Kia ora,

We're at the business end of the club rugby season, with women's finals and men's semi finals on this weekend. Good luck to everyone involved.

 Some recent highlights:

  • Manawatū Academy players Vernon Bason, Mosese Bason, Logan Wallace and Sam Coles are currently representing New Zealand in the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa. The New Zealand team has got off to a good start, beating Wales 41-34 and France 27-26.
  • Sarah Hirini was named in the New Zealand sevens team for Paris after being sidelined with a knee injury since December.
  • TK Howden is in Japan with the Māori All Blacks and will start their second match against Japan XV this weekend
  • Turbos winger Taniela Filimone has been named in the Tongan national squad for their July matches.  
  • We named our Manawatū Under 19 Men's squad. See the squad list here. 
  • Manukura won the Manawatū under 16 girls competition, beating Feilding High School Blue 41-0 in the final.

Get down to Central Energy Trust Arena this Saturday for the inaugural Women's and Girls' Finals Festival. This celebration of wāhine rugby will be headlined by the Prue Christie Cup final between Old Boys-Marist and Kia Toa. It will also feature the first ever X Grade final and games between local junior teams. 

Check out the full schedule here.

Feilding Old Boys-Ōroua and Bush will clash in the X Grade final, with the winners taking home the newly created Dixie Jones Shield. Dixie Jones is a former Manawatū rep (#191) who played a huge role in setting the foundations for the women's game in our province. Read more about Dixie here.  

MANAWATŪ PLAYERS SCOOP UP HURRICANES AWARDS

Manawatū players had a great showing at the recent Hurricanes awards.

Layla Sae - Hurricanes Poua Player of the Year
Brayden Iose - Best & Fairest 3-2-1
Jordi Viljoen - Rookie of the Year
Mosese Bason - Hurricanes Under 20 Player of the Year

Jordi also recently signed with the Hurricanes through to 2026.

MANAWATŪ RUGBY PARTNERS WITH KOBELCO KOBE 
STEELERS

Manawatū Rugby has established a new partnership with the Dave Rennie-coached Kobelco Kobe Steelers. To start this partnership off, Kobe has loaned three players to Manawatū.

Sho Maeda (tighthead prop), Ataata Moeakiola (wing), and Taihei Kusaka (first five-eighth) will train with the Turbos and have the opportunity to push for selection in the Turbos or Manawatū B.

Read more here.

Over the past few weeks we've announced more of our 2024 Turbos squad members.

Returning on existing contracts: Micaiah Torrance-Read (lock), Drew Wild (outside back), Joe Gavigan (prop), Taniela Filimone (wing/centre), and Feleti Ta'ufo'ou-Sae (prop). 

Re-signed for 2024: Luke Campbell (halfback).

Re-signed for 2024 and 2025: Slade McDowall (loose forward). 

Signed for 2024 to 2026: Sam Coles (outside back)

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram for more announcements. 

Applications are now open for the 2024 Bunnings Rugby Assist programme. This is an incredible opportunity for rugby clubs to upgrade their facilities.

Ten clubs from around Aotearoa will be selected to each receive $30,000 worth of Bunnings products and materials and labour support to upgrade their club.

Find full details and apply at www.provincial.rugby/bunnings-rugby-assist.

Applications close at 11.59pm, Sunday 4 August.