https://wellington.gen.nz/wellington-club-weekly Wellington Club Weekly newsitems https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/16/friendship-festivities-nelson-and-wellington-honour-first-college-rugby-game/ The match-day programme when Wellington College and Nelson College met in 1976. By Adam Julian When Wellington College hosts Nelson College in a one-off fixture on Saturday to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first interprovincial secondary school game of rugby in New Zealand, it will bring together friends, old rivals – and even old... rugby sport Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/16/friendship-festivities-nelson-and-wellington-honour-first-college-rugby-game/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-16T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/16/randall-bishop-tawas-mr-reliable-set-to-play-his-200th-premier-match/ Randall Bishop gets his kick away last Saturday in Tawa’s one-point win over Paremata-Plimmerton. Photo: Stewart Baird. By Steven White Some 15 seasons after making his Premier debut, and three Jubilee Cup titles two more finals appearances and a Horowhenua-Kapiti title later, Randall Bishop is set to run out to play his 200th match for... plimmerton swindale tawa rugby paremata kapiti places sport Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/16/randall-bishop-tawas-mr-reliable-set-to-play-his-200th-premier-match/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-16T00:00:00Z -41.0819811 174.8652978 Plimmerton, Porirua, Porirua City, Wellington, 5026, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/15/pioneers-of-rugby-in-wellington-122-bob-lendrum/ Not to be confused with the player of the same name and first-five who played 131 first-class games for Counties and one test for the All Blacks in 1973, Bob Lendrum’s first-class career went no higher than Wellington. Robert Edward Lendrum was a Wellington representative in 1963 and 1964, and a Wellington B representative up... rugby sport Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/15/pioneers-of-rugby-in-wellington-122-bob-lendrum/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-15T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/16/goal-kicking-forwards-in-rugby/ It is mostly the backs that take goal kicks in rugby, but what about goal-kicking forwards? We put together the following article looking at some of these place-kicking players from the pack. Some international examples, followed by a few club rugby players. Let us know who we missed out. Brian Black (Great Britain) The 1930... rugby sport Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/16/goal-kicking-forwards-in-rugby/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-15T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/14/hurricanes-v-blues-stat-attack-5/ In association with Hurricanes statistics compiler Peter Marriott, the Stat Attack returns in 2026. Facts and figures from the Hurricanes’ win over the Blue in Wellington below. Round 9 v Blues: Won 42-19 These two sides played the first-ever Super Rugby match back on 1 March 1996 at Palmerston North. The Blues won 36-28 and... rugby sport Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/14/hurricanes-v-blues-stat-attack-5/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-14T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/14/swindale-shield-matchday-highlights-round-two-tawa-26-v-pare-plim-25/ Round Two of the 2026 Swindale Shield came to Lyndhurst Park where home team Tawa met Paremata-Plimmerton. Coming off a hefty first round loss to Petone, it took Tawa just a few minutes to score their opening try of the year. Paremata-Plimmeerton responded and eventually both teams were deadlocked 12-12 just before halftime when the... petone plimmerton swindale tawa rugby paremata places sport Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/14/swindale-shield-matchday-highlights-round-two-tawa-26-v-pare-plim-25/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-13T00:00:00Z -41.0819811 174.8652978 Plimmerton, Porirua, Porirua City, Wellington, 5026, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/13/sideline-conversions-13-april-some-news-and-information-to-start-the-week/ Action from Old Boys University’s Peter Dunford Cup win over Wainuiomata on Saturday. Monday morning edition: The first full weekend of club rugby was played on Saturday. And we got lucky with the weather. Saturday was fine and warm but 24 hours later it was grey and wet. It’s the second week of school holidays... wainuiomata rugby places sport Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/13/sideline-conversions-13-april-some-news-and-information-to-start-the-week/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-12T00:00:00Z -41.2618075 174.9480696 Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, Lower Hutt City, Wellington, New Zealand/Aotearoa https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/11/axemen-raise-the-half-century-as-first-round-form-reverses-for-some-teams/ Above: Losi Filipo dives over to score one of two tries for Petone in their tight win over the Upper Hutt Rams. Photo: Andy McArthur. By Steven White, Scott MacLean & Adam Julian An opening win of the competition for the Wellington Axemen against Pōneke and generally much closer matches than last week were two... petone upper-hutt rugby swindale places huttvalley sport Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/11/axemen-raise-the-half-century-as-first-round-form-reverses-for-some-teams/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-11T00:00:00Z -41.1240674 175.0699589 Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City, Wellington, 5218, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/11/wellington-club-rugby-links-to-live-scoring-streams-and-updates-11-april/ LIVE scoring updates Wellington club rugby (on Saturday 11 April 2026) CLICK on the link directly below for live Swindale Shield and lower grade Scoring and fulltime scores updated as they happen. WRFU Men’s Premier WRFU Men’s Premier 2 WRFU Men’s Reserves WRFU Women’s Premier WRFU Restricted U85 WRFU Colts Alternatively, follow live scores and get... rugby swindale sport Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/11/wellington-club-rugby-links-to-live-scoring-streams-and-updates-11-april/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-10T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/10/all-grades-underway-in-wellington-club-rugby-tomorrow/ Wainuiomata will be seeking their second straight win to start the year when they host Old Boys University in Round Two of the Swindale Shield, while Avalon are at home for the first time and playing Hutt Old Boys Marist. Photo: Hugh Pretorius. By Scott MacLean Welcome to the first full weekend of the club... rugby swindale wainuiomata sport places Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/10/all-grades-underway-in-wellington-club-rugby-tomorrow/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-10T00:00:00Z -41.2618075 174.9480696 Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, Lower Hutt City, Wellington, New Zealand/Aotearoa https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/09/where-are-they-now-martin-leslie-petone-and-scotland/ By Adam Julian The recent Six Nations broke many scoring records and was regarded as one of the best ever. Noteworthy was Scotland’s 50-40 win over eventual champions France. In 1999, Scotland beat France in a similarly dramatic match in Paris, dominated by Petone legend Martin Leslie. Petone started the 2026 Swindale Shield with a... petone swindale rugby places sport Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/09/where-are-they-now-martin-leslie-petone-and-scotland/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-09T00:00:00Z -41.2249675 174.8790351 Petone, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/10/aisle-be-back-hurricanes-v-blues-in-wellington/ By Kevin McCarthy I said a year ago that somehow, I thought Scott Robinson would get his main man Richie Mo’ounga some how on the plane to South Africa for the great Trek. The duo would be on tour, despite the niceties in the NZR eligibility rules. Well, Scott Robinson strolled past me on Lambton... rugby sport Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/10/aisle-be-back-hurricanes-v-blues-in-wellington/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-09T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/09/barker-college-make-fast-start-on-three-game-tour/ By Adam Julian Barker College opened its three-game New Zealand tour with a 40-36 victory over St Patrick’s College, Silverstream on Wednesday. The North Sydney independent Anglicans stunned the 2025 Wellington Premiership winners by blasting to a 26-0 lead in under 10 minutes. Not since 2017, when Silverstream was caned by national championships, Hastings Boys’... silverstream rugby upper-hutt huttvalley places sport Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/09/barker-college-make-fast-start-on-three-game-tour/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-08T00:00:00Z -41.1489813 175.0117941 Silverstream, Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City, Wellington, 5019, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/08/pioneers-of-rugby-in-wellington-121-bill-freeman/ One of Wellington rugby’s most famed coaches, Bill Freeman was Wellington A representative coach between 1964-70. Under his coaching, Wellington teams enjoyed several memorable wins over the space of a few years, including twin victories over the touring Springboks and British and Irish Lions in 1965 and 1966, and for introducing some all-time great players... rugby sport Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/08/pioneers-of-rugby-in-wellington-121-bill-freeman/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-08T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/07/schwalger-leading-from-the-front-for-wellington-college-in-2026/ Z’kdeus Schwalger in action in a recent early season fixture. Photo supplied. By Adam Julian With his big hits and big hair, Z’kdeus Schwalger is a startling rugby personality. The Wellington College loose forward is determined to deliver a showstopping performance when his school hosts Nelson College in a one-off fixture on April 18. The... rugby sport Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/07/schwalger-leading-from-the-front-for-wellington-college-in-2026/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-07T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/07/swindale-shield-matchday-scoring-highlights-round-one-msp-58-v-norths-22/ Round One of the 2026 Swindale Shield came to Porirua Park where home team Northern United met Marist St Pat’s for the Maurice Standish Cup. In breezy conditions, home side Norths scored first and late led 12-7 during the first half. MSP got their noses ahead 19-12 by halftime. Early in the second half a... porirua swindale rugby places sport Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/07/swindale-shield-matchday-scoring-highlights-round-one-msp-58-v-norths-22/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-06T00:00:00Z -41.1354918 174.8396887 Porirua, Wellington Region, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/06/sideline-conversions-6-april-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week/ Upper Hutt Rams celebrate a job well done, beating Poneke 66-32 in their Swindale Shield season opener. Is this the year of the Ram? Photo: Tane Nathan/Kinetic Images. The first weekend of Wellington club rugby saw seven entertaining Premier fixtures played throughout the region and the opening round of Premier 2 games. There were Premier... upper-hutt rugby swindale huttvalley places sport Sun, 05 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/06/sideline-conversions-6-april-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-05T00:00:00Z -41.1240674 175.0699589 Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City, Wellington, 5218, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/04/paremata-plimmerton-pip-first-round-defending-champions-second-half-blowouts-elsewhere/ Ethan Webster-Nonu scores a key try against his former side today in round one of the Swindale Shield. Photo: Andy McArthur. By Steven White & Scott MacLean Oriental-Rongotai played through last year’s first round Wellington club rugby Premier Swindale Shield with 13 straight bonus point wins. In today’s 2026 season opener, Ories were pipped at... plimmerton swindale rugby paremata places sport Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/04/paremata-plimmerton-pip-first-round-defending-champions-second-half-blowouts-elsewhere/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-04T00:00:00Z -41.0819811 174.8652978 Plimmerton, Porirua, Porirua City, Wellington, 5026, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/04/wellington-club-rugby-4-april-live-scoring-and-updates-radio-and-livestreams/ CLICK on the link directly below for live Swindale Shield and Harper Lock Shield Premier 2 live Scoring on 4 April 2026: WRFU Men’s Premier WRFU Men’s Premier 2 Round 1 teamlists at this link in the line below (note we are aware of an issue with all teamlists not displaying correctly on mobiles or tablets,... rugby swindale sport Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/04/wellington-club-rugby-4-april-live-scoring-and-updates-radio-and-livestreams/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-03T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/02/club-rugby-a-z-2026/ Supporters was Finals Day last year. Photo Peter McDonald. Some of the themes that could play out this year in club and community rugby are below in the annual A-Z. By Scott MacLean It’s a bit of fun we have before the season gets underway. Here’s the 11th edition of our season preview in A-Z... rugby swindale sport Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/02/club-rugby-a-z-2026/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-02T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/03/easter-saturday-start-for-premier-and-premier-2-club-rugby-in-wellington/ By Scott MacLean & Steven White And so it begins again, the 147th season of club rugby in the nation’s capital. It’s a staggered start to the season with only the Premier and Premier 2 underway tomorrow. The remaining club grades – Colts, Women’s, 85s, Reserve, and Presidents – start next week. Tomorrow’s 100th season... rugby swindale sport Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/03/easter-saturday-start-for-premier-and-premier-2-club-rugby-in-wellington/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-02T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/01/wellington-club-rugby-gains-losses-2026/ One of our most awaited columns in the lead-up to the season and a traditional story as featured in the newspaper in former years is the Gains & Losses, tracking player movement in and out of clubs and the province. This year is no exception, and this edition looks like a particularly bumper one! ________________________________________________________________________... rugby swindale sport Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/01/wellington-club-rugby-gains-losses-2026/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-01T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/02/coach-rasch-and-hobm-eagles-looking-to-defend-title-in-2026/ HOBM Head Coach Otto Rasch with his family and the Eagles on the field after last July’s Jubilee Cup Final. Photo: Stewart Baird. By Adam Julian Otto Rasch cuts an imperious figure as a coach, physically imposing and forthright. He’s got Hutt Old Boys Marist humming, too. In February, the 2025 Jubilee Cup champions and... rugby swindale sport Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/02/coach-rasch-and-hobm-eagles-looking-to-defend-title-in-2026/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-04-01T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/01/new-zealand-u20s-named-for-south-africa/ Alex Hewitt on the charge in last year’s Hardham VC Memorial Cup final. Photo: Andy McArthur. Hewitt, the son of late Wellington NPC winning captain and All Black Norm Hewitt, is one of three current Wellington players in the wider 2026 NZ U20 squad named today. A 30-player New Zealand U20 squad has been selected... rugby sport Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/04/01/new-zealand-u20s-named-for-south-africa/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-03-31T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/31/hurricanes-v-reds-stat-attack-5/ Co-captains Jordie Barrett and Du Plessis Kirifi lead their side out against the Reds on Saturday. Kirifi started his 75th Super Rugby match wearing the No 7 jersey. In association with Hurricanes statistics compiler Peter Marriott, the Stat Attack returns in 2026. Facts and figures from the Hurricanes’ win over the Reds in Wellington below.... rugby sport Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/31/hurricanes-v-reds-stat-attack-5/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-03-31T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/31/some-experienced-players-to-watch-in-club-rugby-2026/ By Steven White & Scott MacLean A feature of the start of every club rugby season are the new players joining the competition for the first time, and 2026 will be no different with a number of school leavers as well as a group of returning and new older players from other provinces to add... rugby swindale sport Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/31/some-experienced-players-to-watch-in-club-rugby-2026/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-03-31T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/31/pasilio-tosi-giving-back-to-community-rugby/ Pasilio Tosi playing for Paremata-Plimmerton in 2023. This Friday he will present his All Blacks jersey to his Wellington club, just down the road from where grew up in Levin. By Adam Julian It’s a Good Friday to be at Ngāti Toa Domain, Porirua. Paremata-Plimmerton will receive an All Blacks Test rugby jersey from prop... plimmerton rugby porirua paremata places sport Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/31/pasilio-tosi-giving-back-to-community-rugby/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-03-30T00:00:00Z -41.1354918 174.8396887 Porirua, Wellington Region, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/30/club-rugby-by-the-numbers-2026/ The 2026 Wellington club rugby season kicks off this coming Saturday. The season starts with the opening round of the Premier Swindale Shield, Premier 2 Harper Lock Shield and Colts competitions. A mix of historical and recent stats and updated records is collated below. 97 – The number of Jubilee Cups contested. First won in 1929... rugby swindale sport Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/30/club-rugby-by-the-numbers-2026/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-03-30T00:00:00Z https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/30/sideline-conversions-30-march-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week/ Lyndhurst Park scene – looking very lush as it starts its new year of hosting rugby and is always good for a thriller or two such as last July’s semi-final between Tawa and Johnsonville. The days are counting down until the start of the 2026 Wellington club rugby competition. Three grades kick off this Saturday,... johnsonville tawa rugby places sport Sun, 29 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/30/sideline-conversions-30-march-some-rugby-news-and-information-to-start-the-week/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-03-29T00:00:00Z -41.1681676 174.8247761 Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/06/club-rugby-pre-season-underway-this-saturday/ Action from last year’s Hardham Cup final, with Poneke playing in Paraparaumu tomorrow and the Upper Hutt Rams meeting Linton away. Photo: Tane Nathan. It’s the opening weekend of the 2026 club rugby pre-season, with many clubs holding their own internal club days but also a number of others in actual on the field against... upper-hutt paraparaumu rugby huttvalley places kapiti sport Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://clubrugby.nz/wp/2026/03/06/club-rugby-pre-season-underway-this-saturday/ Wellington Club Weekly 2026-03-06T00:00:00Z -41.1240674 175.0699589 Upper Hutt, Upper Hutt City, Wellington, 5218, New Zealand