Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

Good afternoon Otago Rugby supporters.

It's been a week of exciting announcements for Otago players, with The All Blacks XV, 2023 Otago Spirit Squad, 2023 Otago Spirit Development Squad and the NZ U20 to take on Wales. We've got talent for days and we can't wait to see what 2023 has in store for us. Scroll down below for more details.

A massive congratulations to the Alhambra Union Crazy Horses, who took out the Metropolitan Women's Premier competition last weekend against Dunedin Wāhine. With an impressive crowd on the sidelines both teams put on a nail bitter of a showdown. It's been 11 years since AU women took the title, and this win was well and truly earned. Well done ladies!!!

Congratulations to our Premier Development Women's Champions - Kaikorai Final score: Kaikorai 34 - Cromwell Women 0. An awesome way to make your mark on the competition, well done ladies!

We would also like to acknowledge the Cromwell Women's team van that collided with another vehicle in the Manuka Gorge on their way home last weekend. Some sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital. We wish those injured a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with the team, especially Paula and Jason Clark.

The 2023 NPC & FPC Draws are out now! Scroll down to check out our Home Games, or check out the full NPC Draw here and FPC Draw here.

Scroll down for more rugby news and announcements like development opportunities, weekly happenings, rugby courses and more…

ODT Interesting Reads!

Much to play for in final round

Kylie Ratten – Zingari-Richmond Juniors

“Kylie does an outstanding job keeping the Zingari Juniors ticking over from being at every training to organizing all the kids and player of the days for the Saturdays.”

Wayne Carruthers – Otago Rugby Referees

"I would like to nominate Wayne Carruthers for volunteer of the month. Wayne has been a long standing member of ORRA for a number of years now. Wayne not only runs the touch in multiple games each Saturday but also does the appointments for referees in the Southern region. Doing the referee appointments is nearly a part time job week in week out and quite often gets changed prompting him to take valuable time out of his week nights and weekends. ORRA and rugby in Otago couldn’t happen without the help of people like Wayne doing the hard jobs."

Sandi Wheeler – Alhambra-Union RFC

“Alhambra-Union stalwart. Every year Sandy says she wont be doing so much next year but when the season comes around she can’t stay away! Every Saturday Sandy is in the kitchen cooking and prepping food for all our teams. She always makes sure the visiting teams are fed before they go! She looks after visitors to the club so well with the food she preps. Every big event Sandy is always on catering, nobody can resist Sandy’s delicious Hams!”

Jeremy Wara - Harbour RFC

"Jeremy joined the Otago rugby community in late 2022 via Counties-Manukau where he was involved in various rugby and coaching development roles over the last 15 years. He is the current coach of the Harbour Hawks Premier men's team and is passionate about creating an environment where people can be their best. He has had extensive involvement with Māori rugby and in particularly with emerging talent rangatahi and has been involved with the New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura Boys team over the last seven years. Jeremy works hard to model the Rugby Way values and recently took a proactive approach to address unwanted sideline behaviour towards our match officials."

Head over to our Otago Community Rugby page to vote. Voting closes at 12pm, Monday 29th of June

Otago Rugby Football Union is proud to announce the 2023 Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse Otago Spirit Squad.

Otago Spirit Coach Craig Sneddon said, “A settled and experienced squad has been assembled for the 2023 campaign. No fewer than 23 players are returning from last year's team. Alongside these players we welcome back Eilis Doyle, who brings Super Rugby Aupiki experience to the squad and Jamie Church who returns after a standout club season. It’s exciting to reward six debutants with selection. Two apprentice players will learn from our core of long serving players. Look out for youngster Abigail Paton who has shown a solid all-round game at club level and Pesalini Heehau, a Tongan international. The Spirit draws on four members of the winning Matatū squad in Eilis Doyle, Leah Miles, Cheyenne Cunningham & Georgia Cormick.”

Otago Rugby CEO Richard Kinley, CEO, “Everyone at Otago Rugby is looking forward to getting in behind and supporting the Otago Spirit as they head into another season of FPC rugby. As the team bases their attack on speed and width it is exciting to watch, so I encourage people throughout Otago to come along and support the girls. I know they will be looking to build on what they achieved in 2022 and go one step further.”

The Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse is set to begin 15th July. The Otago Spirit play their first game away against Tasman on Saturday 22nd July. To view the full 2023 FPC draw click here. All Farah Palmer Cup games will once again be broadcast live and available on Sky Sport.

For any further comments, please contact Richard Kinley, CEO, Otago Rugby Football Union, 021 229 9809.

2023 MANAGEMENT STAFF:

Head Coach: Craig Sneddon

Assistant Coach: Rodney Stringer

Assistant Coach: Matt Direen

Technical Advisor and Skills Coach: Helen Littleworth

S & C Coach: Marik Boukehil

Physio: Dee Coulter

Manager: Roddy Scoles

Culture and Leadership Manager: Kate Ebrahim

This week’s ref profile of the week is one of our most experienced and well-travelled referees in Central. Hamish has refereed in Auckland, Southland and Otago during his community career while notching up 14 first-class caps during the rep seasons. It’s at grass roots where Hamish gives back to his community and goes for a trot on Saturdays nowadays.

How long did you play rugby for?

Only a few years, I was never any good at it.

What made you come to refereeing?

I love rugby and wanted to be involved in some capacity. I enjoy learning and was very lucky to spend the first few years refereeing out of Auckland where I had some amazing coaches/mentors who taught me heaps. I learnt pretty quick refereeing is like life, keep it simple.

What have you enjoyed the most about refereeing?

Seeing rugby bring the community together through good times and bad.

What's your greatest refereeing moment to date?

Where do I start? Either making my first class debut, refereeing 7s in Fiji where the Australia national side lost in a quarter final to a local Fijian side made up of prison wardens, refereeing in 40 degree heat in Dubai or being the man in the man in the middle for the last first class game of footy on grass at Rugby Park in Masterton between the mighty WB Bush V King Country....can't decide.

What do you want to get out of refereeing for the future?

After 15 years or so of active refereeing, it's not so much about the rugby for me anymore, it's about having fun and mixing with the community over a cold beer after a game. It would be good to hit 100 premier games (currently on 98). I will stop refereeing when I don't enjoy it.

What would be your advice to someone who's thinking of taking up the whistle?

You live once, do it. You are human and expect to make mistakes. Don't do what I did where you go out for your first game and try ref 100 different rules, just focus on nailing one or two aspects of your game like tackler rolling away. That's a good start!

Thanks Hamish, for helping our game!

OUR Game, OUR Referees.