There’s a position the team for everyone!
Purposely designed for those who might not be equipped for premier, U85’s allows players to take the field each week and play the game they love…
Introducing the U85kg grade to Canterbury club rugby in 2024 was part of Canterbury Rugby’s commitment to inclusivity and the belief there truly is a position on the team for everyone.
Purposely designed for those who might not be equipped for premier, U85’s allows players to take the field each week and play the game they love - moving around the field of play, the flexibility will have you trying out positions on the field you never thought possible.
U85’s is the fastest growing club competition across all provinces.
New Brighton, Burnside, Sydenham and Lincoln University saw a range of players lacing up for their newly formed teams last year. Some were returning to the code for the first time in ten years, others were colts’ players who felt they weren’t quite ready for premier, and there were even those picking up the ball for the very first time.
“It’s designed for everyone under 85kgs, no matter their skill set” says Denis Cations New Brighton Club Captain.
With every man on the field being within the same weight range, there are also less injuries making it safer and more fun for everyone. Cations added “the players didn’t want to play guys that were 10-20kg heavier than them, they didn’t want to get smashed, they didn’t want to get hurt. It was more enjoyable playing guys their own size.”
It would be fair to assume that Cations has seen a few games during his 50 years at New Brighton, nonetheless, he says the final of his club against Lincoln University is one of the best games of rugby he’s ever seen, “it was end to end – some of the tackles were pretty ferocious but everybody was the same size, and nobody got hurt, that was the beauty of it! It’s an exciting brand of rugby, it’s very free flowing.”
It doesn’t end in Canterbury though, with the opportunity post club season to go that step further and enter in the New Zealand U85kg National Cup, where the top 45 teams across the country battle it out, with High School Old Boy’s Light Bears winning in 2023 and again reaching the final in 2024.
Whether you’re a player on the lighter side or keen to get involved for 2025, we’d love to see you out there! Better yet, get your club involved and reach out here.
words by Hannah Yates