Above, Wainuiomata’s Greg Lealofi isn’t happy but Petone players are celebrating a decisive try in their come-from-behind 27-25 Jubilee Cup win last year.?The final part of our summer series recapping some memorable comeback wins and matches decided in dramatic circumstances in Wellington club rugby over the past decade.?26 May 2012: Manu’s sideline penalty sinks PonekeOld Boys University first five-eighth Seminar Manu kicked a sideline penalty in injury time at the Basin Reserve to give his side a 22-20 win over Poneke...More

For sheer competitiveness and unpredictability, these provincial Sevens tournaments keep getting better.On Saturday in pool play, Wellington defeated Waikato 35-5 easing up; this afternoon Waikato scorched clear of the defending champions Wellington to beat them 38-19 in the Cup final of the National Sevens tournament in Rotorua.Waikato came back from a 0-12 deficit late in the first half to score two converted tries and lead 14-12 at the break, before scoring two more quick tries to double their lead...More

Above: Wellington coaches Scott Waldrom and Sam Rasch and the players in the halftime huddle in last year’s National 7s final in Rotorua.UPDATED - scroll down for Wellington men's and women's teamlists for the weekendDefending champions. It has a nice ring to it.The Wellington men’s team take their first steps in defending their National 7s title at 10.05 am tomorrow morning when they play Wairarapa-Bush in the opening match of the tournament. They play their second and third games of the day against North Harbour at 1...More

Jeff Toomaga-Allen is not one to stay down for long.The Hurricanes and Marist St Pat’s tighthead prop, who injured his knee whilst chasing down a Wainuiomata winger during last July’s Wellington club rugby Jubilee Cup semi-final (pictured above playing in this game evading former Manu Samoa prop Justin Va’a), was originally hoping to be back playing by round three of the Super Rugby season against the Western Force in Perth.But now, thanks to a huge dose of positivity, good rehabilitation and support, and his new best friend, the Wattbike that he’s been using a lot lately, he could be back in action as soon as 31 January when the Hurricanes play their first pre-season match against the Crusaders in Eketahuna...More

A huge year of rugby in 2015 is already under way.The provincial Sevens season is hitting its high water mark this coming weekend in Rotorua with the National Provincial Sevens tournament, while there’s several club Sevens and 10s tournaments coming up to look forward and the fifteens season is just around the corner.The rugby focus will be on Rotorua this weekend with the country’s leading Sevens merchants on show battling it out for national supremacy. The Wellington men’s and women’s teams head there with high hopes, the former as defending champions and the latter as an improving side on the rise...More

Above: Lua Lokotui scored a key try for Marist St Pat’s in their 35-27 win over Northern United at Porirua Park in 2012, pulling in a 13-27 lead deficit early in the second half.?Part three of our summer series recapping some memorable comeback wins and matches decided in dramatic circumstances in Wellington club rugby over the past decade.??25 April 2010: Defending champions kick-start their season with points spreeDefending Jubilee Cup champions Marist St Pat’s turned around a one-point halftime deficit to score three second half tries and floor Upper Hutt 40-23 to register their first win of the season...More

Mount Maunganui is the place to be for rugby fans this Saturday, for the annual Bay of Plenty Sevens Tournament being played at Blake Park.The tournament features many of the leading provincial teams that will take the field down the road in Rotorua the following weekend in the NZRU National tournament. This includes defending national men's champions Wellington and recent regional qualifying series winners Canterbury (Southern), Taranaki (Central) and Counties Manukau (Northern) in the men’s side of the draw and 2014 regional champions Manawatu (Central) and Waikato (Northern) in the women’s competition...More

Above: The 2007 Wests Roosters - Avalon Swindale Shield fixture unfolded in the last five minutes, with the Roosters coming back from a 10-point deficit to snatch a 20-17 win.?Part two of our summer series recapping some memorable comeback wins and matches decided in dramatic circumstances in Wellington club rugby over the past decade. ?12 May 2007 – Roosters stun Avalon in final five minutesWith five minutes to play Avalon had seemingly grasped their third win in seven matches of the 2007 Swindale Shield...More

Above: Old Boys University and Avalon clash at the Basin Reserve in this 2006. OBU won this match 32-31, one of many close run matches in that season’s Swindale Shield competition.?The start of the New Year means it’s all downhill to the start of the 2015 rugby season. What have been the most exciting matches, tightest finishes and most memorable comebacks in Wellington club rugby over the past 10 years? Here’s some we’ve selected - Part 1 below:30 April 2005: Petone turn tables on TawaPetone produced a stunning second half performance to snatch a thrilling and unlikely 27-26 win in the dying minutes...More

Above: Billy Wallace opens up on his rugby career later in life. Photo courtesy of the Evening Post.On tour with Billy Wallace and the 1905-06 All BlacksOn international tours up to the 1970s it was commonplace for the All Blacks to play matches between Christmas and New Year.?Indeed, the All Blacks have played 17 matches in this week in history whilst on tour in Europe, including playing their only New Year’s Day Test in 1906 on arguably the most famous tour of them all.?The 1905-06 All Blacks tourists to the UK, Ireland, France and North America are better known as the ‘Originals’, and three Wellington players took part: Poneke utility back Billy Wallace, Ories halfback Fred Roberts and Petone wing Duncan McGregor...More