While the result over the past weekend wasn’t what we wanted, we want to extend our thanks for your support throughout the full Canterbury Rugby season.

It’s been an epic year of rugby in Canterbury, with a couple more weeks on the horizon, with sevens kicking off this week, and the Canterbury XV taking on the Heartland XV in Methven on the 1st of November.

We will have three more issues of The Red & Black, including this one, as we celebrate the end of the season. The Canterbury Rugby Awards will take place on our Facebook from Monday the 30th, with our Community awards, and will be followed by the Representative awards on the 31st and our NPC and FPC awards on the 1st of November too.

We’re also entering AGM season, so keep an eye out for your club’s AGM, providing you with a chance to have your say and catch up with your clubmates once again. The Canterbury Rugby Referees’ Association have theirs at Burnside RFC, 7pm on the 27th of November, with Metro Rugby’s on the 30th of November, 7pm at Linwood, Ellesmere on the 6th of December, 7pm at Rolleston and North Canterbury at 7pm on the 13th of December at Woodend.

Ngā mihi,

Tony Smail

CEO, Canterbury Rugby Football Union

Community Welcome

NPC Season Gallery

Despite the final result, it’s been a season to remember for our NPC side, with a number of debuts, a match taken to Rangiora and some breathtaking rugby that showed the true red & black flair. Check out the best shots from the 2023 Bunnings NPC season!

Cantabrians in Black

With the World Cup heating up as we hit the semi finals and the WXV 1 kicking off in Wellington, Canterbury will once again be well represented in the Black jersey over the weekend.

In Paris against Argentina, Codie Taylor, Sam Whitelock and Richie Mo’unga all start, while Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell will provide the impact off the pine as the All Blacks look to qualify for their fifth World Cup final.

In Wellington, the new WXV 1 tournament kicks off with the Black Ferns hosting France in the 7pm kick off on Saturday. Canterbury will have seven representatives involved, with Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Alana Bremner and Amy Du Plessis starting, with Chelsea Bremner, Lucy Jenkins and Martha Mataele set to appear off the bench!

Sevens season in full swing

The warmer weather means we’re back in Sevens mode, with lot’s of action to look forward to!

Condor Qualifiers - Ngā Puna Wai

Head down to Ngā Puna Wai next week to catch the Condor Sevens Qualifiers, with the Boys’ on the 25th of October, and Girls’ on the 26th of October.

School Leavers 7’s Festival - Ilam Fields

Get a your mates together and enter a team in the Leavers '23 7's Festival!

The Festival is designed to introduce boys' in Year 12 & 13 to Club Rugby as their time at school comes to a close, but also giving them the chance to jam with your mates!

Find out more and register here - https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/270157

Senior Club Sevens

The Canterbury Club 7’s take place on the 4th of November at Ilam Fields, with the South Island Club Sevens on the 11th and 12th of November at the same place!

Details on the South Island Club Sevens can be found here - https://www.canterburyrugby.co.nz/si-club-sevens

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.

2023 Canterbury Rugby Awards - School of the Year Finalists

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.

There are two finalists for School of the Year, both nominated for their all round efforts to bolster rugby in their communities.

Christchurch Girls’ High School

Christchurch Girl’s High have fostered a successful team culture across it’s teams, supplying girls’ wanting to play rugby with a range of options to ensure as many players as possible can try rugby. They have done this with widespread success too, maintaining their winning run in the Miles Toyota Cup, while also representing the South Island at the Top 4 National Championships this year.

St Thomas of Canterbury College

As a parent following from the outside, I’ve been so impressed with the St Thomas rugby programme and what it is delivering not just on the field in terms of outstanding results across the entire program, but what's most impressive is the structure that supplies quality coaching and management structure's across all grades of participation. This enables the kids to develop into not just quality skilled teams and players but the STC philosophy is to grow good young men and create a journey and pathway in life. St Thomas rugby program has seen a significant improvement in not just on field results but by engaging and bringing the wider community together to enjoy the game and teach our kids that hard work on and off the field is paramount to the building blocks of life. Has been awesome to observe the STC Rugby programs inclusivity and diversity of various ethnicities.