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.

Don Broughton, Hurricanes Youth Rugby Kaumatua

The Don Broughton Shield has a history spanning 44 years, being first competed for in 1972.

The Shield was donated by Don Broughton who was originally from Patea, in Taranaki. He was a member of the Nga Rauru iwi.

Broughton moved to Levin in the 1950’s, where he joined the Levin Wanderers Rugby Football Club.

One of Don’s distant relations was the famous Rangi Broughton who also played for Levin Wanderers in the 1920’s and who later became a Maori All Black.

(Rangi Broughton - third from the right, back row - in the Levin Wanderers Team of 1920)

Don married Mona Paki from Hokio Beach and his only son Tane (now deceased) represented Horowhenua at the Under 16 representative level. It is thought that it was at this time in 1972, that Don presented the Shield carries his name.

Don played for Levin Wanderers until he was well over 50 years old, as a flanker and No. 8. He also represented the Horowhenua Maori team in the decade, 1958 to 1968.

Don worked for the Levin Municipal Abattoir and he was actively involved in youth rugby in the Levin area, also donating a trophy for the local Saturday morning competition.

Don was a great supporter of youth rugby, with a strong sense of community spirit.

“Ngā mihi mō tō manaakitanga mai”.

(Published: 01/10/16)