This week all Secondary and Primary rugby kicks off across Southland. With the Southern past time of duck shooting on the calendar, the majority of games have been scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

Eleven teams will contest this year’s Southland-wide Under-18 competition. The format will include a full eleven-week round robin, followed by a top six, bottom five playoff format taking place across three weeks. This will provide the opportunity for teams finishing in the top half of the draw to have a crack at the silverware. 

2017 defending champions St Peters will be looking to go back to back as they have again assembled a strong side. Second-five eighth Thomas McKenzie will be a key figure in the St Peters team this season.  McKenzie is a smart player who possesses a strong all-round game, one to keep an eye on. St Peters will be looking to get off to a good start and set the tone for their campaign when they take on their arch foe from across the road in their first game, Gore High School. 

Gore High will be boosted in 2018 by a good contingent of last year’s dominant Under-15 team who played some outstanding rugby and possessed several rising stars.  Despite Gore High finishing mid-table last year, expect them to be near the head of the pack this season especially with Towering lock Harrison Morton asone exciting up and coming prospects in Southland rugby. As a loose forward he has size, physicality, a good skill set all matched with a great work rate. If Morton can remain injury free, expect him to play a big part in Gore’s success this year.

Central Southland College will be wanting to go one better in 2018 after failing to secure the win against St Peters in last year’s final.  The Winton-based school has lost a couple of key players in the wings in the form of Henry Earland and Kalani Elder.  However, the side has come together well in pre-season and if that form is anything to go by, this is team is a potential title contender come July. The team has also had the bonus of training against the Midlands senior side in recent weeks, a great opportunity for the team to put together structures and test their patterns on attack and defence against a strong opposition.

Southland Boys' High School will again have two teams contest the Under-18 competition. The second fifteen will be coached by Glenn Taylor who has moved across from James Hargest College where he guided their top team to encouraging results last season. This year’s team has exciting young talent across the park and will be looking to get a strong grip on their competition in the early rounds.

Southland Boys’ High School will also have a development side in the grade.  Most of the team are year 12 and 13 players, scattered amongst are also some bright young prospects. Coach and Teacher Bryce Morgan has had limited time with his troops pre-season wise but will be hoping his team can hit the ground running when they take on Verdon this weekend. Halfback Josh Murrell will be a key to the team’s success as a Southland Touch representative he has a crisp pass and has strength in reading the game.

Menzies were a top contender last year and have recruited a couple of key acquisitions to their side for 2018. Menzies pose threats right across the park and will be able to play directly and with good width on attack. The Wyndham based school take on Woodlands on Wednesday night where the club side are a new addition to the Under-18 competition providing Woodlands strong numbers flowing through to their two senior teams in future. 

James Hargest College will be wanting to give the Southland Boys’ High second fifteen a shake up when they meet on Thursday. The team has a new coach, former Southland number-eight Stu Harvey and he will no doubt provide his young but promising side with good structures and guidance. 

Verdon College are another team with a new coach in 2018.  Brendon Dennis has embraced the role and has already worked hard at building a positive environment as a foundation for their season. Verdon will again call on a handful of players from Aurora College who will bring some attacking flair to the team.  Aurora and Verdon entered in last terms Condor Sevens qualifiers and pushed their more fancied opponents St Peters and Central Southland to the brink. They will be wanting to transform that shorter format form to a successful fifteen a-side format.

Te Anau are another club who have formed an Under-18 side this year. The Northern Southland team will be wanting to knock over some of the bigger named school sides, with them expecting to be a tough proposition on their home track in particular. Te Anau take on Central Southland at home in round one.  Queenstown based Wakatipu High School will also be a part of the Under-18 competition and will want to build from last season’s results utilising their home advantage and fresh legs as other teams travel for their home match ups.

For full information on draws, results and standings CLICK HERE