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.

Trust Supports Zane Apiata From Wairarapa-Bush

A promising hooker who has played for Rathkeale College’s 1XV for the last two years, Zane Apiata recently received a grant from the Trustees of the Hurricanes Schools Player-Coach Development Trust to attend the International Rugby Academy’s (IRANZ) "Advanced Players Course" at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in Wellington.

A seven-day residential course designed for players aged 16-18 years-old, the Advanced Players Course provides participants with an insight to the levels expected in a professional rugby environment – with the objective of embedding positive training and self-management habits that will ultimately steer players on the path to professional rugby. While at the course, Zane met current and ex All Blacks including Dale McLeod, Cam Roigard, Dominic Bird and other inspirational rugby figures. He also learnt the deeper functions of a scrum, lineouts and his position’s role. He also met many other aspiring, young athletes from around the country and the Pacific islands.

(The Rathkeale College 1XV famously defeated Whanganui Collegiate 1XV in the CNI competition)

A year 12 student in 2024, Zane will be back in the Rathkeale team (which plays in the Central North Island 1XV competition) next year, as he looks to grow his rugby skills and experience for the future. The Trustees of the Trust wish Zane every success in pursuing his rugby goals. (The Trustees of the Hurricanes Schools Player–Coach Development Trust invite applications from eligible persons for grants every calendar year. Grants are made to cover a specific course of training, coaching or instruction that will help applicants up-skill their rugby career or stay in the game).

(Published: 20/07/24)