Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

And that's a wrap on the 2024 Otago NPC season! We are incredibly proud of the effort, hard work, commitment and community of our players and management. We see what you put in both on and off the field and and know that each and every one of you is worthy of the Golden O. That includes our supporters that stand with us through our triumphs and our losses. An extra special heartfelt thank you to our season members and everyone who has attended our games to put that extra dose of support behind the team, it really matters, so thank you! Bring on 2025!!!

This week we celebrated both our NPC and FPC teams at our annual awards ceremony. Congratulations to all our winners! Check out the results below to see if your favourite player was picked. Keep an eye on our socials next week as we release the results of our Representative awards.

Our 2024 Limited Edition Nugget Point Jersey is out now and it's a beaut!!! Shop here: https://orfu.gnsportsclubs.com/ or head along to Otago Sports Depot - they have BOTH the Limited Edition Nugget Point Jersey the team will be wearing, and the 2024 Heritage Jersey in stock!

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

ODT Interesting Reads!

We have just released our new registration and competition management system, Rugby Xplorer (RX). Create your rugby profile myaccount.rugbyxplorer.com.au before 31 October and be in to win a signed All Blacks or Black Ferns jersey, or one of 20 $100 Rebel Sport vouchers.

Having a profile in RX will allow:

- Simple registrations each year

- Engagement with multiple rugby clubs, schools, or entities to register for offerings such as playing, coaching, managing, or refereeing.

- Access live scores and match statistics.

- Comprehensive Player and Team profiles.

The app features up to date news, achievements, and team information, also making it easier for everyone to follow their favourites, manage your profile details and register to your club.

Rugby Xplorer is designed to foster connections within the rugby community, allowing users to engage, share experiences, and build relationships.

Congratulations to the 46 young men selected in the 2024 Highlanders Schools Camp being held this week!

The Highlanders Schools squad will assemble for a 5-day camp hosted at John McGlashan College from the 9th to the 13th of October, a total of 46 players have been selected from over the Highlanders region by eight local coaches from Otago, Southland and North Otago.

Representatives from:

Dunstan High School
John McGlashan College
Kings High School
Menzies College
Mount Aspiring College
Otago Boys High School
South Otago High School
Southland Boys High School
St Kevin's College
Waitaki Boys High School
Wakatipu High School

All the best boys!

Media Release: https://thehighlanders.co.nz/.../highlanders-2024.../

Over term 3 our girl Aria has been providing the opportunity for girls in the Central Otago Region to give tackle rugby a go!

The girls only tackle initiative was a free, standalone programme held over the 10 week school term and offered in school visits from Omakau through to Queenstown. Visits focused on basic rugby skills and drills sessions. This was in preparation for the 5 week Spirit Sisters competition that required no team entries, just turn up, play and if you like it, come on back the following week…

After a lot of promotional and educational work leading up to the initiative, we had 90 girls show up to the Frankton Events Centre on Monday 26th August, the first round of games. All individuals were split into their age grades either Year 5/6 or Year 7/8 and put into teams from there.

Yesterday there was also the opportunity to take part in a Spirit Sisters Holiday programme, a three hour one on one session suited to the groups needs and wants to close off the awesome season.

It was lots of fun and we hope you liked every minute of it!

Hope to see you all again next year. Go the gals!!!

Here we go!

The annual Dewar cup game between the Otago Rugby Referees and Southland Rugby Referees is locked in for the 26th of October.

This year we return to Marist Rugby club in Invercargill to do battle for the third year in a row but this time with a twist.

This year we will be having a 20 minute period where anyone in our associations can play regardless of gender, age or ability. This is a non-collision form of the game that is purely for fun. There will then be 60 minutes of full contact with our brothers in maroon playing for the Dewar cup.

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