Kia ora koutou, with semi-finals in the Bascik Transport Metro Premier, Luisetti Seeds Ellesmere & North Canterbury Division 1 competitions, it’s getting exciting here in Canterbury!
Add in the Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse kicking off last Saturday with a comprehensive victory, and we’re looking at a great time to be following Canterbury Rugby. This weekend, our women are travelling to Hamilton to take on Waikato, kicking off at 2:05pm on Saturday.
We are closing in on the start of Bunnings NPC campaign and our Canterbury men will be looking to continue with another strong showing in 2023. The first game is away to Northland on Saturday 5th August 2023.
Our Junior and Teenage grades return this weekend after the School Holiday break, which I’m sure were well received by many! With fields given a good break, and the weather looking like it may play ball, it’ll be good to see the next generation of Cantabrians back out on our Community fields.
It was great to see our Black Ferns and All Blacks doing their thing on Saturday, with nine of our ten Black Ferns involved in their Pacific Four Series victory over the USA, and three All Blacks, including Burnside’s Tamaiti Williams who made his debut, involved at Go Media Stadium against South Africa.
It’s been great to get out and about at our club grounds this season. I often follow my Sydenham Club team around the Metro grounds on a Saturday, which also gives me an opportunity to connect with all the various club people doing great things during the season. Thank you to all the volunteers who work tirelessly to make this happen.
Ngā mihi,
Pete Winchester
Chairman, Canterbury Rugby Football Union
Community Welcome
New test awaits Canterbury FPC side with trip to Hamilton
A largely unchanged side will make the trip to the Waikato, looking to build on a successful first week which saw the team defend the JJ Stewart Trophy against Wellington.
Developing a rich history and rivalry with Waikato, the Farah Palmer Cup side is able to welcome back two experienced players this weekend, with lock Stacey Niao and Black Fern Grace Brooker in line for a return to the red & black jersey.
“Every player on Saturday added value to the legacy and expressed themselves.” said Head Coach Jimmy Sinclair, “it was great to be able to put our training into action and see it pay off in a big way, allowing us to blood some new players and begin to build those partnerships and connections.”
“Having Grace and Stacey back brings experience into the group, which will add a vital contribution to our performance against Waikato, they’ll both be able to unleash their skill and flair on the opposition come Saturday.”
Brooker is the only addition to the backline, with Mataele moving out to the right wing to accommodate the incoming international, while Niao will be able to add her impact off the bench, while the starting forward pack from that opening win remain, with all eight named to start again at St Paul’s Collegiate.
“We’re excited by the forward’s ability to play up the middle, and their skill set to move the ball when needed.” said Sinclair.
Kick off is 2:05pm on Saturday, with the Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse match live on Sky Sport.
Gallery - FPC vs Wellington
The FPC season got off to a red hot start, with our girls’ securing a 58-29 win!
Community nominations open for 2023 Canterbury Rugby Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2023 Canterbury Rugby Awards, with five awards to be decided with the help of our community.
The following awards are open now for nominations:
Volunteer of the Year
Volunteering takes many forms and positively impacts our communities in ways that are immeasurable. Enabling our game to be played, administered and delivered - our Volunteer of the Year will be someone who gives their time to rugby – making it a better place for those they are serving and supporting.
Coach of the Year
Creating a positive team environment with their players enjoyment of the game at the heart if it, our Coach of the Year will bring out the best in their team. Retention of players into the next season will be one of their key focuses, as will their players learning new skills and developing as people. On field results may play a part in the Coach of the Year, however this is not their key focus. They will be leaders through role modelling and display behaviours that support their club or school to be successful in the long term.
Community Team of the Year
Our team of the year will be a tight knit group who have achieved more than the sum of their parts. They may not have been world-beaters, but they will have qualities as a group that embody everything that is great about rugby. They will have contributed to their club, community and whanau beyond game-time. They will embody diversity and inclusion, have helped out where needed, been a positive influence for the current and up-and-coming players around them - demonstrating what it means to be a member of their team and club in a positive way.
Rugby School of the Year
The School of the Year will be future focused; innovating and challenging the norm while providing a structure and environment that attracts and includes participants of all skill levels and diversities. The School of the Year will cultivate a lifelong love of rugby no matter the level of ability, aspiration and involvement.
Club of the Year
The Club of the Year will be future focused, actively engaged in meeting the needs of their community and whanau 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.
Nominations are open until the end of August, and can be made here.
Bascik Transport Premier Men’s - Playoffs
Upcoming Events here in Canterbury!
The beginning of the Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse means we’ve hit an exciting time in the season, with Community Finals and High Performance rugby kicking off. Check out all of the upcoming events in July below!
Friday 28 July
NPC Pre-Season - vs Tasman Mako
Catch the Canterbury NPC team's pre-season hit out against Tasman at the Hanmer Springs Domain with kick off scheduled for 1:30pm. Entry is free.
Saturday 29 July
Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse - vs Bay of Plenty
Head down to Rugby Park to catch our second home Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse. The team needs your support, and with entry just $5 for adults, while U16's free, make sure to come down on Saturday! Gates Open 11:30, with a 12:05 kick off.
Ellesmere Finals Day
Head down to Waihora for Ellesmere Senior Finals Day, as we celebrate everything great about Ellesmere Rugby.
North Canterbury Finals Day
Kaiapoi is the host of North Canterbury’s Finals Day, with the first games kicking off at 11:30am.
Sunday 30 July
Bascik Transport Metro Premier Final
Head along to Rugby Park on Sunday to witness the Bascik Transport Metro Premier Final, with kick off set for 2:45pm.
Monday 31 July
Ray White’s Biggest Open Home
Taking place on Monday the 31st of July, Ray White and Canterbury Rugby are opening the doors of Rugby Park!
A fun rugby festival, the 2023 squads will be on hand for a meet and greet, skills and drills and the opportunity to peek behind the curtain at the home of Canterbury Rugby!
Luisetti Seeds Ellesmere Division 1 - Semi Finals
Young referees taking their opportunities in North Canterbury
Friends Jojo Baldwin and Ruby Darragh are amongst the graduates for Canterbury and New Zealand Rugby’s “You Make The Call” course and are well on their way to making a name for themselves within North Canterbury referees.
Year 11 high school student Jojo was first introduced to rugby at four years old playing for Ohoka and was just 12 years old when she played for Kaiapoi U16s. Playing in a grade with older players wasn’t a concern for Jojo, she was just keen to get on field, “all the girls were really nice, some were a year or two older than me but it was the only girls team in North Canterbury.”
An injury early in the 2021 season stopped Jojo’s rugby playing days but she chose to pick up a whistle the next year, to keep herself immersed in the game.
Jojo was a co-winner of the Des Hawkes Trophy for Outstanding First Year Referee in 2022, when she began refereeing U11s. She has since moved up to U14.5 games, as well as some first XV girls. Moving up the grades is Jojo’s favourite part of refereeing as she enjoys “seeing players progress” alongside her.
Meeting others who have the same interest in her and gaining extra credits towards NCEA are two of the additional bonuses as a result of taking part in the course for Jojo.
Beginning her rugby career in the Ashley Rugby Clubs U10’s, Ruby eventually played simultaneously for Christchurch Girls and High School Old Boys until U16’s, before having to hang up her boots due to injury as well. The boots didn’t stay away for long, as she picked them back up along with her whistle to become a referee.
Giving back to the sport is important to Ruby, “I love the game, I miss it so much still.” For her, refereeing is the best way she can keep involved. “I love seeing all the youngies and helping them.”
Helping and teaching the next generation of players on the field is Rubys favourite thing about refereeing, this is even apparent to coaches of teams she comes across in North Canterbury. Paul Keane, coach for the U13 Saracens side says “I like her refereeing. She explains to the kids what the infringement is for and she’s very decisive.”
Ruby also learned from the “You Make The Call” course, after taking a year off from sport for her recovery. Learning both practical and theory over the three day course, Ruby says it “really helped my confidence, its been great seeing other people enjoy the sport I love.”
You can see the girls in action this weekend, with Jojo heading to Kaikoura to ref the U12/13s against Kaiapoi, and Ruby will be on the field with U12 and U13 Saracens sides playing against each other at home.
Written by Hannah Yates
Luisetti Seeds North Canterbury Division 1 - Semi Finals
From Grassroots to Greatness fostering growth in the coaches of our Women’s and Girls’
Canterbury Rugby were proud to deliver a coaching course focussed specifically on our coaches of our Women’s and Girls’, as the union continues to look at ways to develop and grow an area of our game that has taken huge strides in recent years.
Run by the Community Rugby Game Development team, the course was also run in conjunction with an FPC training and with the support of Canterbury legend Kendra Cocksedge, giving those in attendance a great opportunity to learn from the best.
“it was a privilege to run our Women and Girls workshop “From Grassroots to Greatness” for some of our amazing volunteer coaches coaching in this space.” said Riki Tahere, Game Developer for Coaching.
“What is amazing about these groups of coaches who signed up and came along is it shows how deeply they care for their players, that they’re willing to take time for themselves to upskill themselves so they can continue to have an impact on the teams and people they coach.”
The coaching session is a part of a wider Women’s and Girls’ strategy that has seen great growth here in Canterbury, as Women’s Rugby continues to play an important role in our community landscape.
Miles Toyota Premiership & Championship - July 22
