Welcome from Community
I am so excited and really proud to be writing the welcome to this fortnights Red & Black! As a Cantabrian born and bred being a part of the team at CRFU is a real honour.
I have very recently taken up the role of Head of Engagement in the Partnerships and Engagement team and have hit the ground running with the Bunnings Warehouse NPC and FPC season already under way. So far, my highlight has to be the VERY wet FPC win over Waikato at Rugby Park over the weekend, what a day!
With previous experience in rugby and cricket (then a fairly long stint away from the sidelines in interiors) I am absolutely thrilled to be back in the world of sport. There really is no environment quite like it.
I look forward to taking in a lot more rugby and cheering alongside you all!
Can’t wait!
Libby Aberhart
Head of Engagement
Around the Grounds
There is a lot happening across the Community with teenage finals, junior matches, representative rugby in full swing and lots of exciting events on the horizon.
The Miles Toyota 1st XV Boys Premiership and Championship has come to a close with some tight matches across the board. Congratulations to all teams who made the finals, the winners, and of course the match officials for your finals appointments. A huge thank you to our community partner Miles Toyota for your support of this fantastic competition.
The Miles Toyota 1st XV Girls competition continues with the final set for mid September.
Miles Toyota 1st XV Premiership and Championship Final Results
Premiership:
Trophy: Nelson College 20 v Christchurch Boys High School 17
Plate: St Thomas of Canterbury College 31 v St Bedes 17
Championship:
Trophy: Rangiora High School 24 v Christchurch Boys High School 24
Plate: Mid Canterbury Combined 17 v St Bedes 2nd XV 23
A massive well done to Christchurch Girls High School who won the Crusaders Region Playoff Match against Craighead Diocesan School, in wet and cold conditions. The girls are off to Dunedin this weekend to play in the South Island Final against Columba College with the winner qualifying for nationals – all the best girls!
A heap of Metro Teenage grade finals ahead this weekend at Burnside Park and Nunweek Park in what will be a finals footy fest with 13 different finals being played.
The Tane Norton Trophy has 2 rounds to go and has been a hotly contested competition so far! Keep an eye out for who takes out the prestigious Tane Norton Trophy and also let’s not forget the battle for Country supremacy in the Southbridge Shield North Canterbury v Ellesmere match on the 1st September!
Teenage Rep Rugby kicks off shortly, congratulations to all of the players who made our sub union representative teams.
Make sure you get out and enjoy some community rugby this weekend and remember to Keep it Positive on the sidelines.
It’s Southbridge Shield time!
The Southbridge Shield will be up for contest on Fathers Day next weekend at the Rangiora Showgrounds, as a double header for the Canterbury NPC game V Wellington.
Currently in North Canterbury’s possession, the Ellesmere side will travel to Rangiora to play for the 101st year of the shield on Sunday 1 September.
Each year North Canterbury and Ellesmere lock heads on the field to fight for prestigious silverware, often described as their equivalent of the Ranfurly shield, or even a test match. The on field rivalry between the teams is fierce, and once brought the esteemed Robbie Deans out from retirement to play one more game and bring the shield back to North Canterbury.
Last year’s 100th anniversary of the shield brought an enormous crowd of supporters, including past players and those who have never missed a game in their lifetime. North Canterbury were the ones to lift the Southbridge Shield at the end of the day, with a final score of 26-13. They also took away the Tane Norton trophy, which is played for across five rounds of representative footy.
Along with the Southbridge shield, each sub union’s development side, colts and teenage teams will play each other at the grounds – forging a pathway to the future Shield challengers. Starting the day off strong, the U16s and U18s will play at the Rangiora High School, a short walk from the showgrounds. The Colts and the Developments sides will begin shortly after at the Showgrounds, allowing all final whistles to be called before the battle of the shield begins.
Here’s how the days games will pan out:
North Canterbury V Ellesmere
U16s 10am, Rangiora High School
U18s 10am, Rangiora High School
Colts 10:15am, Rangiora Showgrounds
Development 10:15am, Rangiora Showgrounds
Seniors 12:05pm, Rangiora Showgrounds
NPC
Canterbury V Wellington 2:05pm, Rangiora Showgrounds
Tickets to watch all the Rangiora Showgrounds games are just $10 with kids 5 and under FREE! You can buy your tickets here
Setting the challenge
This is what happens when you bring Canterbury Pasifika and Waitaha together for an epic battle towards the Tane Norton trophy - an absolutely thrilling showcase of heritage and mana shown through haka.
The Bunnings Warehouse NPC and Farah Palmer Cup for 2024 so far
Round 1
The Farah Palmer Cup kicked off Round 1 of our season playing away against Counties Manukau Heat. Counties hit first within 5 minutes but our girls replied soon after, making the score 7-5 to the home team after just ten minutes of play, after our debut winger Fia Laikong put the ball down in the corner. Half time we were down by 21-5, and despite Kilisitina Vea, Laikong again and Winnie Palamu getting the ball over the line in the second half the girls came away with the final score of 47-24 to Counties Manukau Heat.
NPC kicked off a couple hours later at Apollo Stadium, and although Northland drew first blood, the boys in red and black answered back just nine minutes later. At half time we were up three tries to two. In the second half another three tries went in our favour, and the team only allowed Northland over the try line once more. Brodie McAllister got down a hattrick, Hooker Ben Funnell added two tries to the board and Jamie Hannah got a try on his debut for the team. Canterbury’s weapon was the powerhouse rolling mauls that couldn’t be touched, leading to multiple tries throughout the game. What an amazing way for Drummy to celebrate playing 100 games for Canterbury.
Round 2
Our NPC side played away at Trafalgar Park Saturday afternoon, with Tasman putting up a very big fight throughout. The first points on the score board was theirs and a try from us was held up ten minutes in. After another five points from Tasman we had another held up try, ending the first half down by 13-0. Despite Ngatungane Punavai getting the ball down at 45 minutes after a superb pass from this seasons debutant James White, the men finished second with a final score of 22-7.
With the JJ Stewart trophy on the line last Sunday, Waikato arrived meaning absolute business. Our Canterbury women were up 3 points to nothing by the seven minute mark and kept the score that way with some unreal defence at the try line for a good chunk of the first half. Despite being held up to the left of the posts, Waikato eventually made their way over the line in the last play of the first half, making our women down by 3-7 as they made their way to the sheds. Ona Palu was presented with enormous cheers when she entered the field and instantly impressed the crowd by charging through the defence. At the 59 minute mark Nicole Purdon got the ball down and our women lead 10-7 all the way to the final whistle. It may have been a wet and cold day out there, but the sight of the JJ Stewart trophy heading back inside the four walls of Rugby Park was definitely heartwarming.
A huge congratulations to Mitchell “Drummy” Drummond for reaching such an epic milestone in the Canterbury jersey. Drummond began his Canterbury journey in 2003 and reached his 100th game in Round 1 of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC game against Northland. Such an achievement has not been reached in the team since Andrew Mehrtens.
100 Games for Drummy!
Sisters who play rugby together, stay together
Over the years it hasn’t been unusual to find sisters playing alongside each other in the Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup team, but the two sets of sisters this year have fairly different origin stories when it comes to their rugby careers.
Fia Laikong and Winnie Palamo
Winnie and Fia have only been involved in the code for two years, after being convinced to join a High School Old Boys training session by a friend. Fia admits she only started playing rugby to aid her fitness levels for netball, but things moved quickly when both proved their abilities and were picked up by separate Super Aupiki teams the following year. They have come back together for the 2024 season at Canterbury, notably pairing up to create Fia’s stunning try ten minutes into her Canterbury debut against Counties Manukau Heat.
“It’s special to be able to take the field with my sister in the red and black, I appreciate the stepping stones, high and lows and to be able to share milestones like this is valuable for me” says Fia, “we have been through a lot together and within our own journeys”.
Fia and Winnie have two older sisters, and their younger brother currently plays for Christs College.
Keighley and Tayla SimpsonWe also have the Simpson sisters, who played rugby throughout their childhood. Oldest sister Tayla joined the Canterbury University team her second year in Christchurch and younger sister Keighley wasn’t far behind to join the Canterbury Academy. In 2023 the women played their first Canterbury FPC game together, beating Wellington Pride 58 – 29. “We’re so lucky” said Tayla, “to play all through club and school and now to represent Canterbury together is something we’re pretty grateful we get to do. It’s awesome”.
Their middle sister, Jorja, isn’t a stranger to the code either, having played club level with her sisters and for the Taranaki Whio side in 2022 with Keighley.
Despite running their individual paths to the Canterbury FPC side, there is a similarity between both families on the field – the ability to communicate with their sibling non verbally, a skill they say has been honed by living in close quarters whilst growing up together.
“There’s eye contact and we just know what’s going to happen” says Fia.
Tayla agreed, saying “During club season our coach pointed it out, the three of us do it. I would just know what she’s going to do, it's so strange!”
Family support is vital to Fia, Winnie, Tayla and Keighly. The Simpson girls rarely playing a game without their parents on the sideline, even travelling down from Taranaki for their daughters’ home games at Rugby Park.
“We’re really close” says Winnie, “family is so important to us”.
Fia adds “for us, wherever we are – we carry our aiga (families) with us”.
Round Three team lists
Storm week hits Canterbury
Nothing says HUMP DAY like STORM WEEK. Break up the drag of work with us as Canterbury take on Hawke’s Bay. The gates open at 6pm, grab some take away at Apollo Projects Stadium and eat dinner in front of the game, kicking off at 7:05pm. What a way to break up the week!
FPC half time entertainment with Toyota!
Join us for an exciting opportunity to build your own Hilux during the Farah Palmer Cup Miles Toyota Halftime Hilux Hustle and be in to win!
Gather your team and enter for a chance to win a free WOF and service on your vehicle (any make or model), plus free game tickets.
FPC play at home THIS SATURDAY 22 August at Rugby Park, get your tickets here so you don’s miss out on this awesome chance!
Watch the game in style with our Corporate Hospitality
Enjoy the best of Apollo Projects Stadium with a Hospitality Package! This option caters for those wishing to enjoy more than just the 80 minutes of Rugby with hospitality provided one-hour pre-match and up to one-hour post-game.
All options include reserved seating directly outside your suite (if you prefer to fully emerse yourself in the atmosphere!), a live feed of the game playing in the suite, complimentary bar with delicious canapes, breads and main course all included.
Your Sweet Suite Choices
Private Suites is the ultimate VIP experience for medium to large groups. Holding 15 - 60 people, making this an excellent option for hosting a celebration, corporate event, fundraiser, or just wishing to enjoy the game with space and style. Guests will enjoy a range of different food options and complimetary bar served an hour pre match, during the game and one hour after the final whistle.
Executive Suites are a social space for smaller groups or individuals who like to enjoy the game in comfort. A shared suite to fit 30-45 people, it is the perfect space to enjoy small birthday gatehrings, dates, or treating yourself to a match without having to worry about food or drink. Guests will enjoy a range of different food options including a self serve buffet, an hour pre match, during the game and one hour after the final whistle.
Bookings need to in five days prior to game day, so get in now for Storm Week and Round 4!
Canterbury Rugby Community Awards 2024
The Canterbury Rugby Annual Awards are an incredibly prestigious and important part of the fabric of our game.
Taking the time to recognise, celebrate and reward the individuals and collective groups within our rugby community that stand out as leaders, contributors and innovators on and off the field, is something we take immense pride in, and place significant importance on.
We invite nominations for the below award categories.
Volunteer of the Year
Coach of the year
Community Team of the Year
Rugby School of the Year
Club of the Year
Nominations close on Sunday 8th September
Finalists will be notified at our earliest convenience and invited to be hosted by Canterbury Rugby at a NPC home game
For more information on each of the award categories and to nominate a derserving recipient click here
A reminder of our well deserved winners from 2023
