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.

Life Member Rex Kerr Receives King's Birthday Honour

Former Council Chairman and Life Member Rex Kerr has been made a "Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit", (or MNZM) by King Charles III, "for services to the community and rugby".

The citation for Rex's award reads as follows.

"Mr Rex Kerr’s contribution to education and the community has spanned 60 years until retirement in 2023. Mr Kerr was a teacher at Colenso High School and at Wairoa College from 1963 and after 21 years as Principal of Ōtaki College, he retired in 1997.As Principal he was active in the sports of the college, particularly with rugby, coaching various teams including the First XV.

He authored five books between 2001 and 2016 which celebrate the history of the Ōtaki and Horowhenua-Kapiti region. He held various positions with the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby Union, including as President, Chair, Secretary and the New Zealand Team Manager between 1978 and 2013. He served as the Chair of the Hurricanes Youth Council between 2000 and 2012 and as President of the Rāhui Football and Sports Association for 13 years.

He is a life member of the Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union, the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council, the Manawatu Secondary Schools Athletics Association, the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby Union and of the Rāhui Football and Sports Association. Mr Kerr served as an Executive Board member of the Hurricanes Youth Council for 11 years until retirement in 2023, representing the Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union."

The Council's Executive Board warmly congratulates Rex (and his wife Elizabeth) on his richly-deserved award recognising his long-term contribution to youth rugby in the Hurricanes region.

You can read the Kapiti News' interview with Rex, here.