Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

It's Country Day weekend!!! Get ready for a full day of hard-fought footy and fierce regional rivalry as Country Day returns this King’s Birthday Saturday in Alexandra. Country Day is about celebrating grassroots rugby at its finest! The day builds to the Topp Cup Challenge between the Central and Southern Premier Teams, a historic fixture first played in 1913. It’s a fixture steeped in history and this year Southern will be out to defend the Cup after lifting it last year in Milton. A huge thanks to Property Brokers, proud sponsors of Country Day 2025. Their support helps make this special day happen. Check out the full days line up below and we'll see you on the sidelines!!!

This week we announced our 2025 U19s Wider Squad, filled to the brim with super talented up and coming players. Scroll down to check out the full squad. The first squad session will take place on Wednesday, 4 June at 5:30pm at University Oval. Congratulations to all players named.

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!

Two views — one Topp Cupp

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH WINNER

With thanks to supporting partner Prezzy Card

Our Winner for April was TANIA BURTON - The Taieri Rugby Club

“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 the season to run smoothly.

Her life revolves around the club for 7months 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.”

Congratulations Tania you have scored yourself a $100 Prezzy Card!

All other nominees, Richard O’Hara, Darren Huddleston and Stephen Baughan have scored themselves a $50 Prezzy Card

Thank you to all our volunteers for the work that you do for our rugby community week-in, week out. We couldn't do it without you all.

On Monday 26th May we had our third Spirit Sisters Girls only Tackle session. This week we were hosted by the lovely Dunedin Rugby Football Club (Kettle Park).

We had a great turnout for both the Contact Ready programme, which is a new initiative we have brought in this year, thanks to New Zealand Rugby who designed this programme for teenage girls by teenage girls new to rugby. The programme purely focuses on learning how to tackle, how to be tackled, and how to fall.

We also offer a mini competition for those girls with a bit more experience!!!

*IT'S KING'S BIRTHDAY NEXT MONDAY - SO NO GIRLS ONLY TACKLE!*

Mosgiel you're up next! We look forward to the next session at Taieri Rugby Football Club, Peter Johnstone Park, 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 Four - Monday 9 June at Taieri RFC ( Peter Johnstone 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

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.