Wednesday, 02 June 2010 22:53
TeamTalk #42 is now online.
What is the oldest interschool (secondary) rugby trophy in New Zealand? When was the trophy first contested, and between which schools?
Our congratulations to the following Wellington players who have been selected for the New Zealand U20 Squad to play in the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina in June:
Jeff Allen (MSP) Prop
Charles Ngatai (Poneke) Midfielder
Julian Savea (Oriental Rongotai) Winger
Kayne Hammington (Upper Hutt) Half back
Jason Woodward (Upper Hutt) Fullback
The first three players have all been members of a New Zealand Schools team, and Julian has also represented the New Zealand Sevens team.
Wellington exchanged referees with our neighbouring Hurricanes provinces on 1 May. We sent referees to Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa-Bush and Horowhenua-Kapiti, and referees from these provinces controlled games in Wellington. The day's events were rounded off with our visitors attending the Hurricanes v Chiefs match at Westpac Stadium.
The weekend of 15/16 May also saw an exchange of referees with Northland, North Harbour, Auckland, Waikato, Nelson Bays, Canterbury and Southland.
Japanese and Queensland referees will be visiting before the end of May.
With two weeks of Secondary School rugby having been played, there have been several new referees taking to the fields of Wellington. All the feedback suggests that the debutants have done extremely well. They are all keen for more rugby and we would like further members of the rugby community to join them as whistle carriers. Please ring 0800 REFEREE (7333 733).
Wellington Rugby would like to voice our thanks and support of the RAIS (Rugby administrators in schools) at our secondary schools.
This programme is in its fourth year now with people appointed to help with the running of rugby in their college. These range from school teachers to parents, and they go through the steps of weigh-in's, registrations, organising coaches and managers, nominations of players to trials, and also providing information to WRFU on our players entering colleges. They also help to identify school leavers.
Important assistance is provided with the links going from our junior clubs to colleges, and our colleges to senior clubs.
The following people are the appointed RAIS at their college for 2010:
Anthony Davidson - Heretaunga College, David Young - Upper Hutt College, Kelly Dornbusch - HIBS, Warrick Bowden - St Patrick's College Silverstream, Hamish Quigg - Taita College, Hiko Davies - Naenae College, Paul Fairfield - St Bernards College, Stephen Gibson - Hutt Valley High, Teri Anderson - Wainuiomata High, Richard Anderton - Aotea College, Rachael Falemaka - Porirua College, Hana Tusa - Mana College, Setefano Mikaio - Bishop Viard College, Tony Tomlinson - Tawa College, James Rasmussen - Newlands College, Brenda Ng - Onslow College, Tim Gibbs - Wellington High School, Pete Maitland - Wellington College, Mike Savali - St Patrick's College Town, Ross Findlay - Rongotai College, Grant Yarrall - Scots College.
The Wellington Chinese team defeated Auckland Chinese 28 - 10 during Easter Weekend. This game was played at Elsdon Park in Porirua as part of the Asian Sports Festival which will be held in Otago next year.
The Wellington team was very happy with their result. Please contact
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if any more information is required on Chinese rugby in Wellington.
Player nominations for the U16 trials have been sent to all our colleges.
These trials will be held in the three regions (Hutt Valley, Wellington City and Western Bays) on Sunday 13 June. Four teams will be selected afterwards (these three regions, plus the Centurions) to attend the Williment Week programme from 12 -15 July.
This programme has produced many of our Vodafone Wellington Lions players. It is an opportunity to make the WRFU U16A & Development squads and to attend the Hurricanes U16 regional tournament.
Williment Week is run by WRFU CCO's, and is also attended by the Vodafone Wellington Lions Squad and Academy trainers.
This tournament was held at Te Whiti Park on Sunday 2 May under a beautiful sunny sky. Nearly 700 children enjoyed three games each, thanks to the work of Ken Laban and his whanau who, as usual, put on a great day.
The draw and entries were again handled by Steve Craig, who has now assisted at this tournament for over 18 years. Special guests were Piri Weepu, plus local MP's, Paul Quinn and Hon Trevor Mallard.
Snacks were very kindly donated by Leo O'Sullivan from Pak-n-Save Petone.
This tournament is a showcase for what can be done with the assistance of so many helpers, not all of whom are associated with Junior Rugby, but unselfishly give up their time for our junior players.
This is the Polson Banner, dating back to 1907, and awarded to the winner of the two competing schools, Palmerston North Boys' High School and Napier Boys' High School. Since that time the fixture has been uninterrupted despite the pressures of war, rationing and school discipline. The original banner was embroidered by the respective Headmaster's wives, but now technology has removed this fine tradition. PNBHS is the holder of the banner from 2009.
The oldest continuous series of matches between two secondary school teams (anywhere in the Commonwealth) is between Christ's College and Otago Boys' High School. This was first played in 1883, although there was no game in 1918 because of a heavy snowfall, and there is no score recorded in 1944 due to the Second World War.