Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

How about our NZ Under 20's side going back to back and winning the 2025 Rugby Championship! NZ had an epic battle in their final game against South Africa with a final score of 48-45 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha. Special shoutout to our Otago players who were a part of the campaign, Dylan Pledger & Josh Tengblad well done lads! The future's looking bright.

Our Premier men and women are doing their part to give back to the rugby community by getting out and behind the whistle. This week saw the first round of our Premier Women’s players refereeing Wednesday school girls footy on their bye week.

In 2015 Otago Polytechnic, with the Otago Rugby Football Union, established the ORFU Scholarship to assist students with both sporting and academic aspirations. Two Scholarships are on offer for players wishing to study at the Otago Polytechnic in 2026. One male and one female will be chosen. For more details and to apply scroll down below.

Club rugby is in full swing so make sure you get along to support your team. You can check out the Club Rugby draw & all results by clicking HERE.

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!

This week saw the first round of our Premier Women’s players refereeing Wednesday school girls footy on their bye week. This is in alignment with the Premier Men’s teams refereeing schoolboys footy on their bye-round too.

After a very engaging Associate Referees’ course the night before, Dixie-Leigh, Ra and, Sofia took to the field representing their team and club, The Dunedin Ururoa.

Dixie-Leigh had the whistle in hand and was a natural having previously done some refereeing back home in Southland.

A massive thanks to the Dunedin girls and their Coach, Cam Burrow for their support and giving back to our game!

We’re looking forward to the having the University Women up next week!

OUR game, OUR Referees

In 2015 Otago Polytechnic, with the Otago Rugby Football Union, established the ORFU Scholarship to assist students with both sporting and academic aspirations

Two Scholarships are on offer for players wishing to study at the Otago Polytechnic in 2026. One male and one female will be chosen.

Applications for the 2026 Otago Rugby/Otago Polytechnic scholarship applications are now open!

The following conditions apply:

Two FULL fees scholarships for one year of full-time study will be awarded at the discretion of the Otago Rugby Football Union for study starting in the year 2026*.
This scholarship applies to Domestic students only.
Candidates for the scholarship must be nominated by the Otago Rugby Football Union.
Candidates must meet minimum entry requirements for their programme of choice.
The scholarship may be held concurrently with other awards/grants, subject to approval of Otago Polytechnic
Otago Polytechnic and the Otago Rugby Football Union has the power to terminate the scholarship if the recipient ceases to follow regulations of the programme of study and/or bring the reputation of the Otago Polytechnic or the Otago Rugby Football Union into disrepute.

APPLY HERE

* Please note...receiving a scholarship does not ensure inclusion into the Otago Women’s and Men’s Academy programmes for 2026.

On Monday we had the first night of Spirit Sisters Girls only Tackle - this was at Pirates Rugby Football Club (Hancock Park) We had a great turnout for both the Contact Ready programme (Girls new to rugby learning how to tackle) and the mini competition for those with a bit more experience. The picture above is of a Taieri Year 7/8 team entered into the Monday night competition. They versed a combination of girls from across the region playing on a Saturday who came together for the first time to form a team creating a really great match.

We look forward to the next session at Alhambra-Union Rugby Football Club, North Ground, from 4pm! Its never too late to join in, we welcome all girls year 3-8 who are wanting to play, learn, or grow as a individual!

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

On Wednesday night Warren and Aria went down to the Regional Area Schools Tournament, held in Owaka and ran the rugby station slot from 5pm to 6pm.

This was an opportunity for both boys and girls from our smaller schools in the to get a rugby experience but also an opportunity to be scouted and selected for the national area schools tournament in Invercargill late June. This was the first time they have had a girls rugby slot in the tournament, and there was some amazing talent in the mix - we look forward to continuing to support this going forward! Thank you to Sarah Cairns for inviting us along!!!