RUGBY BACK BIGGER AND BETTER IN 2023

Rugby in 2023 Kicks off on the 1st of April and it's no joke that it will be bigger and better.

North Canterbury hosted the Combined Competition final last year , as two teams, Glenmark-Cheviot and Saracens from our area, rose to the top, with Glenmark Cheviot taking the final.

In 2023 both of these teams will be looking to rise to the top of this competition again.

This years competition sees 2 pools of 10 from Mid Canterbury, Ellesmere and North Canterbury.

With North Canterbury having 8 teams split across the 2 pools we will be playing 3 games of the North Canterbury competition during the Combined Competition.

In the North Canterbury Competition last year two completely different teams played in the finals at Mandeville. Kaiapoi and Hurunui rose to the top of the local competition, with Kaiapoi on top.

The teams across the area look good for another season of highly competitive season.

KAIAPOI have had a few changes in the playing department and the loss of their Representative half back, Codey Grimes, to Nelson will be tough for the Champion team but one player doesn't make a team and Kaiapoi have had a number of new players show up at pre season.

HURUNUI have continued to grow their player stocks in the teenage area and it's starting to pay with the number and ability of the players coming through to the senior level.Last year players to stand out were Digby Heard, Flynn Crean and Johnno Schwass. With Ben Funnell and Hamish Dalzell possible chances to appear, their aim will be to finishes higher in the combined and take out the North Canterbury club final.

ASHLEY continue to develop their young side and the coaching staff will be looking to see the squad start to get those tougher wins under their belt.With the change back to power scrummaging at this level the Ashley forward pack ,lead by the the Duckworth brothers, will look to assert some scrum dominance. This may provide opportunities out wide for Matt Couch, Anthony Tavendale and former Tasman Mako under age player Tamatoa Nicholas.

GLENMARK-CHEVIOT will hoping to perform well in both the Luisettis Combined competition and the North Canterbury competition as well. After qualifying last for the Combined quarter finals they fought hard to beat a previously dominant Saracens side. They have picked up some new players and have some experience returning from injury and premature retirement. Ben Anderson returns from a season off due to injury, and they have strengthened their forward pack with former Crusaders prop Harrison Allen and North Canterbury and Country Hooker Richard Taylor. Add to that Crusader Development players Nick Hyde and Andrew Hull with Canterbury B halfback Jordy Gray.

SARACENS will be hoping to build on a season that offered so much last year.As the season progressed there were opportunities that we just missed and the coaching and management teams will be looking to take their chances in 2023. Returning for one more orbit around the sun will be veterans, Josh Maynard, Geoff Cherry and Brett Hancox.These grizzled forwards should be supplying great ball to the likes of Kerran Jenkins and Harry Murray along with the youth of Lachie Grant ,Oscar Burney and new recruit Caleb Pomare Edwards

OHOKA, "Brotherhood" should be the catch cry of for this team in 2023 as they now have a 3 sets of brothers.The Wedlakes brothers will now be joined by the Allin Brothers as Ricky has joined Scott and both MaCallum brothers will be going out to boost the forces out at Mandeville. The back line should connect well with greater depth than 2022.The management have been working on technical detail to improve their outcomes in 2023.

OXFORD is playing its cards very close to its chest so far this season. Players returning for 2023 will be Matt Roberts current North Canterbury Rep along with George Prain and Jesse Houston both of whom have worn the Black jersey with the Silver fern. It sounds like a number of school boy players from last season have been called upon to boost the ranks as well as a hooker from the northern Island. The big question for many is, will we see the evergreen Stew Dalzell appear one more time?

WOODEND has been in the spotlight with the recruiting of Zach Guildford as Player/ Coach. Zac will bring a wealth of experience on the field and in the coaching of the team as well. Jordie Swain has been looking great in the build up to the season and will be a fantastic support to the former All Black. Like most clubs, Woodend will be hoping the season brings some fresh players to bolster their bench. With injuries and illness the playing stocks can be ravaged very quickly.