Editorial

It's FINALS TIME!!! This Weekend our Otago Spirit women are going to the big dance for the second year in a row and your support would mean the world. Kick off against Northland Kauri is Sunday at 2.05pm at Tahuna Park. Entry is a gold coin donation or $10 for a car load come on down and make some noise!!!

If that isn't enough excitement for you, it's a massive weekend for our lads as they head to Christchurch to do battle for not just one but two prized possessions. The Ranfurly Shield is up for grabs, along with the Payne Trophy, it's never an easy job taking on Canterbury at home but tune in to throw some good juju behind the lads who have a 4.40pm kick off.

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 Canterbury in the eighth round of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC this Saturday 20 September 4:40pm, at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch.

This match will be an exciting one which sees both the Ranfurly Shield and the Payne Trophy on the line.

Another week with a largely unchanged team. Will Stodart steps up as co-captain for the first time, alongside Sam Gilbert.

The match will be live on Sky Sports NZ

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 Northland Kauri in the Championship Final of the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse this Sunday 21 September 2.05pm at Tahuna Park, Dunedin.

The Otago Spirit go into the Final unbeaten for the season. Greer Muir will captain the Spirit, with Tegan Hollows as vice-captain.

Gates open at Tahuna Park at 1.15pm - Gold Coin Donation

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

This week was our final Girls-Only-Tackle session in Frankton—and what a great way to wrap things up!

Our Year 3–8 girls have shown awesome commitment and progress this season. Even with a couple of rain cancellations, the girls kept turning up, learning, and building their skills, knowledge and love for the game. We can’t wait for the tackle clinics to return next year!

A big thank you to the three Wakatipu High School girls who came along to inspire the next generation of Spirit players and a huge thanks Emma & Zoe from Coaching Solutions for all the behind-the-scenes support—this wouldn’t have been possible without you.

There are definitely some future Spirit players in the mix!

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.