Annual Under 15 Boys' Tournament

As part of Winter Tournament Week, the annual Under 15 Tournament comprises sixteen teams from secondary schools (on an invitational basis) who compete in a Cup and Plate section for the Rex Kerr Trophy.

Annual Under 16 Boys' Tournament

Every year in the third term school holidays, the Council holds New Zealand's premier tournament for Under 16 players, comprising teams from all member Provincial Unions, competing in two divisions for the Don Broughton Shield, the Saracens Cup and the Manaaki Tangata Trophy.

Annual Under 18 Boys' Competition

Every year in September, the Council holds a competition for Under 18 teams from member Provincial Unions, competing for the TrustBank Central Secondary Schools Shield first competed for in the 1990's.

Annual Under 19 Tournament

This competition comprises teams from Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu, and a Hurricanes Heartland Team (comprising players from the Council's member Heartland Provincial Unions), competing for the Central Region Shield on a home and away basis.

Annual Under 20 Heartland Development Series

Comprising teams from the regions Heartland Provincial Unions, the Heartland Development Series is held annually over two weeks, with teams competing for the Hurricanes Under 20 Cup.

Girls' Rugby Development Programmes

Every year, with the support of New Zealand Rugby, the Council provides Development Days, an Under 15 Tournament and an Under 18 Development Camp for young women within the Hurricanes Region.

Annual Hurricanes Sevens Tournament

The best secondary school Sevens players in the region (in Boys and Girls divisions) compete for the Hurricanes Secondary Schools Sevens Cup, hosted by Wairarapa-Bush.

Council Remembers Sam Doyle, (Hurricane No. 11)

The Council offers its sympathy to the family of Sam (Hami) Doyle, who sadly passed away this weekend, after a long illness. Sam came into the Hurricanes side in 1996 as a replacement player and played in two matches at fullback against the Highlanders (at Carisbrook) and the Reds (at Athletic Park) in place of Christian Cullen, scoring a try in the 44-15 win against the Highlanders.

He played for Wellington between 1994-1997 and ended up playing 30 games for Wellington, scoring 64 points. In his first game for Wellington in 1994, he became only one of three players to score two tries on debut, against Taranaki. In 1995, Sam played for the New Zealand President's XV ahead of the Rugby World Cup. In 1992-1993 he was a Maori All Black (playing in matches against the Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji) and against British and Irish Lions at Athletic Park.

(Sam makes a tackle against the British & Irish Lions in 1993 at Athletic Park)

Sam also represented Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti (from the Rahui Club) for a total of 65 representative games, also serving as a coach for Rahui and the Otaki College 1XV.

(Sam, carrying the ball, in action for Horowhenua Kapiti's Rahui RFC)

For over 24 years, Sam was involved in education, with a specific focus on Māori immersion education, teaching all levels from new entrants through to secondary school.

He was Principal of Te Kura o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, a Māori immersion Kura in Otaki, from 2014 - 2019. He also lectured at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, in Māori historical knowledge, lore, mātauranga Māori, physical health education and wellbeing. Sam also worked as a senior advisor for the Ministry of Education and as a lead advisor in the Curriculum Design and Assessment team of Te Uepu Reo Māori, the Maori division of the Ministry of Education.

(Sam commentating the Central Region Shield Final at Westpac Stadium in 2016)

All Round 2 matches of the 2022 Hurricanes Under 16 Tournament being played in Wellington tomorrow will observe a minutes' silence before kick-off in memory of Sam and other members of the Hurricanes whanau who have passed away over the past 12 months.

(Published: 02/10/22)