Hello, I’m John Stanley Vice President and Board Chairman of North Canterbury Rugby and recently appointed Vice President of Canterbury Rugby.
My rugby involvement started many years ago at Amberley, playing in the junior grades, with every Saturday morning piling into a couple of vehicles and traveling around clubs throughout North Canterbury, after a hearty morning tea, back to the Amberley domain to be ball-boys or just watch the senior team. I played through the grades to senior level at Amberley too.
I have been a player, coach and manager for Star in Timaru, Rangiora and Saracens. With Saracens, I have also been Vice President, President and elected as a life member. I have been a board member with North Canterbury and Country rugby for a number of years.
This weekend, we get to witness the final of the Luisetti Seeds Combined Country Competition at Prebbleton between Prebbleton and Ashburton Celtic. This competition sees twenty teams from North Canterbury, Ellesmere and Mid Canterbury compete for the honour of overall champion. I’m sure this game will not disappoint as both teams have been playing attractive rugby to reach here. I hope to meet many of you there.
I’m honoured to have been appointed to the Vice President role for Canterbury, with the personnel that have held this position previously it is truly a privilege. I will be attending games throughout Canterbury from Kaikoura to Southbridge and getting to know as many rugby personnel and volunteers as possible.
I would also like to extend condolences on behalf of myself and the Canterbury Rugby Football Union to the University of Canterbury Rugby Football Club following the passing of their long-standing President Ivan Bolton last weekend. Ivan will be well known around the rugby community for his 60 year devotion to University Rugby, and will be sorely missed by all those who have had the pleasure of meeting him over the years.
Ngā mihi,
John Stanley
Vice President, Canterbury Rugby Football Union
Community Welcome
Prebbleton carry the Canterbury torch into the Luisetti Seeds Combined Country Division 1 Final
Ellesmere Rugby’s Prebbleton RFC will represent Canterbury in this year’s Luisetti Seeds Combined Country Division 1, hosting Ashburton Celtic in the final on Saturday.
Prebbleton and Ashburton Celtic were the form sides during the Round Robin, topping their pools, before prevailing in nailbiting semi-finals against Waihora and Kaiapoi respectively.
It will also be both sides debut final, meaning no matter the result, the trophy will be heading to a new home in 2023.
“It’s a massive bonus to have a home final in our first Combined final.” said Prebbleton RDO Simon Fitzgerald, “Our supporters have been brilliant all year. We’re looking forward to having the chance to play in front of them once again and hopefully they cheer us on and get us over the line like they did in the Semi Final.”
“Both us and (Ashburton) Celtic play an expansive style and good footy at that, so it’s sure to be a great match come Saturday.”
It is a sentiment shared by Prebbleton Club Captain Derek Todd too, with adjustments made to allow other senior teams in the club an opportunity to revel in the occasion of a first Combined Final at Prebbleton.
“The teams been building for the last few years, we’ve been losing semi-finalists in the last two semi-finals, so to get over the hump this year is really exciting.” Said Todd.
“The Div 2 boys have been moved to Friday to allow them to go and watch because we run a combined squad. The women were drawn to play on Friday which is a bonus and we’ve agreed with Kaiapoi to also move our U18’s to play earlier, meaning we should have a good turnout on Saturday.”
“We’ll also welcomed the Ashburton Celtic women and will be hosting their game against Kaiapoi here on Saturday, meaning they will be able to watch the game too.”
It all sets up an exciting weekend at the Prebbleton Domain, with both teams ready to go come 2:45pm on Saturday.
“We’re close to a fully fit roster, obviously a couple of niggles amongst the group as you always have at this time in the season, so we’re ready to go on the weekend.” Fitzgerald said.
Karl Hancox will referee the match along with AR’s Sam O’Reilly and Hayden Cook. Kick-off is at 2:45pm on the Oval at the Prebbleton Domain.
Luisetti Seeds Combined Country Division 1 Draws - Final
Keep it Positive bibs bring sideline messaging front and centre
Canterbury Rugby’s Keep it Positive message will be front and centre in junior rugby this season, with over 400 bright yellow bibs with a simple ‘Keep it Positive’ message on them distributed to community rugby clubs throughout the region.
The idea, that’s backed by Canterbury Rugby’s Principal Partner Ray White, is that those that help facilitate our junior game will stand together to stamp our poor sideline behavior, wearing a common bib, rather than their club colors, whilst delivering a positive reminder that ‘we’re all there for kids to have fun’.
“Our volunteers are excellent role models for sideline behaviour, and by helping them differentiate themselves from the sideline and teams playing should serve as a positive reminder that we are all there to support the tamariki playing our beloved game.” Said Canterbury Community Rugby Manager Fiona Smith
It is a sentiment shared by Ray White’s Claire Morris, who said “We joined forces with Canterbury Rugby to get behind the Keep it Positive campaign as we recognised that this is an area of our game that needs our support. By helping provide these bibs to the community, we want it to serve as a constant reminder of what behaviour we want to encourage when on our sidelines.”
The bibs will be distributed this week in Keep it Positive packs, alongside collateral designed to reiterate the Keep it Positive messaging.
Some of the bibs have also been distributed in recent weeks to Ohoka and High School Old Boys’, where coaches have heralded their importance.
Russell McLeod, who coaches the Ohoka Under 11 Mud Ducks, said “The bibs are a great idea. It’s really easy for both the kids playing and the spectators to distinguish who the referee is.”
“The bibs provide a neutrality from your club colours, and the messaging emblazoned on them emphasises that we’re out there doing the best for the kids and ensuring the players all enjoy themselves in the game.”
“They are good in the fact the person in the middle with the whistle controls the positive way in which the game is played and spectated upon.” said High School Old Boys’ Under 6 Carter coach Regan Turner. “It shows the parents on the sideline that the ref is just another volunteer giving up their time to allow their kids to play a game and having "Keep it Positive" printed on a bright yellow bib plants that mindset in their minds.”
“Watching the play so closely, they’ll see the ref in close proximity and they will continually see the Keep it Positive messaging, hopefully kerbing any negativity towards referees in general.”
“For the kids, it makes that separation between the referee and another parent running round on the field helping the team out, they learn to respect the referee early on when they can identify who it is.” Turner said.
Bascik Transport Premier competitions - June 17
Ray White gets behind junior rugby with Player of the Day recognition.
100 Under 9 and Under 10 rugby players around Canterbury will get the chance to pull on the red and black jersey each week, with replica Canterbury playing jerseys distributed to the union’s 48 clubs to reward positive play as part of their Player of the Day rewards thanks to Principal Partner Ray White.
Aimed at strengthening the connection between club and Canterbury, the player then gets to keep the jersey for the week and will also go into the draw to reward a Canterbury player their Player of the Day award during the Bunnings Warehouse NPC and FPC seasons.
“Playing rugby all starts at club rugby,” said Canterbury NPC Coach Marty Bourke, “so to be able to highlight the journey from club to Canterbury, a really important step in the development of our NPC and FPC players in this special and significant way to grow a love for our game.
“Ray White Canterbury is pleased to be able to provide the opportunity for junior rugby players to pull on the same jersey as their Canterbury heroes,” said Ray White’s Claire Morris, “Receiving Player of the Day is always a special moment for our children, and we hope the addition of the embroidered Canterbury jersey will see them wearing this acknowledgement with pride for the full week after their game.”
Each jersey has the club that the player represents, and Player of the Day embroidered on it, providing the acknowledgement of that weekend’s performance!
Canterbury FPC Head Coach Jimmy Sinclair agreed, “To see young girls and boys wearing the same jersey as our FPC and NPC players will be outstanding. Hopefully we get to see some of those kids get to wear a Canterbury jersey on a regular basis, it’s a great way to highlight the pathway for young players in the future.”
The replica jersey is Canterbury’s new jersey for the 2023 seasons, with recipients having the extra special opportunity to wear the jersey before both the Canterbury NPC and FPC sides do so, when their seasons kick off in July and August respectively.
The replica jerseys will go on sale to the general public at the end of July.
Miles Toyota Premiership & Championship - June 17
Luisetti Seeds Community Profile – Oxford’s Simon Fleetwood
Answering the S.O.S. call from his old club Oxford in 2023, club centurion Simon Fleetwood is definitely putting in the hard yards to help his side out, around a 150km round trip to be precise!
Despite being based in Methven, Fleetwood travels up to Oxford twice a week, once for training on the Thursday and then once again on Saturday for the game, wherever that weekends match may be.
“I’ve been living in Methven for the last 10 years, and Oxford were pretty short in the front row so I put my hand up to help and have made a few appearances in the Luisetti Seeds Combined competition.” Said Fleetwood.
Over his playing career, Fleetwood has put in 140 games and counting for Oxford, originally bringing up his century in 2010, as well as a further 111 games for Methven.
As a result, Fleetwood was presented his centurion’s blazer following the final game of the Luisetti Seeds Combined Competition last Saturday, with the blazers being introduced in between his playing stints at Oxford.
“They didn’t have the blazers when I first brought up 100 games, and it’s nice to be in a position now to receive one.”
An Agronomist for Luisetti Seeds working closely with farmers throughout Canterbury, Rugby has been a passion for Fleetwood that has provided an outlet for the front rower and his family.
“The rugby has been a passion for me that my family has enjoyed for a long time, it’s always been something that we’ve done on a Saturday, and will probably continue to do so!”
Ellesmere Division 3 - Round 6
