PROGRAMME EDITION #23 SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER, 2022 OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME | CANTERBURY RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | 2022 SEASON
CONTENTSPAGE Check out what we’ve got in store for you within our weekly CRFU GoodProgramme.luckfor the weekend! From the team at Canterbury Rugby Contents CommunityPageWelcome – Craig Dunlea NPC Media Release NPC Team Naming Feature Story – Billy Harmon Old Rivals – Canterbury vs Auckland Opposition Previews NPC and FPC Standings Gallery – Final Gallery Rugby World Cup Selections U18 Girls Preview Miles Toyota U16 SchoolPreviewLeavers Footy Fest Our Pathway Partners1096423578111213141516 CONNECT WITH US! www.canterburyrugby.co.nz @canterburyrugby@CanterburyRugbyUnion Canterbury Rugby @crfu
My name is Craig Dunlea and I am the Assistant Coach in charge of the forwards for the Canterbury NPC.
WELCOMECOMMUNITY
The team has been building really well, and this week we are presented with a great challenge in the form of Counties Manukau in Pukekohe. Make sure to tune in to the game live on Sky Sport at 2:05pm this Saturday.
The NPC side is then home next Friday against our old foe Auckland, and we’d love to have you join us as we keep building towards the playoffs Getrun. your tickets here to join us for some Friday Night Footy!
Enjoy the weekend of footy!
Craig CanterburyDunleaRugby NPC Assistant Coach (Forwards)
To step up into a full-time assistants role has been a great opportunity for me to work with a great bunch of boys and for our forwards group to leave their mark on the competition.
It’sfashion.been an awesome experience for me this season being involved with the Canterbury NPC side again.
Welcome to the latest issue of the Red & Black.
Firstly, I would like to extend my congratulations to the Farah Palmer Cup side, who have paved the way in securing the Premiership title again this season. The team has been on a real roll in the last few years, and it was great to see them take out this year’s competition in stunning
My background in rugby stretches from my playing days with Mid-Canterbury, right through to my coaching journey today, which has taken
me from Mid Canterbury to Lincoln University and, most recently, as the RDM at Christchurch Football Club.
Drummond returns to the number 9 jumper after a couple of weeks rest, reforming his partnership with Fergus Burke (The competitions top points scorer) at 10 and Rameka Poihipi at 12. “Ferg is doing a really good job for us, driving the team around at 10 and a fair amount of that is the relationships he has both at 9 and 12,” said backs Coach Alex Robertson.
Isaiah Punivai and Dallas McLeod swap spots this week, with Punivai set to start and McLeod on the bench, while Manasa Mataele returns to the left wing to link back up with Chay Fihaki at full back and Ngatungane Punivai on the right wing.
Brodie McAlister returns to the starting line-up at hooker, while Sam Darry and the impressive Dominic Gardiner will be McAlister’s line out targets. Billy Harmon will skipper the side with Tom Christie, the competitions number one tackler at openside and Allen at Mitch8.
“Izzy has been fantastic for us in the later parts of the match said Robertson, we’re really confident in his play and he deserves the opportunity to start. Manasa has been itching to get back on the field too, so we’re all really excited for Saturday in Pukekohe.”
Tamaiti Williams will start his first match of the 2022 Bunnings Warehouse NPC, while Liam Allen gets the nod at number 8 to celebrate his Blazer game (12th cap for Canterbury).
The Counties Manukau clash also doubles as a milestone clash for two other players, Willi Heinz earning his second blazer (62 caps), while at the other end of the scale, former Rakaia and Mid Canterbury Prop Tom Heywood is in line to make his debut in jersey 17.
“Tom’s a hardworking no-nonsense prop who’s been toiling away. His hard work for University (of Canterbury) this year saw him rewarded with a couple of starts for the Canterbury B side and now a likely NPC cap, it’s a great story and one that sets a great example of what can be achieved coming from country rugby.” said Forwards Coach Craig Dunlea.
“Tam’s (Tamaiti) and Liam are really exciting young fellas who have worked hard for their opportunities. It’ll be a little different for them starting, but we just want them to go and empty their tanks and keep having the same sort of impact they have been having off the bench.” Dunlea added.
STORY FEATURE
CANTERBURY NAME STRONG SIDE FOR MATCH AGAINST COUNTIES
New Brighton loose forward Billy Harmon has found himself in unfamiliar territory this season, not just in his ability to play across 6, 7 or 8, but in being the squad’s captain so far in 2022.
“We certainly have given some great second half performances this season, so for us, it’s about bringing that intensity from the off, so that will be a massive thing for us going forward.”
There’s certainly an argument to be had that having the captaincy has allowed Billy the opportunity to get as much out of this season as possible, completing 95% (52 out of 55) tackles as well as nabbing two tries and helping set up four others.
CAPTAIN HARMON ENJOYING LEADING FROM THE FRONT
“We know that the next three matches will be tough, but in the same sense, we know we’ll be ready for those as the boys love playing in those sorts of games.”
Harmon said.
“It’s been a good chance at this stage of my career, and it’s gone well so far”
It leaves Canterbury with three tough games to finish the regular season, with the trip to Counties Manukau followed by matches against two of Canterbury’s biggest rivals, Auckland and Otago.
STORY FEATURE
It’s those efforts and more that have all contributed towards the NPC team continuing to get positive results, albeit sometimes coming late into the second “Ithalf.was an awesome performance on Sunday (against Northland), while we didn’t come out of the gates as well as we would have liked, we showed that we can adjust as a team and we can finish off really well.”
Harmon, who has also ticked off 50 games for Canterbury this year, has stepped up into a leading role, finding enjoyment in both the performances of the team, but also the opportunities that leadership has provided him.
“It’s been really good (to have the captaincy), it hasn’t been too much of a challenge as I’m pretty lucky to have people around me doing such a good job leading in their areas too.” said Harmon.
NPC ROUND 08 SAT 17 SEP, 2.05PM NAVIGATION HOMES STADIUM
This weekend, the NPC boys head north to take on Counties Manukau in Pukekohe, looking to leave Navigation Homes Stadium with a win and another step closer to a home quarterfinal.
Standing in their way is a Counties side that is looking to make a finals run of their own, where they currently sit sixth in a crowded Odds Conference.
PREVIEWOPPOSITION
The side in the red, black and white hoops have been perfectly 50/50 this season, with three wins and losses to their name.
Fresh off a 41-33 win over Manawatu at home last week, they’ll be looking to repeat the effort and defend home turf once again.
OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME | CANTERBURY RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | 2022 SEASON 9 ODDS PREMIERSHIPEVENSCONFERENCECONFERENCE Hawke’sWaikato ManawtuCountiesBayWellingtonAucklandWaikatoCanterburyManawatūTaranakiTasmanNorthNorthlandAucklandCanterburySouthlandCountiesOtagoBayWellingtonBayofPlentyManukauHarbourStormofPlentyVolcanixManukauHeatCyclones P 6677777 P 6677777 P 6666666 W 0446533 W 4463310 W 6532221 D 0000011 D 0000011 D 0000000 L 0222437 L 4423157 L 4440135 PF 240243182196172146170 PF 28019411024118691129 PF 210173132122110126125 PA 284187178113191139172 PD -114-2612765-957-15 PA 344210120128158197159 PA 14096131162136159174 PD -215-68-2415236-1044 PD -4070771-26-33-49 BP 4446653 BP 7525522 BP 4466523 PTS 3024242217154 PTS 182131171762 PTS 3024181312107 BUNNINGS STANDINGSNPCBUNNINGSFPCSTANDINGS
FARAH PALMER CUP FINALGALLERYSTORYFEATURE
Ponsonby and Rule are also part of a strong Lincoln University contingent, with the Bremner sisters, loose forward Alana and lock Chelsea, also coming out of the Ewes side.
In the backs, the retiring centurion Kendra Cocksedge will be looking to go back-to-back with another World Cup win, while Christchurch’s Amy Du Plessis will be operating in the midfield.
Phillipa Love, who played her 50th Canterbury game in the final, Georgia Ponsonby and Amy Rule will all be in line to wear black.
STORY FEATURE
Canterbury will be well represented at this year’s Rugby World Cup in Auckland and Whangarei, with seven Cantabrians named in the Black Ferns squad.
Alongside Assistant Coach Whitney Hansen, it means that we will have a lot to cheer about when the competition kicks off at the start of October. The front row that was so dominant against Auckland in the final will be present, with all three members named in the squad.
We can’t wait to celebrate our wahine toa as they take on the world next month!
7
CANTABRIANS NAMED FOR HOME RUGBY WORLD CUP
17th of September Tasman vs Canterbury Red Kick off 2:30pm, Murchison
The final pool match will take place in Waimate, with Semi-Finals and Finals to follow!
1st of October Canterbury Black vs Tasman Hanan Shield
This year, both Canterbury sides are in the Northern pool, joined in there by Tasman, while in the Southern Pool, Otago and Southland are joined by a Hanan Shield side. It’ll be Canterbury Red in action first, travelling to Murchison this weekend to play our Northern neighbours.
2nd of October Semi Finals (Waimate) v 6th Playoff (Waimate)
CANTERBURY U18 GIRLS’ SIDES CHASE GLORY IN SOUTH ISLAND TOURNAMENT
FIXTURES LIST:
24th
Hanan Shield vs Otago Kick off 1pm, Oamaru
Waimate
5th
Next week, both Canterbury sides will meet headto-head at Christchurch Park, with kick off at 1pm on the 24th of September.
SouthlandWaimate vs
U18 GIRLS PREVIEW
3rd of October Finals (Waimate)
Fresh off the squad announcements of both the Canterbury Red & Black sides, this weekend marks the kick off of the U18 South Island Tournament, with teams playing pool matches over the next two weekends before descending on Waimate in search of a winner.
Otago vs Southland Kick off 1pm, Balclutha of September Canterbury Red vs Canterbury Black Kick off 1pm, Christchurch Park
ofourChampioningfootyheroestomorrow.
Miles Toyota, official community sponsor of Canterbury rugby.
FIXTURES LIST:
In the Central North Pool, Metro Black, Ellesmere and North Canterbury will all go head-to-head, while Metro Red find themselves in the Central South Pool alongside North Otago, South Canterbury and Mid AlreadyCanterbury.aweek into the tournament, the sides will play against their pools before descending on Ashburton for the Quarter Finals and Bowl from the 4th of October.
U16 BOYS’ SOUTH ISLAND RETURNS IN 2022
This week, North Canterbury host Ellesmere at Woodend at 12:30pm and Metro Red travel to Temuka to take on South Canterbury. If you’re around, get down to the support our teams as they chase age grade glory!
24th of September Metro Black vs North Canterbury Kick off 1pm, Linwood Metro Red vs North Otago Kick off 2:45pm, Linwood
The South Island U16 Boys’ tournament returns in 2022, with Canterbury represented by four sides in this year’s tournament following a few years’ hiatus due to Covid.
6th of October Finals (Ashburton)
5th of October Semifinals (Ashburton)
In Week 1, Metro Black snuck past Ellesmere 24-19 in Diamond Harbour, while Metro Red beat Mid Canterbury 31-10.
U16 BOYS PREVIEW
10th of September Mid Canterbury 10-31 Metro Red Ellesmere 19-24 Metro Black
4th of October Quarterfinals (Ashburton)
17th of September North Canterbury vs Ellesmere Kick off 12:30pm, Woodend South Canterbury vs Metro Red Kick off 12:30pm, Temuka
PARTNERSPARTNERSOUR
Canterbury Rugby Football Union would like to extend a massive thank you to all of our amazing partners who make community rugby possible. Please continue to support them the same way they support our community.
