Planning is well underway for our 2023 club rugby season. Following recent discussions and voting by the clubs, the format and draws for the 2023 season have being agreed and we are all set to go. 

The Premier & Division 1 draws have been completed, with the remaining draws being done early in the new year when we have confirmed entries for each of our respected senior rugby competitions.

Club rugby will start on the 1st of April in 2023, with the Premier competition kicking off week 1 with some good local derby matches. Fraser Tech will host Hamilton Old Boys in a repeat of the 2022 Breweries Shield Final at Mill Street Park, while the University students host neighbours Hamilton Marist. Other match ups see United Matamata Sports hosting Te Awamutu Sports, Otorohanga playing host to Hautapu and Morrinsville Sports hosting Melville. 

Hamilton Marist celebrates their Centenary after a delay in 2022 - that will be a big day at Marist Park on 8th April when they host United Matamata Sports. Fraser Tech are also celebrating 100 years in 2023 on Kings Birthday Weekend - that game is still to be confirmed as it is in the second round. 

The Premier format will see the first round played over 9 weekends (1st April - 27th May) with no weekends off, with the second-round splitting into a Top 5 / Bottom 5 format, followed by the traditional semi-final & finals play-offs. 

Like the Premier Competition, Division 1 kicks off on 1st April - again with some quality match ups to kick off the competition. Te Rapa host the annual battle of the bridge when they host Suburbs, while Taupiri host the men from Southern United. Other match ups include Ohaupo taking on Frankton, Putaruru hosting Leamington & Pirongia hosting Hinuera. 

Division 1 will have a week off on Easter Weekend and will wrap up their first round on Kings Birthday Weekend on 3rd June, before splitting into a Top 5 / Bottom 5 format, they will play a straight final at the end of their second round with the winning team taking on the 10th seeded Premier side in a 1 off Promotion / Relegation fixture. 

Our other senior competitions will be set up and completed in February 2023 when clubs confirm their entries for each of the respective competitions. Notable mentions will be can the HOB Huskies take out the Gallagher Women’s Premiership again and will Hamilton Marist go back to back in the Division 2 Competition or will the HOB Guzzlers make amends on the 2022 title defeat. 

Article added: Thursday 08 December 2022