Welcome to another season of Premier club rugby in Wellington, the region's most popular and well-supported amateur sporting competition. And for good reason too - a constant flow of excitement and drama in recent seasons makes for another much-anticipated five months of rugby in 2008. All eyes will be on Jubilee Cup titleholders Hutt Old Boys Marist this year in their quest for a repeat triumph after beating eleven-time champions Marist St. Pat's 18-10 in last August's final at Westpac Stadium...More

Remember to set aside Saturday March 29 for the start of the 2008 Wellington Premier Club Rugby Season.For passion, drama, intensity and excitement, some of the very best sporting stories are found on the playing fields of the Swindale Shield, Jubilee Cup and Hardham Cup competitions, so get out there and support your team.This year's season kicks off with the resurrection of the Gala Day format, not seen since 2004 when all first round games were played at Petone.?On a glorious afternoon the Gala Day that year proved popular as the season kicked off amid much fanfare...More

Wainuiomata were rewarded for a passionate display in front of a legion of green and black fans at Westpac Stadium on Sunday. But victorious Wainui player and coach Earl Va'a summed up a pleasing end to a great season."It's no Jubilee Cup, but it is a trophy in the cabinet," said Va'a before he hoisted the cup.His team-mates took the plaudits for what was a tough encounter with Ories - the front-runners of the Hardham Cup season. First five eighth Va'a had a massive impact on the game, putting the final nail in Ories coffin with a successful penalty kick on full-time...More

Congratulations to Hutt Old Boys Marist, 2007 Jubilee Cup champions, defeating Marist St. Pat's 18-10 in Sunday's final at Westpac Stadium. There were scenes of jubilation at the end from HOBM players and supporters alike as the euphoric Eagles grabbed their first Jubilee Cup title and became the fourth club in five years to capture Wellington club rugby's most coveted prize. Patience and persistence were the keys to a well-deserved victory for HOBM in a tense final. HOBM outscored MSP two tries to one late in the match, after first five-eighth Jon Bentley had kicked his second penalty on 50 minutes to give the Hutt side a 6-3 lead...More

Marist St. Pat's and Hutt Old Boys Marist?meet on Sunday?to decide the 78th Jubilee Cup, MSP playing in their first final in four years and HOBM their first since amalgamating from Hutt Old Boys and Hutt Valley Marist in 1993. Both come off contrasting semi-finals wins, HOBM toppling defending champions Northern United 15-5 and top qualifier MSP edging out Petone 24-23. If the tight nature of past Jubilee Cup finals is any gauge, little will separate the two sides. In six finals between 2000 and 2005 the widest winning margin was no greater than five points...More

When Wainuiomata and Oriental-Rongotai run out onto Westpac Stadium this Sunday it will be the culmination of a long roller-coaster ride, but one which both teams are determined to end on a high. Wainuiomata has the vast experience of former Samoan international Earl Va'a to draw upon in their bid to raise the cup. Va'a, first five eighth and coach, was a major influence on the team's rise to finals contenders last year. Two years ago he tasted Jubilee Cup glory after kicking the winning goal for Petone to beat Norths, 21-20...More

It will be an all-Marist Jubilee Cup final at Westpac Stadium next weekend after Marist St. Pat's and Hutt Old Boys Marist both won entertaining and contrasting playoffs on a wet semi-finals day across Wellington. It was thrill-a-minute rugby at Evans Bay Park, where top qualifier MSP overcame Petone's challenge to win 24-23, while HOBM dug deep at Porirua Park to defeat Northern United 15-5 and end the defending champions' run of recent title successes. HOBM's outstanding pack - led by blockbusting No...More

Oriental-Rongotai and Wainuiomata are this year's Hardham Cup finalists after running out winners against Avalon and Upper Hutt respectively in exciting semi-finals. Top qualifier Ories continued their 2007 resurgence, beating Avalon 32-17 and outscoring them five tries to one at the Polo Ground to safely book their place in next Sunday's final. Wainuiomata will be making their second visit in a row to Westpac Stadium, coming from behind to topple Upper Hutt 17-12 in a rematch of last year's final...More

Upper Hutt v Wainuiomata In a repeat of last year's Hardham Cup final, Wainuiomata will be looking to reverse the 2006 result against Upper Hutt, and develop that killer instinct. It is that instinct, exhibited at times especially by prodigal son Piri Weepu, which has led to some good wins - including one over eventual Jubilee Cup semi-finalists Norths back in early April.But if Wainui have a bogey team, it is Upper Hutt. The Hutt team has drawn much of its confidence this year from their victories over Wainui...More

Marist St. Pat's v Petone Jubilee Cup fans who missed Petone's thrilling 39-34 last-gasp victory over top qualifier MSP last week won't want to miss their return semi-final match-up at Evans Bay Park. Experienced winger Willie Moala capped an all-action encounter by scoring the match-winning try in the shadow of fulltime to set up a mouth watering playoff duel between the two teams this week. Despite the last round hiccup to their old rivals, MSP are back to their well-oiled best in 2007, the Red Machine finishing fourth behind Northern United in the Swindale Shield and qualifying first for the semi-finals and winning the Andy Leslie Trophy with a week to spare...More