Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

It's duck shooting weekend and this means there's a bit of movement going on with rugby, many games will be taking place outside of regular days and times so make sure you check out the draw so you can still get along to your team's matches. You can check out the draw & all results by clicking HERE.

A massive congratulations goes out to our girl Maia Joseph. Maia has been selected into the Black Ferns Squad for the Pacific Four Series. We're super proud, go get em girl!!!

Volunteer of the Month is back, and this month we got some epic nominations!!! We love recognising the incredible people that keep our game running, so scroll down to learn more about this months nominees then jump on our Otago Community Rugby Facebook page to cast your vote.

We are excited to announce that our Spirit Sisters Girls Only Monday Night Tackle is Back for 2025! This is a perfect opportunity for girls ages Year 5- 8 to give Girls Only Tackle Rugby a go! This will be run as a 6 week mini Competition at Metro Clubs in May & June (Central dates coming in August!) More details below!!

Last chance… If you are coaching an U14 team and above age grade, you must be Rugby Smart accredited. Your last opportunity to take the Rugby Smart Course will be Wednesday 7th May, 6pm at the ORFU offices at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Gate J, Level 2A. Any questions please contact Moxy - michael.smith@orfu.co.nz

Last chance… Junior Rugby Coaches!!! You'll want to make sure that you've attended the required Small Blacks course. With the final 2 course dates taking place next week, scroll down to see course dates/times/locations. If you have questions reach out to Moxy - michael.smith@orfu.co.nz.

2025 Season Memberships are on sale now. With 5 NPC Home games (including 2 Double Headers with Otago Spirit) get in behind Otago and secure your membership HERE

The 2025 NPC & FPC Draws are out! Scroll down to check out our Home Games, or check out the full Draws here… FULL NPC DRAW, FULL FPC DRAW.

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

ODT Interesting Reads!

Duck-shooting means round spread over three days

Our first round of Volunteers has been chosen! VOTE on our Otago Community Rugby Facebook page

Voting closes on Friday 16 May 3pm.

Tania Burton – Taieri🏉

“Tania has been a major part of the Taieri Junior Rugby Club for the last 7 years. She plays a massive role in the Junior Club and works hard to keep player numbers high and for the season to run smoothly.

Her life revolves around the club for 7 months of each year. Tania's skills, experience and hard work is what makes our 7’s tournament such a success each year.

She is our Junior Otago Metro Delegate also. On top of all this, she managers our Year 8 team, and I believe, we have the best manager around. She is so well organised and makes life so easy each week looking after the team, coaches, and parents.

She will absolutely hate I have done this, but she deserves to be recognised for all her hard work around our Junior Club.”

Richard O’Hara – Crescent🏉

“Richard O’Hara (Sharky) spends Tuesday and Wednesday flogging raffles for the team, Thursday’s practices, Saturday’s game day so he is driving the van and sorting everyone and Sunday washing and drying uniforms. He is a true Club Man and ensures the boys hit the field with respect and honour for the Crescent badge.”

Darren Huddleston – Clutha🏉

“We are proud to nominate Hudd for Volunteer of the Month in recognition of his commitment and hard work behind the scenes for the smooth running of the Clutha Club. Whether it's maintaining the fields, keeping the clubrooms and changerooms in top shape, stocking the bar, or serving up the famous Hudd's Spuds on a Saturday, Hudd consistently goes above and beyond for his Club. His quiet dedication and willingness to handle the less glamorous but essential tasks make him an invaluable part of our club. Cheers Hudd!”

Stephen Baughan- Zingari-Richmond 🏉

“Steve is the go to guy for absolutely everything at our club. Any questions relating to the Senior or Junior Club, Steve is on call 24/7 and always happy to help! I hate to think how many hours morning and night he puts into our small but growing club. Steve has been a fixture at Zingari for a very, very long time and we couldn’t function without him! Thank you, Steve, for all that you have done and continue to do! #Alwaysthegame.”

All nominees will also be considered for the Otago Rugby Volunteer of the Year: Ray Byrne Memorial Award, with the winner going on to be nominated for NZ Rugby Volunteer of the Year.

We are excited to announce that our Spirit Sisters Girls Only Monday Night Tackle is Back for 2025!

This is a perfect opportunity for girls ages Year 5- 8 to give Girls Only Tackle Rugby a go!

This will be run as a 6 week mini Competition at Metro Clubs in May & June (Central dates coming in August!)

Participants can continue playing in their regular Saturday club competitions while also taking part in Monday night sessions, providing additional opportunities to gain experience and enhance their skills.

Each session will consist of two components: The first half of the session will be a specialised training session focused on skill development, particularly around tackle technique and game awareness. The second half of the session will finish with a mini game, where we will put the learnings from the training into action.

Teams and matchups will be organised on the day based on player numbers.

These sessions are aimed at helping current players continue to build their abilities while also offering a fun, safe and developmental experience.

Session One - Monday 12 May at Pirates RFC (Hancock Park)
Session Two - Monday 19 May at Alhambra Union RFC (North Ground)
Session Three - Monday 26 May at Dunedin RFC (Kettle Park)
Session Four - Monday 9 June at Taieri RFC ( Peter Johnston Park)
Session Five - Monday 16 June at Zingari-Richmond RFC (Montecillo Park)
Session Six - Monday 23 June at Green Island RFC (Miller Park)

You can enter as a Team or an Individual. For more information contact Aria.Monaghan@orfu.co.nz

Last week we ran our first, “You make the Call!” courses for 2025 one which was open to all year 11, 12 & 13 students, and one for members of the the OBHS First XV

The course is designed for students to carry out pre-event preparation and apply the rules of sport (rugby) while officiating sports events.

With the classroom-based element completed, our students will now be taking to the field for junior club footy once it commences, while sporting our new “Green Referee” jersey.

The First XV boys will be hitting the junior club rugby fields each Saturday morning when they play in Dunedin — proudly officiating in the morning before pulling on the blue and white to play later in the day.

Our students will be juggling refereeing and playing, showing just how many ways you can get involved and give back to our great game!

Best of luck of our students and make sure you give them a pat on the back if you see them around!

Allied Petroleum (APL) is proud to announce a new partnership with Rugby Southland and Otago Rugby.
The collaboration goes beyond supplying fuel. It invests in growth and development, supporting everyone from kids lacing up their boots for the first time to top-tier talent. APL is dedicated to giving back to the Southern communities where the 100% NZ-owned, locally-operated company was born in 1987.

A Homegrown Partnership Backing Community Rugby.
With strong Southern roots, APL understands the important role rugby plays in our local communities – how a shared love of the game creates connections. This new partnership establishes APL as the exclusive fuel supplier for both unions, helping drive the development of rugby across the southern provinces – directly supporting 14,000+ players and 65+ clubs in one of New Zealand’s most rugby- obsessed regions.

But it’s not just about the players. It’s about the fans. Otago Rugby, Rugby Southland, and APL are also dedicated to ensuring that rugby is accessible to everyone across the South, where approximately
50,000+ people engage with the sport every weekend (during the season).

We’re proud to partner with both Rugby Southland and Otago Rugby to play a key role in Fueling Rugby in the South. This partnership is about more than rugby—it’s a celebration of our roots and our commitment to giving back to the Southern region that supported us from the start. By nurturing grassroots rugby and empowering young talent, we’re ensuring Rugby continues to thrive in the South. Through this partnership, we’re proud to fuel the staff travelling across the regions, connecting communities and continuing to grow the game across Southland and Otago. Looking forward to what lies ahead.
Mat Reynen, General Manager, Allied Petroleum

From First Kicks to Veteran Players.
Otago Rugby and Rugby Southland welcome players of all ages and walks of life. From little ones taking their first kicks to seasoned club veterans, these passionate non-profit organisations are there every step of the game. Every weekend, they bring rugby to primary schools, high schools, senior clubs and more. Creating spaces where everyone can stay active, make lifelong mates and develop valuable skills that
extend well beyond the playing field – such as teamwork, leadership and determination.

Allied Petroleum is getting behind the incredible efforts of these local rugby unions. The company is making a big commitment to help grow NZ’s favourite sport and reinvest in the communities that have backed them from the beginning.