This weekend marks the return of our club rugby season and after what was a successful year in 2023, 2024 is already shown promise to be bigger and better already – more teams in some competitions, alignment of home games for club days and better alignment come club finals days.

Lets refresh and take a look at where some of our trophies are starting out 2024. Will they return to that same trophy cabinet by end of the season? Only time will tell, and we will read about that come mid-late July.

First up, the Stag Trophy. Competed amongst city premier sides with Hamilton Old Boys, currently held in safe company at Fred Jones Park. The first challenge for 2024 will come in week four when Hamilton Old Boys host old foes Hamilton Marist on April 27 at Fred Jones Park. If Marist are successful, they won’t have to put that on the line until round two, while Hamilton Old Boys will put it back on the line the following week when they host Fraser Tech at Fred Jones Park.

The Power Farming George Simpkin Trophy – a newer trophy that started in 2023. A challenge trophy contested amongst the premier country sides. Current holders are United Matamata Sports, the home of George Simpkin. United Matamata Sports have a busy run in the first month with three out four games at home, and all three of those home matches vs country opponents. First up in week one is Morrinsville Sports. In 2023 United Matamata Sports took the spoils on both outings’ vs Morrinsville Sports, they will need to make it three from three to keep their hands on the Power Farming George Simpkin Trophy for another fortnight.

The Reineck Cup, another challenge trophy competed for between Hamilton Sub Union teams, in recent years it has spent its time in Division One with Suburbs, Frankton and Te Rapa. Currently in storage at Flagstaff Park with Suburbs keeping safe tabs on it. That trophy is competed every match between those side, not just in home fixtures and goes up for grabs again this weekend when Te Rapa host Suburbs at St Andrews Park. The Reineck Cup will then be locked away with the victor for at least two months before either side takes on Frankton in round 10 (Te Rapa) or round 11 (Suburbs) respectively.

While the challenge trophies are big ticket items for each club, they main prize will come finals day for each of the respective competitions. First on the calendar is the Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership & Championship Finals. Hamilton Old Boys Huskies’ have had a tight grip on the Premiership for the last three seasons and will be keen to make that a fourth in 2024, while 2023 Championship Winners Taupiri will look to go back-to-back in the Championship this season.

The Breweries Shield is locked up at Memorial Park under safe keeping by Hautapu after a strong final in 2023 vs Hamilton Marist. First they have to get into the top five for the second round and win a semi-final in early July if they have hopes of locking that away for 2024. Arguably the biggest upset in 2023 came from a resurgent Putaruru club where they took home the Mooloo Shield and crowned Champions of Division One for the first time in over a decade. Like the premier competition, they have a nine round first round to get through to make the top half of the draw, before putting the Mooloo Shield on the line come late July finals footy.

The Colts competition has been dominated by a strong and solid cohort from Hamilton Marist the last few seasons. They currently hold the Tom Lithgow and Elliott Shield as Champions of 2023. That cohort has now largely moved into senior rugby and the challenge will be can the new boys at Hamilton Marist maintain that grip on the Elliott Shield like they have done so well in recent years.

Like the Colts, where one team has dominated that grade, it is much the same in the Under 85 kg competition. Morrinsville Sports have been the team to beat in that competition and have had the wood over their opposition in recent years. They start the year with the Don Shergold Trophy and will be keen to make it a three-peat finals day in July.

Article added: Tuesday 02 April 2024