Above: Oriental-Rongotai captain Whetu Henry discusses the run of play with the referee in a recent Swindale Shield match. "As long as I can run straight I will keep on playing," Whetu Henry enthuses ahead of his 150th game for Oriental Rongotai on Saturday. The captain of the Magpies laughs, "I gave away the side step five years ago and it's improved my running game." Tighthead prop Henry's first game was a disaster! "It was against MSP in 2007 I think. I marked Arden David-Perrot who was a really good prop...More

Above: The Eastbourne team in August last year. Like them on Facebook here  In addition to the 14 Wellington clubs each fielding Premier teams, there are currently three clubs in Wellington Senior ranks whose top teams participate in lower grades – Stokes Valley, the Wests Roosters and Eastbourne. This Saturday Eastbourne are holding their Old Timers’ Day, with all seven of their junior teams, their one thriving Senior side that is playing in the U85kg division 1 competition and a traditional in-club match between local ‘Bay’ and ‘Village’ teams all in scheduled games on H...More

New Plymouth BHS: 18 (Bradley Slater, Luke Fowler, Kaylum Boshier tries; Luke Brown 1 pen) St. Pats Silverstream: 15 (Lucas Dutton 2, Albert Polu tries)   New Plymouth BHS has retained the McDonald Shield after a hard fought victory over St. Pats Silverstream in inclement Wellington weather today. The capital has been besieged by heavy rain and hailstorms in the last 24 hours and despite the grim conditions both schools contributed to a fair spectacle.   New Plymouth started the strongest, preserving the ball for several phases as Silverstream hardly contested the rucks...More

Let's call this one the Curious Case of Beauden Barrett, as we contemplate the pivot game of the season this Friday against the Highlanders Now this isn't an exercise in bagging the guy. He's done some typically good things this season, especially if you remember that he's no longer got the best midfield in world rugby sitting outside him. He's still got lethal pace, an eye for the chance, and that great knack most times of making things happen. But let's face it, it feels like his goal-kicking issues are now a real concern...More

UPDATED: The 2016 WelTec Premiership Wellington secondary schools competition starts this Saturday. Some outstanding players have emerged from this competition from the past decade to light up the senior ranks. As such Club Rugby has chosen a team of the past decade (2006-2015) from Wellington schools. As always, selecting these teams is subjective, with a number of players – particularly backs – left out that could easily slot in here in place of some players selected. The team is based in part of what they did at school (not all these players were selected for the NZ Secondary Schools) – players that starred at college level and then that have carried on to club and then the professional ranks...More

Each year there’s a group of international players in Wellington club rugby adding flavour and personality to the competition. One player is Dutch front rower Alex Barendregt, who is now in his second season playing for Old Boys University. As his nickname suggests, “Dutchie” has recently been in Europe playing a series of internationals for the Netherlands. “I was previously involved in the Dutch set-up for a couple of years and they invited me back this year to play for them in three Test matches, one against Poland, one against the Ukraine and one against Sweden," he told Club Rugby this week...More

The Hurricanes Alumni Test Dinner is a rare opportunity to hear from the Test coaches, Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland, two days prior to the All Blacks v Wales international at Westpac Stadium. Tickets are now available for this dinner on Thursday 16 June at 6.30pm at Westpac Stadium. The MC is Scotty Stevenson from Sky Sports and it’s also a chance to be able to mix and mingle with the current Hurricanes squad members and management, Hurricanes Alumni members and the Wales team management...More

Above: Poneke first five-eighth Greg Mullany scores his second try, to the delight of Sheryl on the sideline, to help set up Poneke's 23-20 win over Old Boys University for the Beet Algar Rosebowl.  There’s plenty of life left in Wellington’s Premier first round Swindale Shield competition. Two close wins in town to Poneke and Northern United and a 24-24 draw at the Hutt Recreation Ground between the HOBM Eagles and the Upper Hutt Rams and some other key results breathed fire into the 11th round played in fine, cool conditions today...More

At the Premier level the fight is on for the Jubilee Cup places tomorrow. The fate of some teams remaining on the fringe of contention will be determined this week, though the earliest that the field for the championship round can be set is next weekend. Below that at the Premier Reserve grade it’s just as intense with as many as eight teams still alive in the race for the Hardham Cup places. As well as that there’s the strong likelihood that the first real weekend of winter conditions has arrived...More

While the focus is on the events in the Premier grade’s Swindale Shield there’s still plenty happening across the other club grades; potentially several first-round trophies could be decided tomorrow. At the college level it’s the last round of the grading qualification matches, and the fields for the various divisions will be set. Women’s Fleurs Trophy Barring an unexpected result tomorrow, the destination of the trophy will come down to next weekend’s clash between leaders Norths and Oriental-Rongotai...More