Above: HOBM and Ories players soaring high in last week's final regular season match of the year at the Hutt Recreation Ground.If HOBM beat Poneke in this weekend's penulimtate round of Jubliee Cup matches they'll be back there again soon to host a home semi-final. Leading duo Hutt Old Boys Marist and Tawa just need to win this weekend and they will both be in the Jubilee Cup semi-finals in a fortnight, while Upper Hutt will carry themselves, Northern United and the Wellington Axemen into the Premier 2 playoffs regardless of other results if they beat Johnsonville in sixth round Hardham Cup clashes on Saturday...More

Above: Tawa and Samoan international players Steven (left) and James (right) pictured with each of their own two boys and their proud parents. Photo courtesy of Tawa Rugby.UPDATED FRIDAY: In recent years rugby playing brothers the Waldroms, the Nonus, the Ellisons and the Saveas have established themselves as household names in Wellington. As well as geographical ties, all Wellington’s rugby clubs have strong family links. Not least Tawa who, including the So’oialos, currently have no less than four sets of brothers directly affiliated to their Premier Jubilee Cup squad and several others playing through the grades...More

Above: MSP halfback and captain Peter Sciascia (left) watches on as teammate Jackson Martin clears the ball from a ruck against HOBM in the Swindale Shield earlier in the season. Watching on are other MSP players Valentine Meachen (headgear) and AviataSilago (on ground).Club: Marist St Pat’sHome ground: Evans Bay ParkCurrent Super Rugby players: Victor Vito, Reynold Lee-Lo, Jeff Toomaga-Allen (all Hurricanes); Solomona Sakalia (Chiefs); Ged Robinson (Rebels)Jubilee Cups won:St Pat’s Old Boys: 1949 (shared with Petone)...More

Above: Hutt Old Boys Marist first five-eighth Brandyn Laursen is surrounded by a swarm of Oriental-Rongotai defenders. Laursen scored 18 points as HOBM won the battle of the birds 28-16. UPDATED: Old Boys University are the real deal. Any thoughts of them fading away over the back half of the 2013 Jubilee Cup have been dispelled today in the Nairnville Park mud after a character-filled 31-28 win over Swindale Shield champions Tawa.After trailing 21-8 at halftime, OBU came roaring back with the wind in their favour to tie the score up to 21-21 midway through the second half...More

The home stretch to the semi-finals starts this weekend across most grades of Senior club rugby in Wellington, with the fortunes of a number of contenders hanging in the balance and others poised to qualify for the playoffs. Jubilee CupRound five of the Jubilee Cup looms particularly large for a number of teams, with every clash pitting teams against another one close to them on the points table.The contender for who this week is most crucial is probably Wainuiomata. Lying sixth with five points, last year’s semi-finalists welcome Marist St Pat’s to William Jones Park...More

Founded in 1926, Hutt Valley High School (HVHS)is the largest school with a roll of over 1600 in the Hutt Valley. HVHS has a proud rugby history, having produced All Blacks Ron Jarden, Alan Hewson and Jason O'Halloran. In 2013 the First XV missed qualifying for Premier One by a mere three points.? Last week at Hurricanes training, Josef Shadwell (Head Boy and First XV halfback left in photo above) and Jerry Galuefa (captain First XV and No. 8, right in photo above) met Jeremy Thrush, the school’s latest All Black and newest rugby international...More

?Above: Wainuiomata captain Genesis Mamea evading would-be tacklers in their Jubilee Cup match against the HOBM Eagles at the Hutt Rec three weeks ago. A family club, Genesis is one six Mamea brothers and cousins playing for the Green and Blacks, five of whom have played Premier rugby this year. Club: WainuiomataHome ground: William Jones ParkCurrent Super Rugby players: Piri Weepu (Blues); Frae Wilson (Highlanders)Last year: Fourth in the Jubilee Cup (beaten semi-finalists)Swindale Shield this year: Fourth Captain: Genesis MameaPosition: Loose forward1...More

Above: Nothing could separate MSP and Ories at Evans Bay Park, the two teams fighting out a 27-27 draw.? UPDATED SUNDAY: The Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles have soared to a three-point lead at the top of the Jubilee Cup standings after reeling in a big deficit and beating Old Boys University for their fourth straight win, while the Wellington Axemen have officially qualified for next year’s Swindale Shield after beating Avalon and also winning their fourth straight game in the second round.At 3-19 down at halftime, HOBM were staring down the barrel of defeat against Old Boys University...More

It’s a crucial afternoon for several teams in Wellington club rugby tomorrow, not least Rimutaka (above) who will be hunting their first win of the season against Old Boys University B. The second round of the regular Wellington club rugby season reaches its halfway point this Saturday and fans will get a clearer picture of the likely semi-final contenders after the conclusion of Jubilee and Hardham Cup matches.Last week saw all teams tough it out in grim conditions. In the Jubilee Cup, just one team, Marist St Pat’s,won with a four-try bonus point and all games were tight...More

?This Saturday 29 June, the WRFU is holding its annual ‘Thanks Ref’? round of club rugby.? Clubs and schools are requested to make a special effort to thank the match officials for all their hard work, and remember without them the sport wouldn't be played.? As part of this weekend’s Thanks Ref round, we caught up with Patrick Shepherd who recently made the inspired decision to take up refereeing after having a cardiac arrest, aged 16. Patrick Shepherd's a typical teenaged sports loving student from the Hutt Valley, whose rugby playing career was cut short last year after he had a cardiac arrest when playing water polo for his school...More