Ken Kapeli wasn’t supposed to play the 2016 Jubilee Cup final, but the Marist St Pat’s halfback ignored doctors’ advice and battled through the last 30 minutes as a substitute. “I broke my wrist in January. It happened in a tackle during a pre-season game against Tawa,” Kapeli recalls. “I didn’t realise it was broken and played on which made it worse. A few days later I was ruled out for the season. By August it was a lot better, but it still wasn’t right...More

After playing rugby for Avalon for nearly 13 years it might be easy for one to go over to another club or hang up the boots, this isn’t the case for one legend of Avalon rugby. Cameron Cross has played over 200 Premier or first-team games for the Avalon Wolves, starting his premier career back in 2005. Playing right through the grades from under 11 to under 13 for Avalon Cameron also played for the Hutt Valley representative sides before going to school at Naenae College. His support for Avalon didn’t stop there, during his time at school he continued to attend Avalon’s games to help out at the club...More

Off the Ball is in association with Rob Law Max, Lovelocks Sports Bar,  Motor Doctors and Sarah Kilner Real Estate  Looking at some of the news in briefs, milestones, happenings, statistics and observations from the weekend of rugby just gone and what’s coming up this week. ***** The scenario in the Swindale Shield with two weeks to play is there are four teams already qualified for the Jubilee Cup, six in the middle chasing three spots and four already Hardham Cup bound. The six teams in the middle bracket – Petone and Tawa (on 37 points), Poneke (34), Ories and the Upper Hutt Rams (both 27) and Wainuiomata (25) - have plenty to play for over the last two weekend for the Swindale Shield...More

Four teams have qualified for the upcoming Jubilee Cup round with two full rounds to spare in the first round competition after another afternoon on Wellington’s club fields. Leaders Old Boys University, Northern United, Hutt Old Boys Marist and Marist St Pat’s have all officially qualified for the coveted championship round after 11 rounds of 13 of the Swindale Shield. The race for the ‘top 7’ is still very much on, however, six teams still in contention and fighting for the reaming three spots...More

We’ve split this week’s preview with today’s focus on the other club grades and the college action that’s happening, starting with the handful of games tonight. While there’s plenty of focus on the goings-on at Premier level – which we’ll look at in a separate preview– there are a number of significant games taking place elsewhere. All times and venues are correct as of time of writing. Women’s Rebecca Liua’ana Trophy With the halfway mark having been passed the Women’s first round competition is starting to take shape...More

As usual at this time of the season we take a look at what the Premier sides have left, and the race not just for the Swindale Shield, but also just to make the cut for the Jubilee Cup. In the past two years with the full 13-round Swindale that’s fallen around 40 points, but with the reduction to seven-teams  and against the improved showings this year by Avalon, Paremata-Plimmerton, and to a lesser extent Wellington, it would seem that number will fall around the same this term. Just to add to matters tomorrows weather looks inclement at best which will demand accuracy and probably a more conservative game plan...More

After taking his opportunities with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, Bay of Plenty halfback Richard Judd is enjoying playing in Wellington’s Swindale Shield. Richard Judd has played three games for Paremata-Plimmerton with his team coming out victorious on all three occasions, firstly against Johnsonville in round 3 (34-7), Wellington Axemen in round 9 (14-8) and then last weekend against Poneke (25-11). It is the first time since Paremata-Plimmerton came into the Premier grade that they have won three games in the Swindale Shield competition...More

Above: Jordie Barrett to play fullback against the Reds, with Peter Umaga-Jensen on debut at second five-eighth.  I wrote last week about the Crusaders’ dodgy discipline and warned it could come back to bite them. Well, if it hadn’t been for the refs missing Joe Moody’s high shot, it would have bit them real hard. Not even the Waratahs could have duffed that massive lead against a 14-man team, if a red card had eventuated. Which is not to say the Crusaders are a dirty team, nor that Moody is a dirty player...More

Accountants, Lawyers, Recruiters, Bankers, Tradies, Private and Public Sector Employees - we want to keep you active in our national game. Play Rugby alongside your workmates in this EXCITING NEW CONCEPT. > Games will be played on a Wednesday or Friday nights with all games played on the same field in a festival atmosphere.> Uncontested scrums, No lifting in line outs, Just play on ! > 25 minute halves > Games will be played FORTNIGHTLY with a maximum of 4 MATCHES ONLY in the season This competition will suit former players (or newbies) that tick the following criteria: Keen to play rugby but can't commit to full regular season commitments Want to balance work and life with sports and recreation  Have no affiliation with club teams at present and want to play rugby with their mates or represent the workplace  Still have the will to play, just not the time To Register your team or workplace interest please contact us via joe@tokiservices...More

Are the 2017 Jubilee Cup champions in even stronger shape than last year? On Saturday, Old Boys University thrashed Hutt Old Boys Marist 48-16 to soar to the top of the Swindale Shield standings with three rounds remaining. The Goats won the second-half 34-0, despite losing five forwards throughout the match. “Our game knowledge is better than what it was at the equivalent time last year, but we haven’t gelled as well off the field yet because of all the personnel changes,” Morgan Poi responds...More