Otago Rugby Union eNewsletter - 26 September 2025

Editorial

Boy oh boy, where do we even start!!! It has to be with Otago Spirit playing a beautiful game of footy in the FPC Final against Northland. A massive congratulations to the team who claimed the Title with a 37 - 12 win at Tahuna Park on Sunday afternoon. It's If you didn't manage to get a glimpse of the trophy on tour this week you can catch the girls doing a walk by at half time of the boys game tomorrow!

Speaking of the boys… we have a big old log of wood as a result of an epic come back win against Canterbury last Saturday. The Ranfurly Shield has been clocking miles across the Region all week. It has been absolutely unreal to feel the support and pride beaming from the Otago loyal. Keep it coming cause the job's not finished yet! the lads take on North Harbour tomorrow (Saturday 27th September) in a Shield Challenge, kick off is at 1.10pm but if you are looking to get a photo with the Shield we will have her on the concourse from 12.10pm for 40 minutes! Come on down and do your part to get the boys over the line to lock up the Shield for the year!!!

As if that wasn't enough to celebrate, tomorrow Liam Coltman plays his 100th game for Otago. A true legend of the game, a leader, a gentleman and an absolute workhorse. We are so proud to have him as a stalwart for the Blue & Gold. Thank you Colty!!!

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!

What a day at Tāhuna Park! On Sunday 21 September, the Otago Spirit capped off a dream season with a 37–12 win over Northland to lift the 2025 Farah Palmer Cup Championship trophy. Even better — they did it unbeaten all season long!

The tries flowed from Hannah Norris (2), Greer Muir, Olivia Fowler, Charlotte Va’afusuaga, and Sarah Jones, with Sheree Hume and Georgia Cormick nailing the kicks. From the opening whistle the Spirit took control, showing the flair, toughness, and teamwork that’s defined their season.

The win means promotion back into the FPC Premiership for 2026 for the Otago Spirit, and a massive reward for the mahi these wāhine and coaches have put in. The Spirit have made Otago proud, and the celebrations tell the story — joy, pride, and plenty of blue & gold spirit right across the region.

Congratulations to our champions — the Otago Spirit!

Photographer: John Caswell

Otago Head Coach Mark Brown has named his side to play North Harbour in the ninth round of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC this Saturday 27 September, 1:10pm, at Forsyth Barr Stadium Dunedin

Otago will be defending the Ranfurly Shield and Liam Coltman is poised to play his 100th Game for Otago, becoming Otago Centurion #23 and our first player to do so since John Leslie.

Sam Gilbert will captain the team, with Christian Lio-Willie as vice-captain.

Tickets on sale here: https://orfu.flicket.co.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

A fortnight ago, Otago Rugby, Southern Football, Otago Cricket, and Otago Hockey came together to run a Fern Fever Festival in Cromwell.

Fern Fever is a multi sport 'have a go' event available to GIRLS only in years 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8. This year we decided to open it up to the boys aswell limiting the age groups invited, keeping it to year 5 & 6 students only.

Schools registered students who were interested in the day, turning up with a positive attitude allowing the students to rotate around each sport playing modified games in a fun and safe way.

We had roughly 100 students participate in the codes, some giving each sport a go for the first time and loving - hopefully we can run this again early next year and continue to grow the sports we all love.

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.