Editorial

It's game day!!! We've got Friday night footy under the roof. Tonight our lads take on Northland with a 7.10pm kick off, so grab ya mates and come down to show your support. Plus we'll have our player trading cards on offer, so make sure you show up to collect the full set!

This weekend we are celebrating 25 years of Otago Spirit!!! The Otago Spirit will be taking on the Taranaki Whio at Tahuna Park tomorrow, Saturday 6 September - Kick off 3:00pm (note this is a time change)
Lucy Cahill will earn her Blazer as she plays in her 15th Game!
Come on down and support the Spirit for a fantastic afternoon of Rugby! Gold coin donation at the gate!

In rep rugby, the U19s side take on Tasman up in Christchurch at tournament

In the Under 18 Southern Region, Metro U18 and Country take on each other at Bathgate Park while Metro U17 travel down to Gore to take on Southland Country

The U18 Girls side host Southland before the Spirit take on Taranaki at Tahuna Park

In the U16 SI Southern Pool, Country and Metro both travel down to Oreti Park in Invercargill to take on Southland and the Southland Spikers respectively

Metro and Country U16 Girls take part in a game-of-three halves with Southland at Kettle Park before the Spirit game also

Big weekend ahead around the South Island for our Otago sides so all the best to everyone involved!

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!

Otago Head Coach Mark Brown has named his side to play against Northland in the sixth round of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC this Friday 5 September 7:10pm, at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The team are looking forward to playing on Friday evening to get the weekend kicked off as a lead into the celebration and connection with the Spirit team as we recognise 25 years of the Spirit name in Otago Rugby.

This round sees Jake Te Hiwi play his 15th game for Otago to earn his Blazer. Sam Gilbert will captain the side with Lio-Willie in the vice-captain role.

2025 MANAGEMENT STAFF:

Head Coach: Mark Brown

Assistant Coaches: Ryan Bambry, Will Henry, Lee Allan, Mitch Scott

S & C Coach: Ben Shepard

Physio: Alex Gough

Manager: Simon Wallace

Assistant Manager: Grant Pellowe

Doctor: Andrew Haren

Performance Nutritionist: Georgia Mitchell

Personal Development Manager: Amanda Slade

Performance Analyst: Spencer Byers

Otago Spirit Head Coach Matt Direen has named his side to play against the Taranaki Whio in the fifth round of the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings this Saturday 6th September, 2:05pm at Tahuna Park, Dunedin.

The game at Tahuna Park is part of a celebratory weekend as we recognise 25 years of the Spirit Name in Otago Women’s Rugby. Former players, coaches and managers will be in attendance and enjoying the reunion weekend.

The round will see Lucy Cahill earn her Blazer,playing her 15th game for the Otago Spirit.

Greer Muir will lead the team as captain with Tegan Hollows in the vice-captain role. Rikki Fitzgerald, Madison Flutey and Te Atawhai Campbell all join the starting XV for the first time.

2025 MANAGEMENT STAFF:

Head Coach: Matt Direen

Assistant Coaches: Ryan Griffith, Marty Hurring, Hayden Finch

S & C Coach: Pete Fleming

Physio: Mikayla Rosieur

Manager: Cathy Charles

Assistant Manager Aria Monaghan

Analyst: Bella Rewiri-Wharerau

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.