The Northern Southland town of Mossburn will be on centre stage tomorrow when the Mossburn Rugby Club hold their club day.  To add to the hype Haati Grassroots Rugby (formerly known as Toyota Grassroots Rugby) will be on site filming some of the action as well as interviewing individuals involved with the Mossburn Rugby Club.  The action will start in the morning with the Junior teams taking the field.  Te Anau/Northern Southland College under-15 will be kicking off on the Mossburn Domain number two field at 1.15pm when they take on Verdon College.  

The continued growth in women’s rugby gets another chance to shine when the Mossburn Hinds take on the Blues Senior Women’s side at 2pm in what will be an entertaining match.

The day will reach its pinnacle at 3pm when the Mossburn Stags play host to Te Anau in a key Division one fixture.  Te Anau will be wanting to avenge their first-round loss to Mossburn and take home an all-important four competition points.  Despite picking up just one win over Waiau Star this season, Te Anau have been improving each week under the guidance of coach Dale Wairau. Te Anau possesses several young up and coming players, some of whom have been named in this year’s Southland under-19 squad.  Mossburn are still well and truly in the hunt when it comes to earning a top four berth in 2018.  The team has a record of four wins and four losses so far in 2018.  After a weekend off due to Queens Birthday both sides will be fired up and looking for big performances in front of what should be a big crowd to watch the Northern Southland derby.

It will also be a big day down at Tokanui when they also host their club day.  The Tokanui senior side will be eager to make it a club day to celebrate with victory over the high-flying Albion Excelsior.  Tokanui need a win to try and grab the final spot in Division two section A when the competition becomes a top six bottom six next weekend.  No doubt the local Tokanui community will be in behind their team trying to get them over the line.  

This weekend also sees a couple of mouth-watering top of the table clashes taking place.  In Division three Bluff will make the trek north to take on unbeaten Otautau at Holt Park.  Otautau defeated Bluff on their home patch in round one so no doubt the port-side town will be looking to even the ledger.  In Premier rugby, Marist and Woodlands will square off in what will be an enthralling top of the table clash as both sides try to lock in the number one spot leading into the final five weeks before semi-finals.  

Whatever game your heading too this weekend, drive safely on the roads and everyone including players, referees, coaches and volunteers have a great, enjoyable round of rugby across Southland.

Photo credit- PRO Focus - Photography by Chris Watson