Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

Good Afternoon Otago Rugby supporters.

It's semi final time for the Otago Spirit this weekend as they head away to Northland to battle for their spot at the Final dance! Tune in tomorrow 2nd September, at 5.05pm to back the girls from where ever you are. Scroll down to check out the team list. Best of luck ladies!!!

The men will take on Bay of Plenty this weekend in Rotorua with a 2.05pm kick off. It's storm week, which means they will also take on North Harbour at 7.05pm on Wednesday 6th September. Make sure to clear your calendars and settle in to throw your support behind the blue an gold! Scroll down to see Saturday's team list.

Otago is delighted to welcome the Southland, Canterbury and Tasman Under 19 Men’s teams to Dunedin for the South Island U19 Tournament! The Tournament kicks off tonight with Otago v Tasman (Logan Park 6) and Southland v Canterbury (Tahuna Park) both games kick off at 6pm so why not start off your weekend taking in our up and coming talent!

Congratulations to all the girls announced in our Metro U16 Girls and our Otago U18 girls Squads! Check out below for full team lists and more details on where you can catch the girls in action!!!

This weekend is the start of the Highlanders U18 competition. Six teams are in involved, Southland Metro, Southland Country, Otago Country, North Otago, Otago Metro all under 18s. The 6th team is Otago Metro U17s who won the inaugural event last year. In 4 weeks’ time the finals will be held in Invercargill where the Highlanders will name the Highlanders schools team. Good luck to all players!!!

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 Spirit Coach Craig Sneddon has named his team to take on Northland Women this Saturday 2nd September, 5:05pm at Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei in the Championship Semi Final of the 2023 Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse.

Oceana Campbell will be playing her 15th Blazer Game, while Rawinia Ngamoki-Moana could make her potential debut off the bench. Julia Gorinski will lead as Captain.

Once again in 2023, all Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings games will be broadcast live on Sky Sport and available Free to Air thanks to Bunnings Warehouse and Sky Sport.

To view the full Farah Palmer Cup fixtures and standings click here.

Chris Hart set to TMO his 100th first class game this Saturday.

Harty came to Otago in 2013 after spending his post playing career refereeing in Canterbury.

He quickly became a member of the Otago rugby referees Premier panel and became a cult figure amongst the Dunedin club rugby scene due to his big personality.

Having been a former Canterbury first five in the 1990s he brought his great understanding for the game into his refereeing and later on into his off-field refereeing.

In 2014 Harty was given his first opportunity to TMO when he made the trip down to Invercargill to TMO for Brendan Pickerill in the Southland v Bay Of Plenty ITM cup fixture.

It was from there on in that he quickly started to accumulate TMO opportunities and made himself into a quality First-class TMO.

2018 saw Harty sit up in the box for a couple of Super rugby games and started what is a solid career as one of New Zealand’s best TMOs.

One of Harty’s greatest moments arrived when he became Otago’s first ever referee to TMO a Test match at Prince Chichibu Stadium for Japan v Uruguay. He then travelled to Melbourne to get his next big chance with Australia v England.

The Television Match Official is one of the most high pressure roles that rugby can offer and to attain 100 caps in that role is something really unique.

After playing his rugby for the now defunct Rangiora Rugby football club he now has his 100th TMO opportunity when he sits in chair for Canterbury v Taranaki at the Rangiora Showground Oval where he his rugby journey first started.

Congratulations Harty and we’re proud to call you one of ours, you’re a legend!

2023 Otago Rugby Clubs Life Members Function to be hosted by West Taieri Rugby Club. This event is just for life members of Otago Rugby.

Date: Sunday 10 September 2023

Time: 11:00am

Location: Black Forest Park, McDonald Road, Woodside 9073

Cost: $55 per person

Payment: Can be made by online payment to account 06-0939-0205279-00 using your name and club as reference or eft-pos will be available on the day.

RSVP to Lifemembers2023@gmail.com by 1 September 2023 to reserve your deserved Life Members seat at this prestigious annual event.