Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter

Editorial

The weather's done a number on our precious paddocks and unfortunately this means there will be no junior rugby this weekend. There has been some movement in our other grades also, so be sure to check out the draw for any updates on your teams whereabouts this weekend.

We've got finals footy for the Women's Div 1 and Div 2 comps taking place at Forsyth Barr Stadium this weekend!!! With just a gold coin donation to get in, grab a crew and head on down to get behind the girls as they go head to head for the win! More details 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!

Little security for top four teams

It's finals footy under the roof!!!

WOMEN’S FINALS DAY

2.30PM – DIV TWO FINAL Central Otago Does v Alhambra-Union Fillies

4.30PM – DIV ONE FINAL Dunedin Ururoa v Alhambra-Union Broncos

Come down to Forsyth Barr Stadium this Saturday (14 June) and get behind our wāhine toa as they battle it out for 2025 glory!

Free parking (State Highway 88 side)
Gold coin donation for entry
Entry via Gate H (from 2.15pm)
Food & drink available

Let’s pack the stands and celebrate the strength, skill and passion of women’s rugby in Otago!

If you can't make it along both games will be live streamed on the Otago Community Rugby FB page!

Full team lists below.

Caswell Images Sport

Youth Development Days Kick Off Across the Region 🏉

Over the past week, Game Development Manager Moxy Smith and Women’s Development Lead Aria Monaghan were joined by NPC Scrum Coach Will Henry, Assistant Coach Ryan Bambry, and S&C Coach Ben Shepherd to deliver a series of Y8 and U14 Development Days.

It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout of young rugby talent at every session. The ORFU team loved getting out across the regions, connecting with players and seeing the passion for the game at grassroots level.

These sessions are the first step in identifying and preparing squads for the end-of-year Festivals for each age group. The future is looking bright with plenty of emerging talent and dedicated young athletes across Otago!

Festival Dates:

Y8 Boys and Y7/8 Girls

Alexandra Sunday 26 July 2025

Dunedin Saturday 9 August 2025

U14

September dates are TBC

Otago Rugby North Otago Rugby Matatū

Otago Rugby, North Otago Rugby & Matatū are teaming up for a one-off holiday development camp like no other — designed just for our First XV Secondary School Girls

Friday 4 July

Taieri College Gym, Mosgiel

9:00am – 5:00pm (Optional Pathways Chat 4:15pm)

Focus: Nutrition, Mental Skills, Conditioning, Health, Game IQ & More!

Ready to grow your game and yourself?

Registrations close Friday 27 June at 5pm — lock in your spot now!

https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/359820

Prezzy Card OCR VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH - May 🏅

Our next round of Volunteers is open for Voting! Head to the OTAGO COMMUNITY RUGBY Facebook page this to have your say!

Voting closes on Sunday 15 June 2025 at 5pm

Read why these great Volunteers have been selected this month!

Gavin Bartlett - Wakatipu Rugby Club🏉

Gavin puts in a tremendous amount of time and commitment to the Wakatipu Club. He wears many hats. Some examples amongst many include, turning up on a Sunday morning to clean the clubrooms to ensure they are ready for the next week, setting up grounds for a High School game in town and answering and sending correspondence to ensure the club is in good health in all areas. He always has his hand up not out amongst his busy schedule and is the glue for Wakatipu Rugby Club.

Tyla O’Neill - Alexandra Rugby Club🏉

Tyla gives countless hours behind the scenes—coordinating activities, planning events, and keeping our community engaged with numerous social media posts that truly capture the spirit of the club. This month, her efforts shone brightly as she organised an incredible Club Day with 22 games all up, creating a memorable experience for members and supporters, not to mention she is 24 years old and very passionate for the sport of Rugby!!

Andrew Aitken - West Taieri Rugby Club🏉

Andrew has been in every role in the club for several years from junior coach to committee, metro rep and now colts team manager. He shows up when he says he will even after his children have aged out of the junior club to help with fundraisers, never shying away from putting a 'pinny' on to carve the roasts up. Now his oldest has come into the senior club he's taken on the team manager role showing the leadership we need in the club to guide these young players. He's a true team player and we really appreciate everything he has done for the juniors over the years, and we are so grateful he is still part of the club!

Tony (Rab) Kearney - Eastern Junior Rugby Club🏉

Tony has been hands-on within our junior club for nearly a decade. He’s coached every grade from ripper to Year 7/8, has been a valuable member of the committee, is a “yes man” when asked to help out, and finally …is just a genuine good bugger

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.