Rugby adapts for Opening Weekend

As time becomes ever more precious, rugby has adapted to the ever-changing need of the participants with shortened seasons, avoiding fixtures on public holidays where possible and also introducing new divisions and grades to encourage new players.

Importantly, on the first weekend of May, Ellesmere Senior Rugby has adapted their schedule to accommodate opening weekend of Duck Shooting, allowing participants in the Division 2 and 3 grades to have the weekend off rugby.  

With clubs sometimes struggling to fill teams on opening weekend, having this weekend off allows many people the opportunity to partake in one of New Zealand’s favourite pastimes, and not miss a weekend of rugby either.

“It’s about having rugby fit in with their lifestyle as well,” said Ellesmere Rugby Manager Cameron Bone, “it’s about having flexibility in our winter weeks and adapting to what the players want so that they keep playing.”

“It’s been well received by the clubs, there were a lot of comments of thanks around giving that weekend off. We’ll survey around the clubs at the end of the season to check we’re making a call inline with the clubs, but it’s been very positively received so far.”

The weekend off isn’t just limited to Division 2 and 3 either, with Luisetti Seeds Combined Country Division 1 fixture between the Hornby Devils and Darfield Ducks at Denton Oval moved to Friday night under the lights, ironically allowing the Darfield team a chance to go after their own kind!