Above: Avalon Premier players (from left) Ben Peni, Ale Peni, Leauro Ah Wong, Lidston Ah Wong, Laman Ah Wong, Chris Aumua and Iosefo Aumua take the concept of a team brotherhood very literally. Photo: Jordan King. Avalon second five-eighth Ben Peni says the club’s “brotherhood” is something he cherishes the most when playing for his beloved wolves.  “The club really is like a family to me, not only because of my of my brother but also because of how we all interact and get along...More

Oriental-Rongotai's Malo Tuitama evades a Poneke tackler in their clash on ANZAC Day last year, for the Jimmy Grbich Shield.  In association with Lovelocks Sports Bar on Bond Street in Wellington, some highlights from this week in Wellington club rugby history are below. 23 April 1994: After trailing 8-18 at halftime, Johnsonville comes storming back to beat previously unbeaten Avalon 24-23, while Tana Umaga scores twice in Petone’s 56-21 win over Tawa and Poneke No. 8 Paolo Savelio scores a second-half hat-trick in his side’s 55-13 win over Wainuiomata...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. Part two of three of the current busy stretch of Premier Swindale Shield and Harper Lock Shield matches is on Anzac Day this coming Wednesday. A full round of Premier Reserve Harper Lock Shield and Premier Swindale Shield fixtures at 1...More

Above: Will Mangos makes a break for it for Old Boys University against Marist St Pat's in the Swindale Shield this afternoon. Paremata-Plimmerton went within moments of toppling the unbeaten Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles at the Hutt Rec this afternoon. But a last-gasp penalty saved their Eagles and they won 20-18 to register their sixth straight win of the 2018 Swindale Shield. Defending champions Old Boys University moved into clear second with a 32-17 win over Marist St Pat’s at Evans Bay Park, ahead of Poneke who defeated a battling Johnsonville 25-15 across the road on Kilbirnie 2...More

The Swindale Shield rolls on with Round 6 tomorrow, kicking off a busy week for the top two men’s grades with Anzac Day’s round coming up in a few short days’ time, and less than 72 hours after that is the annual Derby Day round of matches. With that in mind some teams appear to have chosen which of those games they’re targeting as they manage the most congested part of the season. Elsewhere it’s still early stages in the remaining club grades, with the first-round in the last two remaining competitions – the Under 85s and Reserve Grade – getting started tomorrow on what promises to be a fine but blustery day in the capital...More

It's bye week. The editor sometimes says take a break too. Probably if you're reading this, you're proffering similar advice. It's just that I can't. Despite us being top of the entire Super table, playing largely clinical rugby, we're only three points clear of our deadliest rival. It's not like the six points we'd have, if we'd survived the Bulls opener. I would have taken the week off then. I think I will call this the Theory of Rugby Relativity Anxiety. To be honest, it's really anxiety about those Crusaders, who sit in fourth, on 24 points...More

“I’m not sure how we got there,” Sheridan Rangihuna admits when reflecting on the climax to the McBain Shield on Saturday. A last play try by HOBM fullback Anthony Utanga prized the old trophy off Petone for the first time since 2015, the Eagles winning 30-27. “If they would give us an inch, we would take it, but it didn’t look likely,” Rangihuna concedes. The break for HOBM occurred when Petone lock Glen Angus was yellow carded following an all-in melee with about eight minutes remaining...More

Above: Joe Walding-Karaitiana (white headband) enters Evans Bay Park in a recent match with his MSP teammates.  In the space of two games this season Joe Walding-Karaitiana has gone from a regular bench warmer to captain of Marist St Pat’s. His captaincy position wasn’t initially obvious when first bestowed. “Nick Harrison was the original captain, but he got injured in the Wellington Axemen game and told me I was captain. We have a leadership group, which Ryan Setefano is a part of...More

Above: Valentine Meachen (MSP) and Ben  Tupuola (Wainuiomata) were the two No. 8s when their sides met under lights at Jerry Collins Stadium and drew 30-30 this week in 2014.  In association with Lovelocks Sports Bar on Bond Street in Wellington, some highlights from this week in Wellington club rugby history are below. 16 April 1963: Oriental beat St Pat’s Old Boys 17-12 after leading 17-3 at halftime, rounding off a successful 75th jubilee weekend for the club. Off the field, Oriental’s celebrations include a parade and dinner that is attended by 95-year-old co-founder G...More

Above: Kiri Mei caught in a tackle for Avalon against Poneke in the Women's Gala Day on Saturday at Ngatitoa Domain. Mei and Upper Hutt Rams Premier No. 8 Josh Houston Tupou were two players to score hat-tricks on Saturday. PHOTO: Andy McArthur. The 2018 rugby season has now taken full flight All club rugby grades were in action on Saturday, in one way or another. It was a welcome relief to have a mostly fine afternoon around the region on Saturday after the previous two rounds were laced with wind and rain...More