Annual Under 15 Boys' Tournament

As part of Winter Tournament Week, the annual Under 15 Tournament comprises sixteen teams from secondary schools (on an invitational basis) who compete in a Cup and Plate section for the Rex Kerr Trophy.

Annual Under 16 Boys' Tournament

Every year in the third term school holidays, the Council holds New Zealand's premier tournament for Under 16 players, comprising teams from all member Provincial Unions, competing in two divisions for the Don Broughton Shield, the Saracens Cup and the Manaaki Tangata Trophy.

Annual Under 18 Boys' Competition

Every year in September, the Council holds a competition for Under 18 teams from member Provincial Unions, competing for the TrustBank Central Secondary Schools Shield first competed for in the 1990's.

Annual Under 19 Tournament

This competition comprises teams from Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu, and a Hurricanes Heartland Team (comprising players from the Council's member Heartland Provincial Unions), competing for the Central Region Shield on a home and away basis.

Annual Under 20 Heartland Development Series

Comprising teams from the regions Heartland Provincial Unions, the Heartland Development Series is held annually over two weeks, with teams competing for the Hurricanes Under 20 Cup.

Girls' Rugby Development Programmes

Every year, with the support of New Zealand Rugby, the Council provides Development Days, an Under 15 Tournament and an Under 18 Development Camp for young women within the Hurricanes Region.

Annual Hurricanes Sevens Tournament

The best secondary school Sevens players in the region (in Boys and Girls divisions) compete for the Hurricanes Secondary Schools Sevens Cup, hosted by Wairarapa-Bush.

10 Year Anniversary For Under 20 Series In 2024

In 2014, a decision was made by the Council’s Executive Board to provide an opportunity for players under 20 years of age from the region’s Heartland Provincial Unions to be selected for the New Zealand Heartland Under 19 squad for the new Jock Hobbs Memorial Tournament, by creating a new regional annual competition. Other than in 2020 when all Council programmes were cancelled owing to COVID, the competition (which became known as the "Heartland Under 20 Series") has been played every year, with 2024 being the 10-year anniversary of the Series.



Since 2014, Whanganui RFU has won the Series five times, while Horowhenua Kapiti RFU and Wairarapa Bush RFU have each won the Series twice. In the past two years, the final two rounds of the Series have moved from the Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North, to the Bulls Rugby Football Club, which will again host the Series in 2024.



Following is a list of Series winners over the past decade and the Players of the Series.

2014 : Whanganui RFU

2015 : Whanganui RFU
Player of the Series: Nathan Rawiri-Couch, (Wairarapa Bush RFU)

2016 : Whanganui RFU
Players of the Series: Harerangi Meihana, (Whanganui RFU); Andrew Tauatevalu, (Poverty Bay); and Brodie Huthnance, (Horowhenua Kapiti RFU) - all on equal "Best and Fairest" points

2017 : Whanganui RFU
Player of the Series: Cameron Davies, (Wanganui RFU)

2018 : Horowhenua Kapiti RFU
Player of the Series: Sean Pape, (Horowhenua Kapiti RFU)

2019 : Wairarapa Bush RFU
Player of the Series: was Jason Myers, (Whanganui RFU)

2020 : COVID

2021 : Horowhenua Kapiti RFU
Player of the Series: Darren Falaniko, (Horowhenua Kapiti RFU)

2022 : Whanganui RFU
Player of the Series: Lafo Takiari-Ah Ching, (Whanganui RFU)

2023 : Wairarapa Bush RFU
Player of the Series: Hayze Nepia, (Poverty Bay RFU)


At the conclusion of the Series, the Hurricanes Heartland Under 20 side is selected, which then plays in the Central Shield against Hawkes Bay RFU, Manawatu RFU and Wellington RFU, also playing a one-off fixture for the Glen Osborne Cup against a Chiefs Heartland Under 20 selection.


(Published: 21/07/24)

 

Contacts

Nick Reid
President

027 244 1672
president@hyrc.org.nz

Gordon Noble-Campbell
Chairman

021 612 451
chairman@hyrc.org.nz

Cameron Hayton
Secretary

021 418 835
secretary@hyrc.org.nz

David Fa'atafa
Treasurer

021 448 279
treasurer@hyrc.org.nz