Above: Poneke fullback Michael Sage crossing on the stroke of halftime this afternoon at Kilbirnie Park to close the gap to 10-14 against Hutt Old Boys Marist. The Eagles held on and won 17-13.  Defending first round champions the Old Boys University Goats remain unbeaten in the Swindale Shield, beating Petone and registering their fifth straight win this afternoon, while Wainuiomata snatched a 78th minute victory over the Upper Hutt Rams in two of seven tight matches this afternoon. OBU held off Petone to win 27-20 at the Petone Rec retain the Marc Verhoeven Memorial Trophy and win the Bill Brien Challenge Cup, while Wainuiomata’s try in the shadows of fulltime gave them a 27-24 win over the Upper Hutt Rams in their Peter Jones/Dave Ritchie Cup fixture...More

Updated: Round Five of the Swindale Shield shapes up as something of a pivotal one, with the possibility that some teams can get a real jump on the field, while for others it’s a chance to make up lost ground. The weather of recent days with the remnants of Cyclone Cook will be factor, albeit not to the extent previously forecasted and that might help some while hindering others. Premier Swindale Shield This weekend’s round sees each of the top three sides all on the road, while once again five of the seven matches are for interclub trophies...More

And so on the seventh day, or was it the 70th, or 700th, Sanzar did come down from Table Mountain and lo, teams were cut and the people were joyous. Then the attendances soared and the players too were happy, and turned their backs on foreign riches. And Super became Superb. Now it probably won't end that way and you know it. Because the endless wrangling over Super Rugby is hiding the real problem - the decline of South African and Australian rugby. Both are dealing with their own peculiar pressures, and it would be arrogant for New Zealanders to claim to know how to fix it...More

Above: Collins soaring high in Avalon’s lineout in his playing days and inset in the Saturday Rugby Club studios on Saturday with producer Aaron Cardie and Wellington Rugby’s Michael Langley. Twelve years ago 175 people assembled in the same place at the same time to drink a tequila shot. A new Guinness World Record was created in Wellington and Damian Collins won a trip to Ireland, an experience that planted a seed for a future in broadcasting. "It was a nationwide ZM promotion run by Polly and Grant...More

Above: Andy Ellis puts a kick through with Ambrose Curtis looming in support during last weekend’s 25-25 draw with Petone. Both players scored electric tries in this match. One of the most dramatic Jubilee Cup final wins since the finals format was introduced 25 years ago was Oriental-Rongotai’s championship win over Northern United in 2011. In a final of two halves, a vicious southerly blew over the ground midway through the match and Ories responded by blasting past defending champions Northern United 40-18, their first Wellington club rugby championship victory since 1910...More

Above: Tolu Fahamokioa playing for his Tawa club side last weekend. Photo: Jun Tanlayco  All corners of New Zealand are set to be represented when the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians open the British & Irish Lions Series 2017 on 3 June in Whangarei. Provincial Barbarians Coach Clayton McMillan has today named the core of the squad for the series opener, which features an exciting mix of players from 15 different provinces. All Men's NPC Unions and Heartland Championship and Meads Cup Champions Wanganui are represented with veteran skipper and Barbarians Club member Peter Rowe, set to add to his already impressive rugby CV...More

It is 2011 and the last minutes of the annual St. Peter's College versus Auckland Grammar School grudge match are desperate. St. Peter's are narrow leaders and grimly defending their tryline from a determined Grammar assault. Vince Aso is 16 years old, confident and relaxed. St. Peter's coach James Bentley is the total opposite. "Our captain Patrick Tuipulotu was screaming at our guys not to give away any stupid penalties. I started to chime in 'strongly encouraging' the boys to make their tackles,” Bentley explains...More

A new series for Mondays looking at some of the news in briefs, milestones, happenings, statistics and observations from the weekend of rugby just gone. Off the Ball is in association with Rob Law Max , Lovelocks Sports Bar  and Harcourts Johnsonville  +++++ Chainsaw Photos (photo credit above) took his eyes off the rugby action at Porirua Park on Saturday to capture Northern United’s two Hurricanes water boys, TJ Perenara and Leni Apisai. The realities of the modern professional game mean that All Blacks, Super Rugby players and even fringe Super Rugby players are rarely playing club rugby anymore, but most are still big supporters of their clubs which is great to see...More

The sun beat down on the Swindale Shield for the first time this year and the rugby ran hot in today’s fourth round set of matches played around Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Porirua. There were two thrillers, at the Petone Recreation Ground and at Evans Bay Park, while Poneke and Tawa both won their first games of the season in style in front of their home supporters. Elsewhere, Old Boys University and Northern United both won their fourth straight matches, to remain the only teams to win all four of their contests after the opening month of 2017 Wellington Premier club rugby...More

UPDATED: After the opening three weeks the fencing is well and truly over, and for some sides hands are already poised over the panic buttons while others find themselves sitting in comparatively comfortable states. The week’s deluge will have also softened up the grounds, so there’s the real possibility that this round might be the first real taste of winter conditions. Also of note is that a number of players who have been on Hurricanes U20 and Development duty will be back in club colours this weekend...More