Above: Peter Umaga-Jensen playing for Wainuiomata against Marist St Pat's last Saturday in Wellington club rugby. Photo by Shane George/Wainuiomata Rugby Peter Umaga-Jensen is one half of the most talked about twins in New Zealand age group rugby. So what's it like not playing with his brother Thomas in 2016? "It's sad and weird, but I guess it was going to happen eventually," Peter admits. Both boys were courted by ever major union in the country: Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago...More

Competition: Win your subs back! Simply guess who is backing the message in the photo above and in this Facebook post here and win your subs back. To enter the SUPPORT YOUR CLUB, PAY YOUR SUB promotion, all you need to do is: 1. Like this facebook post  on the Subs4Clubs Facebook page. 2. In the comments add who you think the person is behind the banner. 3. Tag in your Sports Club into your comment.  Entries close on 24 April (this coming Sunday) and the winner will be reimbursed their 2016 subs - up to the value of $150...More

Above: Mike Fraser refereeing the first of his three Jubilee Cup finals, the 2008 one between Northern United and Marist St Pat's. In bitterly cold conditions that day, the teams battled to a 10-10 draw and the Cup was shared.  Mike Fraser is one of the Wellington Rugby Referee Associations highest-achieving referees, having been part of the Level 1/Premier panel for many years, and is currently one of NZ Rugby’s full-time professional referees. His refereeing career, which now includes more than 100 First-class matches, has taken him to all parts of the world though he still makes occasional appearances in Wellington club matches...More

Opinion: What about them Sunwolves. You fly more times around the world than a Mossack Fonseca lawyer and then you have to play the Cheetahs at what is possibly 3am in the morning on your current body clock setting. Next thing, you're the poster child for everyone's pet hates about Super Rugby. You're the train crash everyone saw coming. Even Sparky. And some of those pet hates are pretty valid. The competition is diluted and there are too many journeymen outfits. Some teams are facing much worse itineraries than others...More

Women’s rugby in Wellington continues to grow, with 10 teams now competing in the club competition and a bunch of new players coming through the ranks to challenge for spots in the Wellington Pride side that made the NPC final last year. Three of last year’s Pride players back making their marks in 2016 for their club sides are centre Georgia Daals, who plays for the Old Boys University Impalas, lock Petra Kriklanova, with Hutt Old Boys Marist, and Oriental-Rongotai first five-eighth Lizzie Goulden...More

Above: Old Boys University's Maile Koloto scores the late match-winner in their 25-24 win over Oriental-Rongotai.  The Wellington Premier club rugby Swindale Shield lived up to its billing as one of the most exciting and entertaining competitions on show with a series of thrilling results this afternoon, with a win on the hooter, a massive second half defensive effort, a second half comeback and a surprise thrashing all amongst them. Old Boys University won their fifth straight match and their 14th overall with a last-gasp 25-24 win over Oriental-Rongotai at home at Nairnville Park, to stay ahead of a congested chasing pack...More

Above: Tawa defeated Avalon last week. Supporters of each will face potentially tense games to watch tomorrow, with Tawa hosting Hutt Old Boys Marist and Avalon meeting Petone at the Rec. Another weekend, another full slate of club rugby; starting tonight with the third round of the Women’s Fleurs Trophy. Along with the host of lower grades, it’s also round five in both the Swindale and Harper Lock Shields where the fields are starting to sort themselves out, with Derby day just around the corner next weekend...More

Wellington club rugby is returning to Westpac Stadium. Reigning Jubilee Cup champions Old Boys University will play Wellington in the first of four Investec Super Rugby curtain raisers in 2016 when the two rivals clash before the Hurricanes-Chiefs match on Saturday, April 23. It will be the first time Wellington premier club rugby has been played at Westpac Stadium since 2010 when the approaching Rugby World Cup ushered in what has stretched out to a five year hiatus. Wellington Rugby Union manager of community rugby Will Caccia-Birch said the initiative was the result of positive intent from all parties involved...More

Above: Marino Mikaele Tuu playing in his Wellington Premier club rugby debut recently for Old Boys-University against the Upper Hutt Rams. Marino Mikaele-Tuu has returned home as he pursues a professional rugby career. Born in Miramar, Wellington, he moved to Hastings when he was 11 years old, but presently resides in a Victoria University hostel as he balances his international business studies with rugby. "I am contracted to Hawke's Bay and will return to Hastings for the NPC. I study a couple of papers in Wellington while training with the Hurricanes...More

Super Rugby and soon to be international referee Ben O'Keeffe is back in Wellington this weekend on a break from his fulltime role and is looking forward to refereeing Saturday’ blockbuster Swindale Shield match between leaders Old Boy-University and Oriental-Rongotai at Nairnville Park. O'Keeffe, who was Wellington’s Referee of the Year two years ago after officiating the 2014 Jubilee Cup final between Hutt Old Boy Marist and Wainuiomata, is pleased to be back involved in the local competition for the first time this year...More