supporting.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Petone\u2019s feed<\/strong> set a high standard early in the season with homemade Hershey&#8217;s cookies, Mitchell Southall Muddy Grinds coffee, and pulled pork tacos.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ethan Loveridge<\/strong> made a welcome return to Premier refereeing in the Tawa v Petone match. He faced an injury-affected season in 2025. Ethan has refereed 25 premier matches.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stanley Solomon<\/strong> was in electrifying form for Petone in their 48-3 account of Tawa. He scored four tries against the same team in 2023. <strong>Braith Ingram<\/strong> was a powerhouse in Petone&#8217;s dominant win over Tawa.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>There is a long tradition of <strong>talented Gisborne players<\/strong> making a name for themselves in Wellington. Was there anyone better than All Black <strong>Tu Wyllie<\/strong> for Marist St Pat&#8217;s? He won Jubilee Cups in 1978, 1979, and 1981. He played 86 games, securing 63 wins and scoring 21 tries for Wellington. He also won NPC titles in 1978 and 1981.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ryder Sao<\/strong> debuted at lock for Tawa at age 17.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Last year&#8217;s St Pat&#8217;s Town captain and flanker <strong>Ethan Lepou<\/strong> scored a try with his first touch of the ball. But he spent plenty of time in the backline, although this was clearly planned as the role of the new &#8216;hybrid&#8217; player evolves. Norths put two loose forwards in the backline in just about all of their lineouts and MSP were calling it short on their throws for much of the second half as well.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Meinrad Fitismanu<\/strong> had a storming game at loosehead prop for the MSP Premiers, and also scored a try. Propping with tighthead and new NZ U20s reserve prop <strong>Corban King<\/strong> in a dominant scrum. Former Wests prop <strong>Ben van Berkel<\/strong> was the referee and was clearly impressed.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ve got the silver &#8211; <strong>Johnwhite Silva<\/strong> led from the front at prop in his Norths Premier 2s effort over MSP. Former Premier player <strong>Johnny Teleaga<\/strong> was fullback and one<strong> Parekura Lalaga<\/strong> was on the bench but it didn&#8217;t look like he got on the field.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, there were a number of ex Premier players playing in the 14 Premier 2 teams on Saturday &#8211; we might do a list or name a &#8216;XV&#8217; of these guys soon!<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>MSP Premier 2 halfback <strong>Eliott Vidal<\/strong> was a livewire all game in the Harper Lock Shield fixture against Norths.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The Wellington Axemen lost 81-7 to HOBM in their season opener two years ago. On Saturday it was much closer, with the Axemen&#8217;s backs led by <strong>Matt Proctor<\/strong> looking likely. It was only the big <strong>HOBM pack<\/strong> that got them home in what appeared to be a comfortable win going by the scoreboard but they were made to work hard.<\/p>\n<p>Who recalls this season opener between these two teams in 2015:<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-30202\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/axe-hobm-2015-round-1.jpg?resize=523%2C562&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"523\" height=\"562\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/axe-hobm-2015-round-1.jpg?resize=279%2C300&amp;ssl=1 279w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/axe-hobm-2015-round-1.jpg?resize=768%2C827&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/axe-hobm-2015-round-1.jpg?resize=119%2C128&amp;ssl=1 119w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/axe-hobm-2015-round-1.jpg?resize=30%2C32&amp;ssl=1 30w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/axe-hobm-2015-round-1.jpg?w=862&amp;ssl=1 862w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>MSP beat Norths 58-22 on Saturday in round of the Swindale Shield. Who recalls this first round game between the same clubs at the same venue in 2010:<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-30204\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Norths-MSP-rd-1-2010.jpg?resize=467%2C437&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"467\" height=\"437\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Norths-MSP-rd-1-2010.jpg?resize=300%2C281&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Norths-MSP-rd-1-2010.jpg?resize=768%2C720&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Norths-MSP-rd-1-2010.jpg?resize=128%2C120&amp;ssl=1 128w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Norths-MSP-rd-1-2010.jpg?resize=32%2C30&amp;ssl=1 32w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Norths-MSP-rd-1-2010.jpg?w=872&amp;ssl=1 872w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>An early contender for &#8216;comeback of the year&#8217; goes to <strong>Old Boys University<\/strong> against <strong>Johnsonville<\/strong>. They were trailing Johnsonville 28-7 after about 35 minutes but scored a key try just before halftime and then swept home with the northerly at their backs and with a yellow card to talisman Johnsonville lock <strong>Anthony Pettett<\/strong> to win 48-33.\u00a0 They put on 41 unawnswred points, before Johnsonville rallied with a late consolation try<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>The opening rouind of the <strong>Tipping competition<\/strong> is in the bank.<\/p>\n<p>The leaders are below at a glance (total points in bold)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 =\u00a0 mcurpine 18 +10 +28 <strong>56 <\/strong><\/li>\n<li>1 =\u00a0 Huddy Sports 18 +10 +28 <strong>56<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>3 Aiden Cains 16 +10 +26 <strong>52<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>4 Tkstyles 18 +18 <strong>36<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>5 Nate W 22 +10 <strong>32<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>6 = justlachs 20 +10 <strong>30<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>6 = John Hagan 20 +10 <strong>30<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>6 = ItsOurYear 20 +10 <strong>30<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>9 = Tom2K 14 +14 <strong>28<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>9 =Brownie1992 18 +10 <strong>28<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>9\u00a0 = BridgeBasinTrapper 18 +10 <strong>28<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>9 = ILoveNembhard 18 +10 <strong>28<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>9 = Donnamoomoo 18 +10 <strong>28<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>9 =\u00a0 phillyyy 18 +10<strong> 28<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>\u00a09 =\u00a0 Aj9Wood 18 +10 <strong>28<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>9 = Leap to Fame 14 +14 <strong>28<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are some 110 who have signed up to play, so we are away. It is not too later to join, and there are -four &#8216;wildcard&#8217; rounds where your points are doubled and and 16 weeks of unpredictable rugby to\u00a0 come. More at <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.faceyoursfears.com\/games\/WGTN2026\/tip\">https:\/\/www.faceyoursfears.com\/games\/WGTN2026\/tip<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tawa<\/strong> lost 48-3 to <strong>Petone<\/strong> on Saturday (margin 45 points).<\/p>\n<p>A look at Tawa\u2019s top 10 heaviest losses in our database since 2011 (last 15 seasons counting this one).<\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>2024-04-06<\/td>\n<td>Swindale Shield 2005-2024<\/td>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>10<\/td>\n<td>Petone: Premier<\/td>\n<td>37<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2023-05-06<\/td>\n<td>Swindale Shield 2005-2024<\/td>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>17<\/td>\n<td>Petone: Premier<\/td>\n<td>41<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2023-04-22<\/td>\n<td>Swindale Shield 2005-2024<\/td>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>24<\/td>\n<td>Pare-Plim: Premier<\/td>\n<td>45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2022-04-23<\/td>\n<td>Swindale Shield 2005-2024<\/td>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>14<\/td>\n<td>HOBM: Premier<\/td>\n<td>43<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2018-06-23<\/td>\n<td>Jubilee Cup Premier<\/td>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>10<\/td>\n<td>Poneke: Premier<\/td>\n<td>44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2018-04-07<\/td>\n<td>Swindale Shield 2005-2024<\/td>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>9<\/td>\n<td>Petone: Premier<\/td>\n<td>36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2017-07-29<\/td>\n<td>Jubilee Cup Premier<\/td>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>22<\/td>\n<td>OBU: Premier<\/td>\n<td>50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2015-05-30<\/td>\n<td>Swindale Shield 2005-2024<\/td>\n<td>11<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>14<\/td>\n<td>Petone: Premier<\/td>\n<td>45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2012-07-21<\/td>\n<td>Jubilee Cup Premier<\/td>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>5<\/td>\n<td>Ories: Premier<\/td>\n<td>43<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2011-05-14<\/td>\n<td>Swindale Shield 2005-2024<\/td>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<td>Tawa: Premier<\/td>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<td>Norths: Premier<\/td>\n<td>36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rugby Xplorer<\/strong> appears to have been shored up, having left the dogbox in the off-season. Just one game of seven was incomplete as far as scores and scorers are concerned.<\/p>\n<p>One fatal flaw remains though and that is scorers are only listed in results by surname. What if there are brothers or in a couple of cases multiple brothers in the same line-up? Which one was the try-scorer? for example, was it Salesa, Herman, Ronaldo or Jason? If its used in Wales then good luck there if the likes of Jones and Thomas comes up more than once in every teamsheet! A headache for reporters and statisticians. One more thing that could be added to the user experience is adding in the halftime score.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Old Boys University lock and former Scots College captain and NZ U20s player <strong>Harry Irving<\/strong> to Otago later this year.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30177\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30177\" style=\"width: 645px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-30177\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?resize=640%2C456&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?resize=300%2C214&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?resize=1024%2C732&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?resize=768%2C549&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?resize=1536%2C1098&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?resize=128%2C92&amp;ssl=1 128w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?resize=32%2C23&amp;ssl=1 32w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?resize=240%2C172&amp;ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jerry-Shrine.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30177\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Jerry Collins Pasifika Rugby stand in the clubrooms at Porirua Park on Saturday.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><del><strong>Mark &#8216;Watto&#8217; Watson&#8217;s<\/strong> editorial on his radio show on Sunday brought up some good points. These were that this week there is a four-day weekend yet just three games of Super Rugby are on all weekend and nothing on Sunday or Monday. Meanwhile the NRL has games on every day\/night. Then next weekend there are four Super Rugby games that are all being played back-to-back on Saturday (in their magic round at the new Christchurch stadium). Where is the thinking and planning, he asked? We also add that two of those games next Saturday in the 2.05pm and 4.35pm slots are encroaching on community sport and readers here will know our stance on that subject.<\/del><\/p>\n<p><em>Update to the above &#8211; this is fake news. Perhaps he got his weeks wrong?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_30179\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-30179\" style=\"width: 353px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-30179\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-RN-April-Front-Cover.jpg?resize=353%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"353\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-RN-April-Front-Cover.jpg?resize=212%2C300&amp;ssl=1 212w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-RN-April-Front-Cover.jpg?resize=91%2C128&amp;ssl=1 91w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-RN-April-Front-Cover.jpg?resize=23%2C32&amp;ssl=1 23w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-RN-April-Front-Cover.jpg?w=650&amp;ssl=1 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-30179\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The April edition of the Rugby News is out now, featuring Upper Hutt&#8217;s Dave Rennie on the cover and Club Rugby&#8217;s look at the season ahead in Wellington on the inside pages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>Some players still not wearing <strong>mouthguards<\/strong> (photos don&#8217;t deceive). We are not here to tell you what to put in your mouth, but good luck with your dentist and bank account if you need a new tooth or worse.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><em>Sideline Conversions<\/em> was told there was an article in the media this weekend about Auckland and Canterbury joining Wellington in unison and dispensing with taking their NPC games to community grounds this year and <strong>returning to their stadiums<\/strong>. What&#8217;s behind this bombastic idea? What are they cooking up (it is the competition&#8217;s 50th anniversary in 1976) or it is just egos bursting through? Canterbury making this move is understandable as they have their new venue and the novelty factor of that, but for Wellington the yellow seats supporters&#8217; army might need to be reactivated.<\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p>We are currently getting our new <strong>Draws &amp; Results website<\/strong> set up and working for the year. Just waiting on one set of scorers to add in and complete the first round (as of Monday morning). Another thing just discovered on Sunday morning is in order to set up all the player profiles pages and display appearances and points all 308 players that played in the opening weekend (and new players coming up this Saturday and future weeks) need to be individually tagged and and ticked and re-saved in the website administration section. A slow process but all should be up to date and showing live later in the week!<\/p>\n<p>More at <a href=\"https:\/\/stats.clubrugby.nz\/\"><em><strong>https:\/\/stats.clubrugby.nz\/<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b><i>+++++<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-29916\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Club-Rugby-Supporters-Logo-V4-1.jpg?resize=640%2C335&amp;ssl=1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Club-Rugby-Supporters-Logo-V4-1.jpg?resize=300%2C157&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Club-Rugby-Supporters-Logo-V4-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Club-Rugby-Supporters-Logo-V4-1.jpg?resize=768%2C402&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Club-Rugby-Supporters-Logo-V4-1.jpg?resize=128%2C67&amp;ssl=1 128w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Club-Rugby-Supporters-Logo-V4-1.jpg?resize=32%2C17&amp;ssl=1 32w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Club-Rugby-Supporters-Logo-V4-1.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" alt=\"\" width=\"743\" height=\"389\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><strong>PHOTOS 2026<\/strong>: As well as social media all our photo galleries are put online here:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/clubrugby.smugmug.com\/2026\">https:\/\/clubrugby.smugmug.com\/2026\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>+++++<\/p>\n<p><em>This column is a collaborative effort, to share news and information and help to keep people informed in one place and also free and open and not behind a paywall please contribute by emailing editor@clubrugby.co.nz or contacting us via social media.<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Upper Hutt Rams celebrate a job well done, beating Poneke 66-32 in their Swindale Shield season opener. Is this the year of the Ram? Photo: Tane Nathan\/Kinetic Images. The first weekend of Wellington club rugby saw seven entertaining Premier fixtures played throughout the region and the opening round of Premier 2 games. There were Premier&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":30189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,60,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-rugby","category-latest-club-rugby-news","category-news-in-briefs"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Rams-celebrating-1.jpg?fit=900%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbDiON-7QB","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30169"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30227,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30169\/revisions\/30227"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clubrugby.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}