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.

Competitive Results In Round 1 Of Under 16 Competition

In Round 1 of the Don Broughton Shield (Division A) competition for Under 16 boys, Hawkes Bay sneaked past defending champions Manawatu by 12 points to 5 at Ongley Park in Palmerston North, while Wellington Gold more convincingly defeated Wellington Black (in Wellington) by 22 points to 10.

(Defending Don Broughton Shield champions Manawatu lost to Hawkes Bay, 12 to 5)

In the first round of the Saracens Cup (Division B) competition for Under 16 boys, Whanganui just overcame Horowhenua-Kapiti, winning by 33 points to 24, while Hawkes Bay Development were too strong for Wairarapa Bush, victors by 43 points to 24.

(Manawatu next face Wellington Black in Hastings, on 25 September)

The Tournament picks up again in Hastings in the week commencing 24 September.

In two Under 18 Girls fixtures played today, Wellington defeated Manawatu 17 points to 12, while Centurions RFC (Wellington) defeated Whanganui 17 points to 5.

(Hawkes Bay U18 were too strong for Wellington Samoa U18 in Palmerston North)

In the Boys’ Under 18 Series, Hawkes Bay cruised to an emphatic 31 points to 12 victory over Trustbank Central Secondary Schools Shield holders, Wellington Samoa. In Wellington, Centurions RFC found their usual winning mojo, inflicting a 67 point to 7 loss on Wairarapa Bush. In the other match played today, Whanganui recorded their first win of 2023 by 34 points to 12 over Horowhenua Kapiti.

Results and Points Tables can be found here.

(With thanks to Steven White from Club Rugby for the photos in this report).

(Published: 16/09/23)