September 4, 2025

Around the grounds: Representative Round Up!

19 February 2025

Around the grounds: Representative Round Up!

With Community Club and School Rugby for 2025 wrapped up, the spotlight now shifts to Representative Rugby. There are still plenty of fixtures ahead for Canterbury fans to enjoy, with competitions across multiple age grades showcasing some of the region’s best talent.

The Tane Norton Trophy came to an exciting conclusion on Saturday, with North Canterbury claiming victory over Ellesmere. The result meant double celebrations for the side, as they not only lifted the Tane Norton Cup but also secured the prestigious Southbridge Shield.

The competition, named in honour of the late Tane Norton (MNZM) – a proud Cantabrian, All Black captain, and one of New Zealand rugby’s most respected figures – continues to carry special meaning for our community. His legacy as both a player and leader is reflected in the spirit with which this competition is contested.

This year’s tournament again provided a fantastic display of senior men’s representative rugby, with high-quality matches giving the best community players from across Canterbury the chance to test themselves at the next level and push for Canterbury B selection.

The Canterbury B squad has been announced, with a campaign of four fixtures set to get underway.

Head Coach Ben Rhodes talked to the campaign, “It’s about growing the connection within the group, creating new ones, and enjoying the chance to represent Canterbury together. The players have put in a huge effort through the year and are excited to pull on the jersey. We’re looking forward to helping grow the connection across Canterbury Rugby and hopefully play a part in the success of the NPC team through supporting their campaign, if only for a short time.”

Check out the full squad here and see the fixtures below.

  • 6 September – vs Southland B, 1:00pm, Rugby Park, Invercargill
  • 13 September – vs Wellington B, 1:00pm, Rugby League Park, Wellington
  • 20 September – vs Otago B, 1:00pm, Tahuna Park, Dunedin
  • 27 September – vs Tasman B, 1:00pm, Christchurch Park, Christchurch
  • The Canterbury Under 19 Men's South Island Tournament reaches its climax this week, with Canterbury U19s in strong form following a commanding 38–14 win over Tasman in their opening match.

    They now prepare for crucial clashes against Southland and Otago:

  • Saturday 6th September – vs Southland, 12:45pm, Ngā Puna Wai
  • Monday 8th September – vs Otago, 12:45pm, Ngā Puna Wai

  • Head Coach Dan O’Brien praised the team’s efforts so far "with wins over Wellington, North Canterbury Development, and Otago in our preseason, we began the tournament with a strong win over Tasman last weekend. We have seen some real growth from individuals and the team as a whole and are looking forward to our games this weekend."

    Check out the squad and fixtures here

    Two Canterbury Under 18 Girls squads – Canterbury Black and Canterbury Red – have been named to contest the South Island U18 Girls Tournament. The teams will play pre-tournament matches in the coming weeks before heading into finals weekend from 21st–23rd September at Fraser Park, Timaru.

    It's a full circle moment for Head Coach of Canterbury Black Steph Broomhall "Many of my team mates from our 1998 Canterbury School Girls team are part of our 2025 campaign as trainers, coaches and mothers to our players". Talking to the real depth of talent from year 9's through to school leavers there's a real mix of girls who are new to the game, and those who have grown up on the sidelines. "I can't wait to see how the players show up for themselves, their whānau and each other on Saturday. Check out the full Red & Black squads and fixtures here.

    The South Island Under 16 Boys competition is also underway, with four sub-union teams – Ellesmere, Metro Black, Metro Red, and North Canterbury – battling it out in the South Island U16 Boys Tournament.

    The round-robin format will lead into finals weekend from 28th–30th September at Rhodes Park Domain, Waihora RFC, Tai Tapu, where the Waitaha U16 side will also join the contest. See the squad announcements and fixtures here.

    From U16 development players through to seasoned B team campaigners, Representative Rugby offers a platform for talent across the region to shine. With competitions underway at every level, there’s no shortage of opportunities to support Canterbury’s rising stars.

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