Central Region Shield Commences On Saturday, 21 August
In 1983, Robert Muldoon was Prime Minister and professional rugby was still over a decade away from making an appearance in New Zealand. At that time, Hawkes Bay’s Peter Loomes donated the Central Region Shield for age-group competition the then Central Region. Now in its 38th year of competition, Hawkes Bay have won the Shield 15 times, Wellington 18 times, and Manawatu four times.
(Peter Loomes donated the Central Region Shield for regional competition in 1983)
Loomes coached 13 Hurricanes region teams at the U16 and U18 level to Championship Titles before becoming an Age-Group Selector. Earlier, he played premier rugby for Napier Technical Old Boys and Colenso Pirate, however a broken hip and the loss of an eye forced an earlier than expected end to his playing days. He became a member of the Hawkes Bay Rugby Referees Association, often good-humouredly being referred to as a “one-eyed referee”. Sixteen future All Blacks played for Hawke's Bay teams Peter Loomes was involved with during the 1980s including Norm Hewitt, Tane Randell, Josh Kronfeld, Stu Forster, John Timu and the Cooper brothers, Greg and Matt. Loomes died in 2014, but his memory lives on in the region's Under 19 competition.
In this coming weekend’s Round 1 matches, the Hurricanes Heartland XV host Wellington U19 at the Sport & Rugby Institute, while Hawkes Bay U19 host Manawatu U19 at Tremain Field, in Napier.
(Published : 15/08/21)