Above: Chase Tiatia (Left) in earnest discussion with his Chiefs teammates including Stephen Donald (facing) in June's Chiefs versus British and Irish Lions match. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography  Chase Tiatia is putting an injury layoff earlier this year behind him and is enjoying being back in Bay of Plenty Steamers colours in the NPC. BoP lost to Northland 23-28 in their first match, but bounced back to convincingly beat Hawke’s Bay 46-17. Tiatia played at fullback in both outings, where he is expected to be named tomorrow for the third match against the Wellington Lions at Rotorua International Stadium on Thursday night...More

The Wellington Axemen and Avalon Wolves lineouts soar high in their U85kg Division 1 final on Saturday. Off the Ball is in association with Rob Law Max , Lovelocks Sports Bar  and Harcourts Johnsonville  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. +++++ Two encouraging wins for the Wellington Lions to start the NPC campaign, beating Manawatu (41-29), who then went on to beat last year’s Premiership finalists Tasman on Sunday and beating stacked Premiership side Taranaki 42-26...More

Wellinton Lions captain Brad Shields with the John F Henning Trophy after their win over Taranaki. Wellington: 42 (Asafo Aumua 2, Ben Lam, Julian Savea, Regan Verney tries; Jackson Garden 3 con, 3 pen, Dan Kirkpatrick con) Taranaki: 26 (Charlie Ngatai, Sean Wainui, Lachlan Boshier, Waisake Naholo tries; Stephen Perofeta 3 con). HT: 27-14. WHAT HAPPENED Wellington surged ahead 24-0 with some dynamic and polished rugby. Asafo Aumua fended off Leighton Price and burst 25-metres for the opening try...More

The Wellington Axemen celebrate winning the U85kg Diviison 1 Paul Potiki Memorial Shield today at home at Hataitai Park.  There was plenty of club, college and representative rugby played around Wellington and by Wellington teams today. See below for a round-up of much of the action. Club Rugby The Wellington Axemen held off a fast-finishing Avalon Wolves side to win this afternoon’s U85kg Division 1 Paul Potiki Memorial Shield title at home at Hataitai Park. The Axemen won 20-17 but their supporters had to endure a tense last several minutes of play after the tenacious Wolves had cut into a 10-point deficit by scoring a late converted try...More

And so it all ends. A little over five months after the club season started with the opening round of Premier and Premier Reserve matches in Upper Hutt, the curtain will come down tomorrow with the final matches in the last three grades. There’s also a bunch of representative games on, and college post-season and finals. First Grade The senior title to be decided tomorrow is the First Grade Division 1 Johnsonville Centennium Cup, which will be decided at the Hutt Rec between old foes the Hutt Old Boys Marist Barbarians and their neighbours across the river, the Petone Brotherhood...More

Under 85kg matches are invariably the closest games of them all in Wellington club rugby. Finals are tight. In 2014, the MSP Blues beat the Tawa Titans 6-3 on penalties. In 2015 the Titans beat the Poneke Cavs 8-3. Last year Tawa earned a hard-fought 16-5 victory over Johnsonville. The last time this year’s finalists the Wellington Axemen and the Avalon Wolves met the Axemen prevailed 18-13 at Te Whaea. The scene is thus set for a titanic battle for the Paul Potiki Memorial Shield U85kg Division 1 end of season decider on Saturday down on Kilbirnie Park #2 between host team and top qualifier Wellington and the second placed regular season finisher Avalon...More

No-one wants to say it's on its way. But Bledisloe Cup, you are on the way out. Another Saturday, another 50 point drubbing. The so-called symbol of Trans-Tasman supremacy is getting more devalued with every passing season. The crowds are dwindling in Aussie, and strip out the expats, it would be even worse. And let's face it, neither they, nor All Blacks fans here, are turning out in anticipation of a contest. Instead it's to watch the All Blacks. For all the artistry and skill on display in the first half, it is getting to be tedious...More

Above: Du'Plessis Kirifi (centre, white headband) arriving at a ruck against Manawatu on Sunday. Photo credit: Peter Mcdonald.  Observers of last year’s National under-19 Jock Hobbs Memorial Trophy final between Waikato and Auckland would find it difficult to argue a case against Du'Plessis Kirifi not being named Player of the Match. Waikato won the game 25-22 and Club Rugby reported: “Kirifi won pivotal turnovers with his low body position and combative defence. He also carried with gusto and was dramatically denied a try in the 46th minute when run down after a 35-metre charge by Dalton Papali’i...More

Above: A great initiative from Oriental-Rongotai at their prize giving on Saturday night – naming an Ories Team of the Year side made up of players across all their teams. The Ories Team of the Year is: 1. Raylene Lolo 2. Penieli Poasa, 3. Whetu Henry, 4. Joanah Ngan-Woo*, 5. Karl Dumelow, 6. Tukia Purcell, 7. Josh Leutogi* 8. William Heather, 9. Adam Deck, 10. Hinckley Siaosi, 11. Ayesha Leti-l’iga, 12. Fa'asua Makisi, 13. Malo Tuitama*, 14. 14. Malachai Unasa, 15. Hayden Whelan*, 16...More

Wellington: 41 (Sheridan Rangihuna, Alex Fidow, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Trent Renata, Julian Savea, Malo Tuitama tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 con, Dan Kirkpatrick pen) Manawatu: 29 (Willy Ambaka, Curtis Reid, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jackson Hemopo, Jade Te Rure tries; Otere Black 2 con) HT 26-22 WHAT HAPPENED A high scoring first-half saw the lead change hands multiple times and Wellington narrowly ahead 26-22 at the interval. Discarded All Black wing Julian Savea made an instant impression when he caught Manawatu midfielder Curtis Reid horribly out of position and passed to hooker Asafo Aumua, who fended Nene Milner-Skudder and set up Sheridan Rangihuna for the opening try in the first minute...More