Nelson College Rugby eNews - 22nd March 2022

NELSON COLLEGE RUGBY NEWS

22nd March 2022

Welcome to the first newsletter of the 2022 season. This year is set to be another exciting one for our school. We have plenty to look forward to with the 1st XV defending their South Island and Miles Toyota titles, along with being the current holders of the Trustbank Cup. Our 3 Under 17 teams will all be wearing new strips thanks to the Mainland Foundation. We have lots of tournaments to attend including an U14A tournament in Wellington, an U15A's in Timaru & Oamaru, U16A's in Christchurch, and the 96th Quadrangular Tournament in Whanganui. So it will be a big year for everyone and one to look forward to.

1st XV Update

After a greatly successful 2022, the 1st XV welcome back a strong and successful coaching team lead by Head Coach Jono Phillips. The team includes assistant coaches Marty O’Cain (backs), Mike Fraser (forwards) & Grant Billcliff (breakdown), manager Peter Grigg, assistant manager William Moloney, trainer Max Fraine & physiotherapists Chris Wahnig & Matt Doonan. The coaching group have selected a squad for the 2022 season (see below) and they are training well for the season ahead. We welcome a large number of new players to the team this season with 18 players departing from the 2021 team. The team will look to their returning players, Matt Lowe, Timoci Sauira, Jordan Smith, Nelesoni Malaulau, Tylah Blake and Devante Meredith to lead from the front. The team also welcomes Sione Mafi, who has joined us from Upper Hutt and is looking to be a strong player upfront for the team. This years squad also sees five outstanding year 11 players who when they get their chance, will aim to show their qualities for the future. These boys including Harrison Inch, Fanua Fa'avae, Teina Thompson, Kobe Brownlee and Saumaki Saumaki. The team kicks off their preseason on April 9th at home vs. Marlborough Boys' College.

New Players

Want to give Rugby a try? Why not register for the 2022 season! You can do so now by clicking here. Trials will be held soon at Broads for our Under 14, 15 & 17 teams.

Rugby Trials

Trials will be held in two weeks time at Broads. Can all boys please come prepared to play with water, boots and mouth-guards.

Tuesday 5th April - Under 15 Trial
Wednesday 6th April - Under 14 Trial
Thursday 7th April - Under 17 Trial

New Coaches

We are aiming to have 3 teams in each grade this season so we need lots of coaches. If you are interested, please call me on 0274803005 or simply register here Coach Registration Form 2022 and I will be in touch.

Please also see below some great opportunities for coach development delivered by the Tasman Rugby Union. The next one is set for Wednesday 6th April at Trafalgar Park.

New Sponsorship

This season sees a change in the structure of our sponsorship with the introduction of Brand, Club & Jersey sponsors. Brand sponsors are prominently displayed on the teams playing uniform and warm up tops. Club sponsors are on the warm up tops which every Rugby player at Nelson College gets as part of playing for our club. And jersey sponsors have their logo displayed above the number on each 1st XV jersey. We are hugely grateful to each and every sponsor for their contribution made to ensuring we have a thriving Rugby programme for all boys at College. Over the season we will be acknowledging each sponsor and we encourage our community to get behind them also by supporting their businesses. Thank you.

Brand Sponsors for 2022 - Gibbons, NBS, McDonalds, Bowater Toyota, NPD, Wakatu Incorporation, Blacks Fasteners, Fulton Hogan, Fiso Investment Group, ProRugby, Nelson Orthodontics, MJ Fraser Logging, Tasman Performance & The Sports Clinic.

Club Sponsors for 2022 - AG Water, Summit Real Estate, Remarkable Labour, Orange Building, Pomeroy’s & Trailways.

Jersey Sponsors are to be announced soon.

Kind Regards

Mark Cochrane

Master in Charge of Rugby

M. 0274 80 3005

E. ce@nelsoncollege.school.nz