Stuff Tasman Trophy kicks off
The top of the south’s premier men’s rugby competition – the Stuff Tasman Trophy – kicks off at the weekend with three major clashes set to take place.
Just six clubs will compete for the trophy this year: five from the Nelson Bays region and one from Blenheim. Marlborough’s Moutere was unable to field a team this season.
Kahu Marfell, Tasman Rugby Union’s community rugby manager said there wasn’t a bookies’ favourite to win this year’s competition as yet as each team had made several personnel changes to their squads since last season.
“This year, it’s quite the big unknown,” he said.
“All the teams have lost some players, but have also gained some players, so it’s really around continuity and keeping consistency for those teams.
“Kahurangi were were first-time winners last year, but they’ve lost a couple of players overseas and down south, so it should be pretty even across the board, I think.”
Marfell said the Stuff Tasman Trophy was “the main event” for rugby clubs across Te Tauihu and has been a springboard for some players’ careers over the years.
“It’s our premier men’s competition and it’s an aspiration pathway for future Mako.,” he said.
“A couple of players have gone over to Australia to potentially greener pastures and opportunities.
“One’s gone to England, and one’s off to America, so there are opportunities out there now to travel and play rugby which there probably weren’t back in the day.”
Marfell said passion for the competition came not only from players, but from the fans as well.
“We generally get good crowds on a Saturday afternoon and it becomes a hub for the community,” he said.
“People turn up at 3pm in either Motueka, Trafalgar Park or Lansdowne Park in Blenheim to watch some club footy – it’s a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
“It’s always been like that – the clubs’ supporters seem to follow their clubs with passion and the passion for their clubs come through.”
The competition kicks off on Saturday with three matches taking place across the Tasman region.
Holders Kahurangi begin their title defence with a home game against Waimea Old Boys at Sports Park in Motueka while Nelson’s Marist play Blenheim’s Central Rugby Club at Nelson’s Trafalgar Park.
Elsewhere, Stoke take on Nelson in the John Goodman Trophy at the Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre in what Marfell said was “probably one of the biggest games to start the season off”.
“It’s a bit like the Ranfurly Shield and Stoke won it last year, so that will be quite big.”
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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