The China Barbarians and the Hastings Rugby and Sports Academy teams in action in last weekend's New Zealand Marist Sevens tournament.This weekend's Hawke's Bay club Sevens tournament at Waipukurau has drawn a competitive field from far and wide. The one-day open tournament on Saturday features Men's, Women's and Colts sections, with teams from Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa Bush, Manawatu and Wellington all entered. The 46-team tournament also has an international flavour with the touring China Barbarians Sevens team competing...More

Above: Westpac Stadium in 2005, the scene of the All Blacks' 30-point thrashing of the British and Irish Lions. Photo courtesy of Wellington Regional Stadium Trust. Since opening in early 2000, Westpac Stadium in Wellington has hosted some memorable rugby. Here's our take on some of the magic rugby matches there over the years: 2000 Lomu and Cullen light up new stadium against SharksThe first Super Rugby match at the brand new Stadium was always going to be special. A double act by All Blacks Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen helped the Hurricanes christen their new home in style when they beat the Sharks 40-23 in front of a full house...More

Above: St Pat's Town player Siosaia Paese running away to score against Cullinane College on day one. Paese was one of two players from the host school to make the tournament team.? St Patrick's College Silverstream held off a battling comeback by their city cousins, St Pat's Town, to win the inaugural BLK NZ Marist Secondary Schools Sevens Tournament in Wellington. Two tries in quick succession by St Pat's Town clipped the Silverstream lead in a final won 15-10, to cap two days of competitive 7s Rugby by 12 secondary schools from Oamaru to Auckland...More

Hamilton Marist (pictured above) are the 2014 New Zealand Marist Federation Sevens champions, beating North Harbour Marist in the Cup final on St Pat's College artificial on Saturday afternoon.Hamilton were deserved winners, winning their pool matches on day one, including beating host club Marist St Pat's.They accounted for Rotorua's Marist St Michael's 43-7 in their Cup quarter-final and Napier Old Boys Marist 19-5 in their Cup semi-final, before beating North Harbour 34-12 in the Cup final...More

The fifth leg of the IRB World Sevens series hits Westpac Stadium tomorrow and Saturday. Meanwhile, across town at St Pat's College and at the Marist St Pat's club training field, the New Zealand Marist Club Sevens and the inaugural New Zealand Marist Secondary School Sevens tournaments are being played.A combined 34 teams from all around New Zealand and one from China are playing in these tournaments, which are being held are separately from Friday to Sunday. There are 114 games being played...More

Above: Ambrose Curtis tracking back as Ories teammate Ardie Savea makes the tackle on Northern United's Peato Lafale in a Jubilee Cup match at Porirua Park in 2012.Sheer speed and raw-boned physicality. That’s what caught our eye when we first saw New Zealand Sevens player Ambrose Curtis in full flight on Wellington club rugby’s season opener Gala Day in 2011. On a rock hard Trentham Memorial Park, Curtis scored twice against Avalon, including once from a bustling line break and an 80-metre sprint to the try line that was a highlight of the match...More

Above: The front of the programme of the match that the Hurricanes mowed down the Brumbies on Anzac Day 2009, winning 56-7. As the countdown to the rugby season continues apace, here’s a look at ten of the Hurricanes’ biggest and record setting wins since the competition kicked off in 1996. In chronological order the top ten games are: 1996 Hurricanes 44 v Highlanders 15, DunedinThis was the first ever night game in Dunedin, but it was the Hurricanes who lit up Carisbrook with an emphatic five tries to none victory, their biggest win of the inaugural Super 12 season and a glimpse of what was to come the following year...More

Above: Hutt Old Boys Marist celebrating with the Jubilee Cup at Westpac Stadium in 2007.From the beginning of competitions to right up to the present day, we’ve chosen some noteworthy or memorable Wellington club rugby Senior/Premier championship winning teams. Here’s the stories of six club teams that stood out between 1979 and 2013. Marist St Pat’s 1979Played 20. Won 20. Points for 391. Points against 123One of the most dominant sides to win a Wellington club rugby championship, Marist St...More

Above: Onslow players drinking from the Jubilee Cup in 1955From the beginning of competitions to right up to the present day, we’ve chosen 25 of the most noteworthy or memorable Wellington club rugby Senior/Premier championship winning teams, Here’s the stories of five club teams that stood out between 1952 and 1975, some of the most memorable seasons in club sport. ?University 1952Played 15. Won 13. Lost 2. Points for 240. Points against 90 In a golden age for club rugby, the University side of the 1950’s was one of the all-time great sides in New Zealand, let alone Wellington...More

John Schwalger playing for the Wellington Lions in last year’s ITM Cup. With almost a decade of experience at the top, the Hurricanes have welcomed him?back?to Super Rugby after spending most of?the previous?three seasons playing in France.?John Schwalger is back in New Zealand and raring to go in the looming Investec Super Rugby season for 2014.He began playing for the Hurricanes in 2006, the one and only year the franchise has made the final, and has amassed 78 caps for the black and gold and will look to use that experience to guide the younger boys around the paddock in 2014...More