Welcome to another week of Rugby here in Canterbury!
Hello, my name is Riki Tahere and I am a Game Developer in the Community team, responsible for the development of Playing and Coaching throughout our region.
One of those areas of responsibilities is our representative programmes, helping create the framework to best help our coaches and players succeed. Below, you’ll see the announcement of the initial Wider Training Group for the Canterbury B’s.
This squad will give our B’s coaches, members of the community game themselves, the best opportunity to pick the best possible side following club finals weekend. The wider group trained last night for the first time at Christchurch Park, and will be out at Kaiapoi and Prebbleton in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere, we have been running Small Blacks and Rugby Smart courses throughout Canterbury and tackle clinics for our new U8 players, and it’s great to see the progress our junior players have made in just a couple of weeks!
Good luck to all out on the paddock this weekend and enjoy your weekend of Rugby!
Ngā mihi,
Riki Tahere
Game Developer - Playing and Coaching, Canterbury Rugby
Community Welcome
Canterbury B Wider Training Squad Announced
A 70-man Wider Training Squad has been announced for Canterbury B, as the NPC and B’s coaching group look to identify the best talent from throughout the region.
By casting the net far and wide, it is hoped the wider training programme, which will encompass 4 weeks of training throughout Metro, North Canterbury and Ellesmere, will provide the coaches with all of the tools to select the best players in Canterbury Club Rugby.
“I learnt last year that there is a ton of talent throughout our club rugby system,” said B’s Head Coach Scott Pawson, “having this Wider Training Group allows us to have a more robust selection process, and that’s not to say that selection can’t be forced by those not in this wider group, but it ensures that we have taken as many steps as possible to select the best side.”
“It’s really important that we get out to our community, to Ellesmere, North Canterbury and to town here, so having trainings around the region allows everyone an opportunity to get to a home training, and give us the best opportunity to identify talent.”
Pawson, who is also the Head Coach of New Brighton, will be joined in the coaching group by Sydenham’s Mark Croft (Forwards), Lincoln University’s Jason Pawson (Backs) and Darfield’s Mervyn Todd (Defence).
“They’ve all got pedigree from their time in the club system, just like the players doing well at club level, it’s great reward for guys who have had success coaching our club teams too.”
The Canterbury B programme is especially important for the NPC team, with the team providing a pathway for players to step up into the professional set up.
“Our B’s programme provides a meaningful pathway for our players to stay involved in Canterbury Rugby and provide the opportunity for us to call on the best possible players for our NPC side.” Said NPC Head Coach Marty Bourke.
“Our Club Rugby is the best in the country, and having a strong B’s programme allows us to retain the best talent in Canterbury.”
“We saw last year that the B’s programme provided important players to our campaign, guys who made their debuts like Tom (Heywood) and Blair (Murray), so as we push towards a title challenge this year, we want to have players who are prepared to step up and show their talent.” Bourke said.
The team trained at Christchurch FC last night, before heading out to Kaiapoi and Prebbleton in the next couple of weeks, before returning to Rugby Park for the final week. The finalised Canterbury B squad will be announced following club finals weekend on the 29th and 30th of July.
Dedicated Girls’ Grades kick off in Canterbury
The rich history of Female Rugby continues to grow, with a new Junior Girls’ Grade beginning this week.
Aimed at girls’ in Year 5/6/7, the new grade kicked off at Nunweek Park on Monday at 5.30pm, attracting teams from Rolleston, Prebbleton and Kaiapoi, and a number of individuals who came along to have a go, with three more teams in the process of forming now from Ōtautahi, Merivale Papanui and Marist Albion. The smiles on the faces of the girls was great to see!
Part of the appeal to running the grade on a Monday is also to attract those who are not currently playing rugby too, with a number of this week’s participants Netball, Hockey and Football players.
The aim was also to start an Intermediate Girls grade, there is one team set to go so we are looking for more girls to join in the Year 7/8 age group as well.
There is always space for more players and teams, with both Monday night grades open to more entrants. For more information, please register here.
On Wednesday, the first day of the Miles Toyota Cup, the female 1st XV competition, kicked off, with trainings and shortened games getting the teams underway.
With the support of Canterbury Rugby’s Game Development team, Matatū’s Whitney Hansen, and Black Ferns Pip Love, Amy Rule and Grace Brooker, the teams were put through their paces as they prepared for the first of the pre-season matches.
The competition is slightly different this year with two different teams each week receiving specialised coaching specific to them while the others play their games, to assist in building the skill set of the players, many of whom are new to rugby.
Female rugby is an exciting space right now with good interest from keen participants and a level of support that hasn’t been available before with the introduction of the first two full time coaching roles in the country between Matatū and Canterbury Rugby with Whitney and Jimmy Sinclair’s appointment, thanks must also go to the clubs and their volunteers who are working really hard to pull teams together to give the girls opportunities.
Bascik Transport Women’s Premier Reserve - 15’s and 10’s
Bascik Transport Premier competitions - Round 6
United RFC celebrates belated centenary
United RFC will celebrate a belated centenary this weekend, with the club raising the bat a couple of years late due to the effects of Covid-19.
The club, who are one of the four clubs that make up the combined Hurunui RFC, will celebrate the occasion in Hawarden with a full Hurunui club day, with games from Under 6’s right up to Division 1, where the Hogs take on West Melton.
The occasion will be celebrated with a 3 halves of rugby today, with the old boys of the club strapping on the boots and putting on the colours once again, followed by festivities at the Hawarden Hall, with dinner and guest speakers to look forward to.
The Canterbury Events team will also be out at the Reserve this weekend, with the Club Day set up heading north to celebrate the birthday of a proud Northern club.
Luisetti Seeds Combined Country Division 1 Draws - Round 7
Ray White and Canterbury Rugby celebrate successful Boots for the Bay drive
Thanks to the generosity of the people of Canterbury, the ‘Boots for the Bay’ boot drive led by Ray White and Canterbury Rugby has been lauded a success.
Miles Toyota Premiership & Championship - Round 2
Gallery - Cantabrians Fun Day
After a false start last week, 100’s of Primary School kids took to the fields at Burnside Park to give rugby a go!
