2023 Canterbury Rugby Awards - Club of the Year Finalists
The Club of the Year will be future focused, actively engaged in meeting the needs of their community and whānau by offering opportunities that nurture a lifelong love of rugby. This Club will be respected within the rugby community for its leadership, vision and initiatives that see them working on and off the field for the betterment of the rugby system. that enables the as well as working with others off the field for the betterment of the rugby system.
Check out why these three clubs have been singled out as our Club of the Year finalists.
Prebbleton Rugby Football Club
As well as significant on-field success for our senior grade teams (winning 4 out of 6 ERSU titles), there has been great growth in the girls & women’s grades. The establishment of U11 and U13 girls teams to compliment our existing U17 and Senior Women gives our girls a pathway to succeed in the game. Our senior side went through their season only losing 2 games, finishing runner up in the Luisetti Seeds Country Combined competition, and winning the Coleman Shield for the first time in 49 years. Our Colts also won the ERSU competition, along with our U18 combined side going through the season undefeated. The culture of the club has been second to none this year, creating a fantastic environment for our players, volunteers and life members.
High School Old Boys’ Rugby Football Club
There is no club that can offer the playing opportunities HSOB can. We have 5 mens’ sides including 2 Colts teams (the only club outside the two universities who can do so). We have 4 womens’ teams including the succesful Premier Reserves and the two Senior Girls teams. In the Junior space, we have teams from U6-U13 and have managed to maintain our numbers in a challenging environment. We also have 35 players in our polar cub program for 3-4 year olds. We also have our TRI Rugby team and have helped set up another team at Ohoka this year. Our U85kg team is leading the way in the South Island and won the National competition. With these playing opportunities comes a lot of hard work behind the scenes from volunteers inclunding coaches. managers, committee and we are very active in this space.
Springston Rugby Football Club
I've been a part of about 7 different clubs (we moved from Christchurch to Selwyn) in league and rugby and I have to say Springston is by far my favourite. It’s Springston’s first year having a womans’ teams and I can honestly say that this is the very first club I have been apart of that has embraced, welcomed and supported the womans team with so much time, love and laughter. It’s been an absolute amazing journey this year and I’m so stoked to have been a part of it. Guys like Kevin Jones who work extremely hard to pull in whatever they can to make this team happen are exactly what every club needs. It’s just been such a good year for us woman to experience the warm, fun vibe that comes with rugby and Springston.