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.

HYRC Referees Selected For 2022 Programme

The Council's referee selectors (Brian Robertson, Alan Mettrick and Bernie McLaughlin) are pleased to announce that the following referees have been selected to officiate at selected 2022 Council fixtures: Sam Taylor, (Horowhenua-Kapiti RFU); Ben Koch, (Manawatu RFU)'; Jacob Booth, (Manawatu RRA); Kaleb Rowlands, (Wairarapa-Bush RRA); Matt Perry, (Wairarapa-Bush RRA); Charlie Harris, (Wellington RRA); Ethan Loveridge, (Wellington RRA); and Tomas Roche, (Wellington RRA).

The squad reserve referees are: Max Lancaster, (Hawkes Bay RRA) and Ben Holt, (Poverty Bay RRA).

(Ben Koch, left and Jacob Booth right, have both been selected in the 2022 referee squad)

As noted above, the Council's regional referee selectors are Brian Robertson (Manawatu RRA), Alan Mettrick (Hawkes Bay RRA) and Bernie McLaughlin (Wellington RRA).

Brian Robertson began his refereeing, "by chance", in Marton in 1972 and did most of his on-field refereeing in the Wanganui provincial union. Until health issues forced his retirement, Brian refereed actively until 2002, when he first began referee coaching and assessing, initially in the Wanganui region. In 2010, Brian moved to the Manawatu region where he is still actively volunteering as a referee coach, including coaching two national squad referees.

Alan Mettrick commenced refereeing in Wellington in 1980 after a number of years playing and managing club rugby teams. He continued to referee at the premier level until 1999 when persistent injuries forced an early retirement from active refereeing. At this time Alan moved into coaching referees in Wellington, and since 2010, in Hawkes Bay. He is involved in referee coaching at club, Council, and (more recently) at national level.

Bernie McLaughlin stared refereeing in Wellington in 1985 with stints in Christchurch and Nelson during which time he was selected for the New Zealand NPC Referee Squad. Returning to Wellington in 2007, Bernie has been involved in referee coaching and selection for over 15 years with the Wellington Referees Association. He has been a selector for the Council since 2018.

The Council is deeply appreciative of the voluntary service provided by Brian, Alan and Bernie in developing referees within the Hurricanes region. Through their support and commitment to the game, the Council is able to ensure that the quality of rugby development in the region extends to both match officials and players.

(Published : 21/07/22)