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.

Finals Day For Under 16 Boys At Playford Park In Levin

Playford Park in Levin is named after Henry John Playford, a Levin dairy farmer (born in Stawell in Victoria, Australia), with the park being part of 20 acres on Bartholomew Road bequeathed to the Levin Borough Council by his estate in the 1930’s. Were he alive today, Henry Playford would have been greatly entertained by the sport provided the 10 teams participating in the 2024 Under 16 Tournament, on the land he previously used to graze cattle.

In the tightest tussle of the day, in Division A, Wellington Black secured a 31-point draw with table-topping Hawkes Bay, but in doing so did not secure sufficient competition points to sneak ahead of Manawatu who beat them in round-robin play, to make tomorrow’s final for the Don Broughton Shield. Instead the two Wellington sides will battle it out for 3rd and 4th place, following winless Wellington Gold’s defeat to Manawatu who will play Hawkes Bay for the Shield.

In Division B, Hawkes Bay Development were comfortable winners over Dane Coles coached Horowhenua-Kapiti by 41 points to 21, to advance to the final for the Saracen’s Cup against Poverty Bay. In their final match (forever) in the Tournament, East Coast will play off for 5th place against the host Provincial Union, while Wairarapa Bush will face Whanganui for 3rd place.

Meanwhile, the semi-finalists for the Girls Under 18 Tournament in Napier have been confirmed, with Hawkes Bay (1) to play Whanganui (4) and Manawatu (2) to play Wellington (3). Earlier today, (in shortened matches), Hawkes Bay was undefeated, while Whanganui did not register a win.

(Published: 01/10/24)