Rugby: Revised format rolls out for competition

The NRU has provided an outlet for eight Northland teams to strut their stuff.

The Northland Rugby Union's (NRU) new Midweek 1st XV competition begins this week and will run under a revised format from previous competitions.

After pulling the pin on the traditional Saturday under-18 rugby competition, the NRU has provided an outlet for eight Northland teams to strut their stuff.

The feature 1A match between Kaitaia College and Whangarei Boys' High School (WBHS), today, has coaches of both teams chomping at the bit to get the season under way - especially Kaitaia College's team manager Selwyn Subritzky.

"It's been several years since Kaitaia has played WBHS in a school fixture but, due to there being no Saturday under-18 competition, Whangarei are now playing in the midweek school competition," he says.

"It's Kaitaia College's first game of the season with only a handful of boys from last year returning. WBHS have had a couple of hit-outs and will be tough opposition first up for the young Kaitaia College side."

Today's match between Kaitaia and WBHS is at Awanui Rugby Club at 6pm.

In the other 1A match this week, Kerikeri High School will play Dargaville High School at the Kerikeri Sports Complex at 3.30pm.

In the 1B division, Northland College played Bream Bay College yesterday and Bay of Islands College will play Kamo High School today at 4pm.