How Senior Rugby competitions are structured.

The Senior Rugby competition framework outlines how grades are organised, how competitions are delivered, and how teams progress through the season. This section provides an overview of our senior grades, competition formats and the trophies associated with each grade.

Senior Grades

WRFU delivers a range of senior grades that cater to different playing communities across Wellington. These include:

• Premier Women
• Premier Men
• Premier 2 Men
• Under 21 (Colts) 
• Under 85kg Men
• Reserve Grade
• Presidents Grade (Over 30s)

Competition Structures

Each senior grade operates within a defined structure that supports fair, balanced and meaningful competition. Structures may include:

• Round‑robin formats
• Divisional splits or pools (where numbers require)
• Grading rounds, when applicable
• Seeding processes for teams entering subsequent rounds

All competition structures and formats are endorsed annually by the WRFU Stakeholders Council.
 

Competition Formats

Formats vary by grade but may include:

• Home and away matches
• Divisional splits in the first and/or second round
• Full first-round and second-round
• One‑round formats with playoff pathways
• Friday night matches

Competition formats are reviewed annually to ensure they meet the needs of clubs and maintain competitive integrity across all grades.

Trophies & Awards

Each grade plays for a dedicated trophy that reflects its history and competitive pathway.

The grade sub-pages above will provide the names of our trophies and any historical context.

Why Competition Structures Matter

Clear structures and formats help ensure that Senior Rugby is:

• Fair and competitive
• Consistent across all clubs
• Organised and easy to follow
• Connected to the traditions and trophies that underpin our competitions

They provide the foundation for delivering high‑quality rugby experiences across all senior grades.