Our Pakuranga Premiers will have a chance to pit themselves against some of the best teams across the wider Auckland Region in a new pre-season competition being trialled this year.

The new Wider Auckland Club Knock Out competition will prove perfect build up for the 2023 Gallaher Shield season, with the premiers going up against leading clubs from North Harbour, Auckland and Counties Manukau.

Director of Rugby and Premier Coach Grant ‘Boof’ Henson said it will be a great way to start the season.

“We built a lot of depth at the club last year, so having the ability to give players the opportunity to put their hand up on the field in pre-season will be really valuable to our preparation.

“It’s a great concept and we’ll look forward to some good footy to kick off the year,” said Boof.

“As soon as you have a game that has the word competition involved with it, you would expect all personnel involved to step up their intensity levels. This will provide a fantastic platform for us to see how individuals within our club perform with the perceived pressure of having to win a game to progress to win a tournament.”

The competition will take place over three weekends from March 11- 25 and will see three groups of eight teams participating.

Competition driver and Counties Manukau Rugby Board member Craig Carter is passionate about club rugby.

“The advent of television raising the profile of 1st XV over the last few years hasn’t helped the profile of club rugby. I for one believe club rugby is where it is at and you can’t beat watching a good game of club rugby, between clubs with so much history and players giving their all for their colours. And being right there on the side-line you see all the happenings right there in front of you.

“This competition aims to celebrate club rugby and try something a little different.”

The three-week long schedule has been confirmed with four big matches set to kick-off the opening weekend of the competition. The Pakuranga Premiers are in the top group of teams and will face a strong Karaka outfit from Counties Manukau.

Round 2 will consist of the four winning sides playing each other and the four losing sides will also play each other. Round 3 will follow suit, (providing two finalists,) thus all teams are guaranteed three matches. 

The winners will be presented the John Spiers Trophy – named after one of the region’s most renowned rugby players.

Spiers has, to the best of anyone’s knowledge, played more senior games of rugby than anyone else having racked up a phenomenal 402 Premier club games for the Pukekohe club as well as playing 153 matches for Counties and 28 games for the All Blacks including five test matches.

His rugby playing career at senior level began in 1967 and continued until 1991. However, Spiers continued to play reserves and social rugby after that.

Wider Auckland Club Knock Out competition

Week One

Pakuranga Premiers v Karaka

Karaka Rugby Club

11th March

Kick-off time TBC

Article added: Thursday 02 March 2023