Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

Good afternoon Otago Rugby supporters.

Bring on more Finals Footy!!! It's finals time for the Southern Region this weekend and you can expect to see an epic clash as West Taieri host Clutha for the big dance, grab your mates and head to Outram this Saturday for a 3pm kick off!

The Central Region heads into their Semi Finals weekend to battle it out for the top 2 spots. With both games kicking off at 2.30pm you can find the Alexandra Armadillos v Cromwell Goats at Molyneux Park, and the Upper Clutha Rams v Wakatipu Wolves at Wanaka Domain. Give it heaps boys!!!

This week we announced our 2023 NPC Squad, with some old and new faces, we couldn't be more excited to get back into it! The team will assemble this Monday and will play one pre season fixture against Southland on Friday July 28th, 2pm at Hancock Park. Mark that date in your calendars and head on down to get a sneak peak.

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!

Otago Rugby Football Union is proud to announce the 2023 Otago Squad for the Bunnings Warehouse NPC.

Otago Head Coach Tom Donnelly said, “We are looking forward to getting stuck into the 2023 NPC season. I think our men are going to come into our environment fresh and ready to prove a point that we are capable of going all the way. We have a number of returning players who know how to connect on the field and with the addition of some keen and exciting newcomers from club level, I think this team will take decent shape. The hard work for us begins now in the pre-season period.”

The team remains relatively settled from 2022 with most of the squad returning mixed in with a group eager to don the Blue & Gold for the first time. Nine* players have been selected in the squad for the first time although ten are uncapped. Including halfback Nathan Hastie who after debuting for the Highlanders this season and being out with injury for the past two NPC seasons, will be excited to earn his first cap. Five of the potential debutants were named as development players last year and their continued growth in both club rugby and the Under 20 programme should see them graduate to provincial rugby. Hard working Southern RFC loose forward Harry Taylor breaks his way into this year’s team after persevering through the three years of the Otago Academy and outstanding club form for Southern, that saw him raise the winners shield in 2022. Joining him after his one game versus Wellington is club teammate Jack Leslie, he has been out for most of the club season but is due to be back on the grass in the coming weeks.

Long serving Otago players Josh Ioane and Vilimoni Koroi are not with the team this season. Josh has signed with Waikato to be closer to family and aligns with his Chiefs playing commitments and Koroi has been out with injury and is exploring new opportunities. In replacement of that experience, Waisake Naholo joins the team after playing a club season for the Harbour Hawks. He will look to work alongside, develop, and challenge the youthful outside back group assembled.

Green Island’s Benjamin Lopas, and Taieri’s, Caleb Leef and Josh Whaanga will assemble to cover players on national duty and players out with injury. James Lentjes, George Bower and Josh Timu have been struck by injury over the course of their Super Rugby Pacific season earlier this year. However, these strong leaders intend to make a big impact off the field within the team and will take on other roles within the side.

The squad goes full time on Monday 10th July. Otago will play one preseason fixture against Southland on Friday 28th July, 2:05pm at Hancock Park.

SQUAD HIGHLIGHTS:

18 attended secondary schools within Otago region.
19 have progressed through the Otago Academy Programme over the years.
2 players were named in the 2023 NZ Under 20s side.
21 have had Super Rugby involvement in 2023.

The Bunnings Warehouse NPC is set to begin the weekend of Friday 4th August. The Otago team play their first game away against the Tasman Mako at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on Friday 4th August at 5:35pm. To view the full 2023 NPC draw click here.

2023 COACHING STAFF

Head Coach: Tom Donnelly

Assistant Coaches: Ryan Bambry, Jamie Mackintosh & Ben Smith

S & C Coaches: Ian Blake & Ed Lea

Physio: Karen Meehan

Manager: Simon Wallace

Assistant Manager: Hayden Finch

Doctor: Andrew Haren

Nutritionist: Hanna Zouggari

Player Development Manager: Amanda Slade

Performance Analyst: Spencer Byers

Our Otago Spirit travelled to Waimate last Sunday to play a South Island pre-season event against 3 other teams, Tasman, Canterbury and Southland.

Tasman played Southland in two 30 minute halves and Otago Spirit played Canterbury in two 35 minute halves. Then Otago Spirit played Tasman for 30 mins and Canterbury played Southland.

Our Otago team played everyone which was a really good chance to expose all of our players to top level rugby

SCORES:

Tasman 5 - Otago Spirit 5

(30 min half)

Canterbury 38 - Otago Spirit 26

(*Otago was up 26-7 at halftime*)

Shoutout to our front of jersey sponsor WAE Crane Hire

Hamish is a great example of someone giving back to his community and coming in with the best of attitudes. After doing some great work over the past few years Hamish was rewarded with his Premier debut when he’s set to blow the whistle for, Heriot v Owaka.

How long did you play rugby for?

Finished at age 30 when farming and family commitments took priority

What made you come to refereeing?

Our kids had gone to boarding school so I didn’t have the responsibility of coaching anymore but I wanted to stay involved in the game locally and refereeing allowed me to do that

What have you enjoyed the most about refereeing?

When you ref a game you have the best seat in the house. I love seeing the players show off their skills.

Also, the camaraderie between the referees in the southern region is great to be part of. There's some real characters involved

What's your greatest refereeing moment to date?

Any time both the winning coach and the losing coach come up to you after the game shake your hand and say well reffed you know you’ve had a reasonable day.

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

I guess reffing a Premier game in the Southern Region one day is something I'd like to do but I’m conscious of not getting in the way of the young referees coming through in our region.

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

Start when you’re young not 45 like me but then again, its never too late. Get fit, study the rules and get alongside an experienced referee in your region.

Thanks Hamish, for helping our game!

OUR Game, OUR Referees.