It all gets underway this weekend with club rugby kicking off throughout the Waikato. All grades get underway this weekend and no doubt there is a game near you for you to get your eyes across.

The Men’s Premiership gets underway with some quality head-to-head match ups. 2024 Champions Hautapu head into Hamilton and take on Hamilton Old Boys at Fred Jones Park. Their last match up was the 2023 Premiership Semi-final where Hautapu were too strong wining 33-20. Hamilton Old Boys return in 2024 with a new coaching line-up and fresh off a victory in Bangkok will be keen to get their season off to a good start at home in front of a big crowd with four home matches scheduled for the day.

The students at University host down the road rivals Hamilton Marist to get their season underway. A rematch of the 2023 opener when Marist won 26-0 in their only match up in 2023. Beaten semi-finalists in 2023 Te Awamutu Sports host Fraser Tech. With a new coaching team at Te Awamutu and a number of new players making the trip to Te Awamutu they will be keen to back up a strong 2023. While 2022 beaten finalists Fraser Tech will be eager to get back into the top five after a disappointing 2023 Centenary year. United Matamata Sports gets off to a home start hosting Morrinsville Sports. Two sides that battled in 2023 with United Matamata Sports picking up the Championship will both be keen to get the season off to a promising start, especially United Matamata Sport who play three of their first four matches in front of the Bedford Park faithful.

The final Premiership match-up sees Melville host Otorohanga at Collins Road. This match will feature as our live streamed game for the weekend to kick off the 2024 season of live streams. Melville are coming off the back of a season where they struggled in 2023 maintaining premier status with a comprehensive victory in the promotion relegation fixture to end the end. Otorohanga, while starting the season well in 2023 and making the top 5, they battled to end the season with 4 defeats in round two. Both teams will be looking to make a positive start to 2024 and will do so live on our Facebook at 2.45pm Saturday afternoon.

All Premier men matches kick off at 2.45pm with their respective Premier B sides kicking off at 1pm at the same venue.

The Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership & Championship kicks off this weekend in a slightly different format to previous years. In 2024 the Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership will be contested between five teams after the late withdrawal of Hamilton Marist into the Championship. This week we have a finals rematch when the Huskies host Melville at Willoughby Park and Kihikihi host Otorohanga at Kihikihi Domain. The fifth team and first up with the bye is University. Hamilton Marist withdrew from the Premiership and will compete in the Championship in 2024.

Meanwhile the Waitomo Group Women’s Championship will be contested amongst seven Championship sides across 9 weekends. 2023 Championship winners Taupiri travel into the city and take on newcomers Suburbs at Flagstaff Park, Pirongia – also new to the competition in 2024, host Thames’ Hauraki who return to our Women’s competition for their second straight year. Putaruru host Waitete at Nola Block & United Matamata Sports host Hautapu kicking off a big day’s at Putaruru & Matamata respectively with all teams at home in week one. Hamilton Marist will wait another week to get their season underway with a first-round bye.

Waitomo Group Women’s Premiership & Championship matches all get underway at 1.00pm Saturday afternoon.

The Division One competition takes a slightly new look in 2024 with Kereone making a return to the Division after more than 20 years away from the competition. They kick off the return to Div 1 with a home match vs Southern United at Campbell Park in Morrinsville. A cross bridge derby match up with Suburbs travelling across the Pukete bridge to St Andrews Park in Te Rapa and will put the Reineck Cup up for grabs, while fellow city club Frankton host Hinuera at Swarbrick Park. 2023 Mooloo Shield Champions Putaruru host Pirongia to round out an action-packed day at Nola Block. Leamington will do battle with fellow Waipa side Ohaupo at Leamington Domain.

All Division 1 matches kick off at 2.45pm Saturday afternoon, while each of the clubs respective Div 1 B sides kick off at 1pm at the same venue.

In the Colts Competition we have twelve teams lining up in 2024. 2022 & 2023 Champions Hamilton Marist get off their title defence with a home match vs Fraser Tech at Marist Park. With new coaches in 2024 and several new players to the Colts team Hamilton Marist will be up for the new challenge this season, while Fraser Tech battled in 2023, they will be more than keen to kick off 2024 with arguably the upset of the weekend. Morrinsville Sports host Hautapu at Campbell Park, Pirongia host United Matamata Sports at home alongside their women’s Championship side. Suburbs host Leamington at Flagstaff Park and Hamilton Old Boys wrap up a day of rugby at the club rooms hosting University at a later kick off of 2.45pm. Thames Valley United return to our colt’s competition after a promising season in 2023 and will host Hinuera who make the first trip across to the mighty Thames Valley for 2024.

All colts matches kick off at 1pm, excluding Hamilton Old Boys vs University with a 2.45pm kick off on Willoughby Park.

Be sure to get along and support your local club this weekend as they kick off their 2024 season.

Have you seen our new Live 4 Five podcast from this morning? Live every Friday morning at 10am we will host a five-minute live stream on our Facebook page previewing tomorrow’s action. Head across to our Facebook page to view this mornings episode. 

Team lists to be published at 3pm on our Waikato Rugby Facebook & Instagram pages.

Article added: Tuesday 02 April 2024