Wednesday, 24 February 2010 00:30
Welcome to Team Talk issue 38.
How far can a dog run on to a rugby field?
Season Start
3 April: Premier, Senior 1, Senior 2, Womens
10 April: Reserves, Presidents, Under 85kgs, Senior 3
17 April: Age Grade Rugby
17 April: Junior Rugby
Free Transfer Period ends: 19 March
Please refer By-Law 8.9. If a player transfers between clubs within Wellington before this date all they need do is get an interclub transfer form signed by their new club.
For a copy of the form please see the WRFU website.
Grade Entries Due: 22 March
For grades with specific requirements e.g. Age Grade and Under 85kg please fill out the required specific form.
Rugby Smart Courses (all at 6pm)
Wednesday 24 February: MSP Gym, Evans Bay
Monday 1 March: Norths RFC
Monday 15 March: Petone RFC
Tuesday 16 March: Hutt Old Boys Marist RFC
Wednesday 17 March: Poneke FC
Thursday 18 March: Rimutaka RFC
Monday 22 March: Upper Hutt RFC
Wednesday 24 March: Wellington College
Monday 29 March: Johnsonville RFC
Small Black Courses
Wednesday 10 March: Norths RFC 6pm
Sunday 21 March: Wests RFC 10am
Sunday 28 March: Petone RFC 10am
Wednesday 7 April: Johnsonville RFC 6pm
Sunday 11 April: Poneke FC 10am
Wednesday 14 April: Upper Hutt RFC 6pm
Junior Registration Days with Hurricanes players present
Thursday 25 February 5pm - 7pm across all clubs in Wellington.
The WRFU AGM will be held at the Petone RFC Clubrooms on Wednesday 31 March at 7.30pm.
To be held on Monday 15 March at WRFU Training Base, Newtown and run by Dean O'Shaughnessy (Vodafone Wellington Lions Team Manager).
Registration information will be sent to clubs shortly.
These are now available from the WRFU Reception Desk.
Following the departure of Nathan Pilalis late last year, Benji Crossley has been appointed to this position at Wellington Rugby. Benji has previously been with WRFU in a support role for the Amateur Rugby team, principally managing the judicial process.
SKY TV's Rugby Channel is looking for fresh material and producers are keen to hear of any good milestones or significant events you are celebrating this year, eg, 100 year club anniversary, or special campaigns within your community etc (such as Petone RFC 125th, Hutt Old Boys Marist RFC 100th).
It might be the celebration or an event centred round a long serving club official or volunteer, or it might be a quirky story (eg, a team with all triplets and twins).
Some of these stories might also be great for other media outlets.
If you have something worthwhile, please let This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it know.
Club AGM
The 71st Annual General Meeting of the Centurions Club will be held in the Clubrooms at Westpac Stadium on Wednesday 10 March at 6pm. We are looking for a good turnout of members so please come along and play your part in the smooth and effective running of the Club.
The Club will also take the opportunity to conduct its own valedictory to Bill Brien, our Patron, life member and stalwart who is sadly missed.
Bill Brien
The Club records with deep regret the passing of Bill Brien MNZM, JP ED - our Patron, life member, Club historian, Treasurer for 33 years, and dedicated and dependable all-round good bloke.
His funeral, held at the Wellington Football Club, attracted a huge crowd which showed the warmth and affection with which he was held in the community and the extent of his involvement across the sporting, cultural and philanthropic scene in Wellington and beyond. Many were amazed at the breadth of his interests and
where he found the time to be make the contribution he did.
Indeed, Bill's devotion to Centurions was only a small element in his total love of sport, and in particular rugby, but he will be sadly missed by the Club, and we remember his major contribution with great affection.
We pass our sincere condolences to Francie and the family.
Sportsville / Sports Club Partnerships - Best Practice Forum
An opportunity to get together with others responsible for similar partnerships, and share information from Sportsville models which help strengthen the capability of sports clubs.
On Thursday 4 March 10am to 3pm.
For more information, including registration details, contact Kirsten Malpas at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
';
document.write( '' );
document.write( addy_text37245 );
document.write( '<\/a>' );
//-->
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Wellington Secondary Schools Rugby AGM
On Thursday 4 March at 4pm
At Tawa College - Gymnasium Room (upstairs)
Gaming Trusts
With guest speaker Tony Gill, National Grants Manager, NZCT.
On Monday 22 March from 7 to 8.30pm at Sport Wellington, 113 Adelaide Road, Newtown. Further information is available here.
NB You need to book to be certain of a place!
WCC Sports and Recreation Forum
Wednesday 7 April 2010, 6 to 8 pm in the Renouf Foyer, Michael Fowler Centre, Wakefield Street.
Guest speaker Martin Snedden, CEO Rugby New Zealand 2011.
Please RSVP by Wednesday 31 March to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
SANZAR referees are focusing on four key areas of Rugby Law this season which has been given widespread media coverage. It is extremely important to realise that the focus is simply to apply the rules as they are written in the Law Book.
These key areas will be enforced at ALL levels of rugby.
1) Tackled Ball:
The tackler, once hitting the ground in the tackle, must release the ball and the ball carrier. This gives the ball carrier a chance to ‘play the ball', which he is entitled to do.
Any player involved in helping make a tackle, who is in contact with the ball carrier when he is taken to ground, must then release the ball and the ball carrier, before then attempting to contest possession, even if he is on his feet.
2) Scrum engagement:
The scrum engagement must follow a true sequence, starting with all props required to touch, on the touch call. Props must also have their head and shoulders above their hips, and then hit straight on engagement.
3) Players in front of the kicker:
Players will be forced to comply with standing still or retiring in relation to being in front of the kicker. This will see referees calling for a player to stop advancing - if he continues to advance, he will be penalised.
Players must retire from within 10m of the receiver of a kick - otherwise an immediate penalty will be given where these players look to contest the kick.
The objective is that this will improve the time and space for players to counter attack, when receiving kicks in general play, and reducing some of the aerial ping pong we have been seeing in rugby.
4) Formation of the maul:
At the time that a maul is formed, players supporting the ball carrier will not be allowed to obstruct the opposition. This is intended to at least make the maul defendable at the set up stage.
This has been particularly prevalent at the receipt of kick-offs and also the formation around a player who has just won lineout ball.
NON-THROWING HOOKER - lineout positioning:
Another Law change that everyone should be aware of is the requirement for the non-throwing hooker, at a lineout, to stand in ONLY one position. This player must be 2m from the line-of-touch (the middle of the lineout) and 2m from the 5m line. He must stand on his side of the line-of-touch.
The first day of the Leadership Clinic for U11, U12 & U13 players was held at Te Whiti Park on Sunday, 15 February. 124 players turned up for specialised skills training, as part of a programme that will run for four consecutive Sundays.
Club Junior Coaches are also welcome to attend. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if any further information is required.
Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union is training for the 17th Annual National Deaf Rugby Championship which will be held at Waitakere Trust Stadium on 2 to 4 April 2010.
Wellington Rugby & Leslie Rugby have donated practice balls to the Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union to help with their preparation for this tournament which they have won for the past three years.
Central Zone are to play Northern Zone on Saturday 3 April, and Southern Zone the next day.
Registration packs for 2010 are now with all clubs. Please make sure you all complete a registration form. This includes all administrators and volunteers within your club, as well as all junior and senior players.
Coaches will be required to fill out a registration form when they attend a Rugby Smart or Small Blacks coaching course.
For any additional information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
A game was played on 18 February, at the Rugby Institute in Palmerston North, between a Wellington Development team and an IRANZ team. The Wellington Development team, comprising all our Academy players and one or two Wellington contracted players, won 29 - 13.
A reselected team will play a Crusaders Development team on Saturday 27 February at Porirua Park, starting 2.00pm.
To half way - as then he is running off again!