The 100th year of the Southbridge Shield will be played this weekend between North Canterbury and Ellesmere at the Rangiora Showgrounds on Saturday.

More often than not the love for rugby grows from the grassroots, and that’s no different for two Canterbury women, Grace Brooker and Alana Bremner.

Marty Bourke has tinkered with Canterbury’s engine room for Saturdays Bunnings Warehouse NPC clash against Taranaki in Rangiora, with North Canterbury’s Luke Romano back in the second row alongside Ellesmere junior Sam Darry, who made a successful return from a broken arm last week.

Canterbury welcome back a number of players this weekend, as they look to start another home finals run in the Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse.

Local lines company MainPower has partnered with Canterbury Rugby to support this Saturday’s Bunnings Warehouse NPC clash against Taranaki to Rangiora. 

A slight tweak to Canterbury’s front row stocks is the feature of Sunday’s Bunnings Warehouse NPC side to take on Wellington. With Oli Jager sidelined due to an eye injury, Seb Calder slips into the starting lineup, which brings Carisbrook Toomalatai moves onto the bench as back up.

Saturday’s clash with Auckland is set to decide the final standings of the Farah Palmer Cup, presented by Bunnings Warehouse, with the top two teams set to go head-to-head at Eden Park at 11:35am on Saturday.

It’s no secret that club rugby cannot run without its volunteers - people who take the time out of their lives to make sure jerseys and socks are available, grounds are ready to be played on, after match food served and a myriad of other unseen tasks to keep the game being played each Saturday.

The community that club rugby creates has been shown throughout the season so far, with a number of our clubs putting in incredible efforts behind the scenes to ensure that the effect rugby has is spread out throughout the region.

The chance to lock away the JJ Stewart Trophy for the 2023 season awaits the Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup side, as they kick off Miles Toyota Club Round against Counties Manukau.  

Joe Moody will suit up for Canterbury in Saturday’s Bunnings Warehouse NPC/FPC double header in Christchurch.

Tom Christie and Dallas McLeod return to Canterbury’s starting line-up for Sunday’s Bunnings Warehouse NPC clash against North Harbour. Oli Jager and Cullen Grace return to the bench after also sitting out Canterbury’s round one victory over Northland.

The Canterbury Rugby Referees Association recently held their Life Members Luncheon on Sunday the 30th of July, providing an opportunity for some of the most experienced referees in the region to catch up and tell stories of years gone by.

The High School Old Boys’ Light Bears will carry Canterbury’s hopes into the U85 Club Cup, entering into Round 3’s rematch with the Southern Bush Pigs.

Conscious of the environmental impact that plastic waste has, we’re moving away from having Flags handed out at our games, and are instead encourging people to pull out their old flags, signs or even get creative, thanks to Ray White’s Fly Your Flag!

Last year, an injury the day before the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) squad announcement meant Holly Wratt-Groeneweg spent the season on the sidelines. This year, she is ready and raring to go as a part of Canterbury’s strong loose forwards group.

Following a Bye weekend break, the Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup side to take on the Hawke’s Bay Tui will feature only two changes, as a largely unchanged side travels to Hastings.

Promising young lock Tahlor Cahill is set to earn his first Canterbury NPC cap against Northland in Saturday’s Bunnings Warehouse NPC clash in Whangārei.

The Canterbury Development side is helping to provide a number of new opportunities for female players and coaches, including an all female management team containing a number of familiar faces.

Many of the exciting next generation of Canterbury Rugby will get their opportunity to pull on the red & black for the first time, with the Canterbury U19 squad announced for 2023.