Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

Good afternoon Otago supporters & welcome to our weekly newsletter

A special mention goes out to Chris Bell who breaks the current club rugby appearance record when he takes the field tomorrow for Zingari-Richmond in his 272nd game. Well done mate, go well!!!

Last weekend saw a great day out celebrating Central Otago Rugby! The inaugural match between Counties and Lakes resulted in a 12 all draw. A massive thank you goes out to all those who helped make this game happen. A huge shoutout to the Matakanui Combined Rugby Football Club for hosting and the many volunteers who gave up their time. Check out some great pics of the day below...

We are super proud of our referee, Fraser Hannon who has been selected in the New Zealand Referees Squad for 2021. We would like to congratulate him on this massive achievement, his hard work has paid off! He will join other ORRA members, James Doleman and Jono Bredin, in the squad.

This Saturday we are running a Women & Girls day at Forsyth Barr Stadium. This will be a great opportunity to develop your rugby skill set and learn from some of the best in the game too!!! See more on this and how to register below.

Reminder: This 2021 club season, we have put together a wee Coach of the Month initiative to push out to both Metro & Country clubs, for both junior and senior coaches. Nominations are to be sent through to Aaron Callaghan each month. A winner will be announced on Facebook and will score a season pass to the 2021 Otago home games! If you have a coach your think deserves recognition email aaron.callaghan@orfu.co.nz

Our Website has had a makeover and we couldn't be happier about it! Go check it out for yourself, for all things Otago Rugby click here.

Interesting Reads from Otago Daily Times:

We are excited with OUR referee feature this week as we have 14 year old new referee Murphy Lister. Murphy is the eldest of four rugby loving boys in his family and is one of our Southern Region officials. He attends Tokomariro High School in Milton and has been a great addition to our fantastic team down south. Murphy came to referee rugby with experience officiating touch rugby and has hit the ground running. A young referee with a strong presence, we look forward to following Murphy through his rugby journey. If you are an official in another sport and may be interested in finding out more about refereeing in rugby then please email tumua.ioane@orfu.co.nz . OUR GAME, OUR REFEREES.

Central Match of the Round - Matakanui vs Cavaliers

The two bottom placed teams square off this Saturday at Omakau. This should be a great struggle with an elusive win up for grabs for both teams. The Matakanui Mud Fish have home advantage, playing at the Domain or fish bowl. It’s club and sponsor day so expect another large crowd in attendance.

The Cavaliers have more depth to call on than their opposition. They have had good attendance at trainings and spirits are high. Unfortunately, their season has been plagued by injury and they will miss the services of James Rickard and Logan Stewart this week. They will however welcome Cam and Tom Finnie, David Kaufononga and Hayden King back to the fold. Experienced prop Mike O’Driscoll and Blake McPhee have been playing well and hold this side together. The Cav’s are still searching for that 80 minute performance but their rallying call remains the same; don’t back down.

Matakanui have also been hit hard by injury, losing centre Cam Gray and lock Mike McBreen to head knocks. Having a week off for the Counties v Lakes games has given them some rest bite. The young inside pairing of Luke Hume and Mark Cormack is serving this side well and their combination with second five, Jessy Porter is beginning to flourish. Props, Mike Philips and Mike O’Hagan set a sound foundation for the likes of Dean Sinnamon at number eight to run off. The experienced Willie Lake will be missed this week but the Mud Fish are desperate for their first win and home advantage might be enough to get them across the line.

Metro Match of the Round - Otago University vs Dunedin

Plenty will be on the line tomorrow when our match of the round heads to the University of Otago Oval where University take on Dunedin. Both teams will be looking to continue their strong start in the Gallaway round and notch up their 3rd win in as many games, also the coveted Jonathan Keogh Memorial Trophy is back up for grabs. Two wiry young hookers, Harry Press and Sam Rainger will go hammer and tongs at each other all around the park. The Sharks welcome back midfielder Keegan Christian-Goss and his match up against the pair of Giovanni Leituala and Thomas McKenzie will be one to keep an eye on. Weather could play a part in this one so it will lean back on the pivots and how they control both possession and position.

Women's Match of the Round - Alhambra-Union vs Big River Country

This Saturday's clash between Big River Country and Alhambra-Union will be massive. The sides are fortunate enough to be playing under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium. This will be a first-time experience for many across both teams. Last time they played each other it was a tightly contested match with Big River Country taking home the win. Discipline will be key for both teams to get over the line.

Big River Country opened the competition with a hiss and a roar. They will be pumped to be heading up the road to play under the roof. Last time these sides clashed Big River was very dominant at scrum time, constantly getting Alhambra-Union on the back foot. They have named a very good forward pack for this clash, a front row combination of Isla Pringle, Hope White and Hannah Lome will be putting a huge shift up front and look to set the platform for their back line. Nicole Kennedy has been an assist to the BRC team controlling the game at half back. The hard-working loose field trio of Paige McIvor, Kayley Johnson and Tegan Hollows will be key to the success of BRC, if given half a chance they will be over the ball for the turn over.

The Crazy Horses have had a tough few weeks. Going down to Otago University and Pirates Wahine, they will be looking to turn that around this weekend. The fit and dynamic Crazy Horses will be planning on using their pace on the outside with electric wingers Zoey White and Peleiupu Malatai. The Crazy Horses have named a strong pack to take on the visitors. They will be seeing the return of dominant front rower Paige Church, who is always hard to stop with ball in hand. Year 13 flanker Libby Drummond has been outstanding for the Crazy Horses this year. She has bought great energy in every game and is very dynamic around the park. Alhambra-Union are also looking forward to having strong midfielder Lauren Sa’u back on the park. She is a great player, especially when linked with Teilah Ferguson, together they are a dangerous combination that BRC need to be ready for.

Round 9 Snapshot

Crescent vs Clutha Valley

A showdown of epic proportions is due to hit Kaitangata on Saturday as the home side, Crescent face off against the unbeaten Clutha Valley. By my reckoning there are five pieces of silverware on the line in this match. Three are guaranteed to be awarded if Crescent win the match whereas Valley can lock away the McIntosh Cup, Speights Jug, John Cross Cup, South Otago Banner and Springbok Horns if they emerge victorious. None such prize as big as this one has been on offer in a single match in recent memory. This will be a belter in front of no doubt what will be a hostile home crowd.

Roxburgh vs West Taieri

Roxburgh are at home for the second time in a row, taking on a top two side yet again. The Roosters were brave in their loss to Clutha Valley last weekend and showed grit and determination when under the pump. West Taieri had the bye last weekend and watched the table close in around them. A bonus point win will be the only acceptable result for the Pigs who can still finish top of the pile if Valley falter at Kaitangata.

Owaka vs Clutha

The Art Bloxham Cup is on the line at Swamp Hen Park as Owaka host Clutha. 2009 was the last time Owaka had their hands on this trophy with some compelling battles through the years. The Swamp Hens will be filthy with themselves after losing on the buzzer to Toko last week. This will serve as motivation no doubt. Clutha will come in with confidence after beating Heriot at Death Valley last weekend. This has the potential to be a close encounter if the home side turn up with the right attitude.

Clinton vs Toko

Friday night footy is back at The Stables in Clinton. The home side take on Toko who are a surprising inclusion to the Friday night schedule after maintaining their hatred for it over past seasons. Clinton was beaten well by Crescent last weekend, but their forwards showed some promise at the collision area and the breakdown. Toko’s last minute win over Owaka last weekend will have given them confidence, but they are battered and bruised with some players missing through injury. This will be a close match with Toko slight favourites.

Am I a Hypocrite?

Here we go, the gloves are off! Time to ask some tough questions…

In the perfect world as a coach I hope my players turn up motivated, focussed and ready to give it 100%.

Learning is a journey of self-exploration. We try something and get feedback from the outcome, from the coach, from our pairs, from video footage and of course our bodies sensory system to name a few. Then hopefully, we reflect, tweak and the process starts all over again.

When we hit that sweet spot of not feeling too stretched in our training environment or not stretched enough, learning and development occurs.

As a coach that is the moment that fills the cup, the heavens open and a beam of light shines on us, life is good.

Now let us simplify the process

Try something
Reflect
Tweak
Try said thing again

Ask the question, did it get better? Yes or No? Both answers serve a purpose.

Now, as a coach how often do you apply the same principles to yourself that you expect from your players?

What I tend to see on my travels are coaches turning up with plenty of energy, passion, well organised and motivated. What I do not see so much of, is coaches taking a few moments post training to reflect on their session as a coaching group or individually.

This could be as simple as asking yourself the question, what would I score myself out of 10?

If the answer was 7 ask yourself, why was it not a 6? Because I did…. well.

Next question, what would it take to get it to an 8? This will give a work on for next session.

You could do this for each section of your session or just one overall assessment.

At a guess I reckon it would take you 60 seconds, if you want to go for bonus points you could even write down your answers.

As a side note, this technique can be applied at work, to your parenting, your relationship, basically anything that you want to get better at.

Simple, quick and highly effective.

If you feel your ego can handle it, you could even ask your players for feedback at the end of each session. What worked well? What did not? How was the intensity? What would you score the session out of 10?

To finish, I will ask you to answer one question.

If a player turns up and tells you that he/ she does not want to get better, what would your answer be?

Trust me, I know how hard it can be to have that hard look in the mirror at yourself, but it is worth it.

It is not about being perfect, just getting better.

Let me know if there are any specific questions you’d like answered on the coaching front at aaron.callaghan@orfu.co.nz

Keep up the great work!!!

Cheers, Azza

Saturday the 29th May, ORFU will host a ‘Women & Girls Day’ at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The purpose of this day is to celebrate our women and girls in rugby at all levels from junior right through to premier women’s. This day will allow junior girls and secondary school girls the opportunity to have their own rugby experience on the grass under the roof.

This event will be supported by New Zealand Rugby and the following Black Ferns Squad members will be in attendance: Kendra Cocksedge, Rosie Kelly and Kilisitina Moata'ane.

Women & Girls Day Schedule:

Secondary School Girls Development Sessions: 10:30-12:00pm
Junior Girls Rugby Games: 12:15-1:30pm
Premier Womens Match Big River Country vs Alhambra-Union: 2:45-4:10pm.

2021 Women & Girls Day has been made possible via Dunedin Venues Community Access Grant. This event was planned to be hosted for the first time in 2020 but due to Covid-19 restrictions it was unable to go ahead.

This event is free entry and open to the public.

The Otago Rugby Union is acting as an ambassador for Veo. We are using the camera's for developing our representative players and match officials as well as allowing our clubs and schools to borrow the camera's. If a club or a school likes the camera, they can then contact Veo direct and make a purchase of the hardware and a monthly licence to use their software. As a partnership, the Otago Rugby Union receives a small fee, and the club or school receives a discount on the recommended retail price.

For more information about Veo and their camera, click here.

Or, if you would like to book a call from the Veo experts, click here.

HOW DOES MY CLUB OR SCHOOL BOOK A CAMERA?

Email Paul Thompson: paul.thompson@orfu.co.nz

Match Day Programme - Metro, Central & Southern Region

Secondary Schools First XV Match Day Programme