Wednesday, 02 June 2010 22:50
TeamTalk #41 is now online.
Who won the Jubilee Cup Final in 2000, the first year it was played at Westpac Stadium?
Wellington Rugby would like to acknowledge the continued and invaluable support of NZCT (New Zealand Community Trust), The Lion Foundation and Pelorus Trust in ensuring the amateur game in Wellington continues to thrive at all levels. Junior rugby, development and representative rugby are just some of the key areas where their support makes a huge difference to those playing, coaching and volunteering their time in the game. Thanks again.
The future stars of Wellington Rugby, in the Under 19 and Under 21 grades, have now been playing competition games for two weeks.
All twelve of Wellington's Premier Clubs are represented in teams across the two grades, with Paraparaumu sending down a team to compete in the U19 competition. The U21 competition also sees the return of Wellington Football Club to Age Grade Rugby with rugby legend Murray Mexted in charge of their team.
Age Grade Rugby will come under increased focus this year from WRFU who have put in place a number of initiatives to increase the profile of the grade. These include playing games as curtain-raisers to Premier games on the main fields, matching up clubs U19 and 21 teams at the same venues so supporters can get along and watch as much of a club's age-grade talent as possible, and, upon completion of the new artificial turf which will soon be named, playing U19 and 21 games at that venue under lights on a Friday night.
WRFU is also pleased to announce that an U19 representative team will be picked, solely from players within that grade, with coaches and managers also from within the grade. At the moment their program entails a game against Horowhenua-Kapiti U20's in Levin on 28 August, followed by Wairarapa-Bush U20's in Masterton on 4 September. On 11 September the team will play the Centurions U18 side in Wellington. The Union feels this is an important indication to players within the grade that it is a pathway to higher honours.
So far, it has been sluggish in terms of referees renewing their registrations from last year. There are currently 121 referees who have indicated that they are available for the 2010 season. To satisfactorily appoint referees to all Secondary School and WRFU grades, we need an active population of 160. Those that have not indicated whether they will be continuing from 2009 are being pursued and encouraged.
Brand new recruits currently number THREE! This is an extraordinarily low number and we implore the rugby community to identify and encourage their members to "take up the whistle" for the sake of the game. It need not be a weekly commitment if that does not suit the individual. Your contribution will be welcomed by the Wellington Rugby Referees Association but, more importantly, it will be hugely appreciated by the players of our schools and clubs.
Please get in touch with the Referee Education Officer, David Walsh, by phoning 0800 REFEREE (7333 733), or 04 380 2215, or email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Refereeing is fun. Honest!
With club rugby underway, everyone is reminded that all players must be registered before they take the field, as per By-Law 8.1. The registration forms are available on the WRFU website, under Forms and Documents.
If you have any questions please contact Kirsty Wanden:
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or 021 228 6404.
These are now underway. Keep an eye on the website for these dates.
In addition to our own website (www.wrfu.co.nz), Wellington Rugby is also now on Facebook ( www.facebook.com ). The Official Wellington Rugby Page is the place to go where you will be updated with club rugby results, up-to-the minute club rugby news and premier team announcements, photos, draws and your comments and interclub banter. Sign up today to keep up to date.
You can also find us on Twitter.
Send your milestones, celebrations, and news to Kirsty Wanden.
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or 021 228 6404) so we can continue to promote club rugby through these avenues during the 2010 season.
Applications are now open for The Powa Products Scholarship to the IRANZ High Performance Players Course 30 May - 18 June 2010 in Palmerston North. This scholarship includes all course fees, accommodation and meals for the duration of the course.
The course is suitable for potential professional players aged 18 years of age and above. Applications close on Wednesday 5 May. Any enquiries should be sent to
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A series of up-skill opportunities will be held for our college coaches, starting in May. The first session on Monday 3 May will be for lower grade and new college coaches. This will focus on aspects of the game that are new to players and coaches just starting college rugby, such as line out lifting and fully contested scrums.
Other sessions will be run on Monday 10 May (with a real focus for 1st XV coaches), Monday 21 June and Monday 26 July.
Topics and venues will be confirmed and published on the WRFU web site shortly.
Nominations (for men) are due with your Club Captain by 23 June. Alternatively you may call or text one of the coaches: Frank Rees 027 280 5474 ( or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Faavae Tumaai 027 414 3869, or Okesene Moananu 027 222 7003.
Trials will be held on 30June, and subsequent training 6, 13 and 29 July.
Games are to be played on these dates:
14 August v Horowhenua Development (HOME)
21 August v Wairarapa Development (AWAY)
28 August v Wellington Development HOME)
4 September v Wellington Under 20 (HOME)
11 September v Wellington Maoris (HOME)
18 September v Otago Samoan (TBC) HOME
25 September v Auckland Pacifica Samoan (AWAY) - Helen Clark Cup Challenge
2 October WSRFU Pacific Cup starts (for 9 weeks)
Nomination forms for the Wellington Pride, Wellington Under 18 and Wellington Under 20 sides are now available from your Club Captain.
We are also pleased to advise there will be a representative programme for the Wellington Pride, despite the loss of the Womens NPC Competition this season. The team will play traditional rivals Auckland, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu. A game against Canterbury in Wellington has also just been confirmed.
The first sessions for 2010 have been confirmed with top players from the Vodafone Wellington Lions heading into our colleges to help coach our future Lions players.
WRFU CCO's will help the Lions players during the trainings by joining in alongside the college coaches and players.
Players and teams who will be involved on Wednesday 28 April, from 4pm to 5pm, are:
o Conrad Smith - Wellington College U14 Team
o Ma'a Nonu - Scots College U55kg Team
o Victor Vito - St Pats Town College U65kg Team
o Cory Jane - Upper Hutt College U55kg Team
o Hosea Gear - St Bernards College U14 Team
o Piri Weepu & Neemia Tialata - Heretaunga College U65kg Team
o Rodney So'oialo - Onslow College U65kg Team
o Faifili Levave & Tamati Ellison - Mana College U14 Team & Porirua College U14 Team at Porirua Park.
Petone