Teams countdown to Southland's revamped premier club rugby competition

Thursday, 28 February 2019

Players from the 12 teams in the new revamped Southland premier club rugby competition, from left, Dan Cairns (Pirates-Old Boys), Michael Peterson (Blues), Toka Sopoaga (Woodlands), Bram Fodie (Edendale), Brayden Mitchell (Star), Tom Scanlan (Te Anau), Scott Eade (Marist), Brenton Howden (Eastern-Northern Barbarians), Sam Brame (Midlands), Alex Peirce (Waikaka), Brad Shaw (Wyndham), and Jarrod Lindsay (Riversdale).

It's the biggest shake-up seen in Southland club rugby in many years and the emotions vary as teams fine tune their preparation for the 2019 season.

It has been a busy off-season for Southland rugby officials with plenty of lobbying to ensure a revamped premier competition went ahead.

Southland's six existing premier clubs have merged with the leading division one clubs to form the new expanded 12-team competition.

At the midway-point in the season the top six teams will play-off for the Galbraith Shield and the bottom six for the Ack Soper Shield.

* Brayden Mitchell is ready to return to the field

* Southland's Liam Howley handed rugby lifeline with Jersey Reds in England**

Wyndham and Midlands initially showed interest in stepping up to the premier grade, before it was decided Te Anau, Riversdale, Edendale, and Waikaka would join them.

The radical change to club rugby has mostly been driven by players and there is a strong mix of excitement, nerves, concern, and intrigue floating around the club scene.

Edendale coach Mike Cunningham admitted he and fellow coach Matt Richards' preference was to not step up, however they decided to back the players who were keen to.

'We've lost quite a few players to premier clubs over the years, so at least now we'll be able to keep them,' Cunningham said.

Midlands coach Dayna Cunningham has been a big advocate for the expanded competition.

'I think for Southland rugby pathways, it had to happen,' he said.

Te Anau president Nathan Botting said it was a case of stepping into the unknown, but the lakeside club was up for the test.

'It is exciting for young guys who are now going to get that exposure. We've got a representative front row who have played for Southland B and Southland under-19, so it will be good for them. Hopefully it will help bring the other guys up to that level as well.'

Riversdale president Shaun O'Connor conceded they did have some concerns as to how they would get on playing against premier teams.

'We were quite dubious about it, but we also didn't want to get left behind,' O'Connor said.

Riversdale is light on player numbers and O'Connor hoped the physicality of playing against traditional premier teams will not put pressure on the club's depth through injury.

Waikaka president Jason Cleland shared similar thoughts.

Waikaka's biggest concern was player depth and the earlier start to the season had ramped up the pressure, Cleland said.

While the move was a boost for the aspiring young players attached to division one clubs, Rugby Southland referees chairman Nathan Lyall said the expanded competition would also provide a boost for officials.

In previous seasons, three referees would be needed each week to cover the premier fixtures, now it would be six.

'There's no doubt there is going to be a lot more opportunities for referees,' Lyall said.

Lyall was confident they could put together a panel of premier referees to cover the six premier games each week.

Teams are taking part in preseason fixtures at the moment with the season to officially kick-off on March 23.