The club rugby season gets underway on Friday night with an epic season-opener under lights at Navigation Homes Stadium between 2025 runners-up Pukekohe and a highly rated Ardmore Marist side.
Pukekohe are coming off their best season in over a decade and have a stack of young talent coming through to mix with clearly a talented core.
Ardmore Marist made the semi-finals last season but have recruited well and are tipped to be a genuine contender this season.
Bombay, under a new coaching group comprised of ex-players, will host Manurewa up the hill on Saturday. Both sides missed the semi-finals last year and head into 2026 with a change in coaching set-up but with enough talent to contest.
Patumahoe, also with a new head coach in the form of Greg Stanford, meets a Papakura side returning to the McNamara Cup after dropping out last year. Papakura have appointed ex-Bombay mentor Mike Tuiloma as coach, but they will in for a tough challenge first up at Patumahoe Domain.
Defending champions Karaka travel to Laurie Gibbons Reserve to face newcomers Weymouth, back in the top grade for the first time in a number of seasons.
Weymouth certainly got no favours with the opening round draw, but a strong show of support is expected as they take on the powerhouse of the competition first up.
Karaka return as the hunted rather than the hunted – largely new territory for Craig Hill’s side.
“I get the feeling the standard will be a step up from last year,” Hill told Counties Sports Hub.
“If the rumours are correct there are quite a few new players into the areas this year, spread across the teams. “It was an exceptional year for our club last year and I’m pretty sure all teams will be looking to knock us off.
“We will worry about what we are doing from week to week and in the context of who we are playing.
Hill will look to use his side’s ability to score points as a cornerstone of their campaign.
“Our strength is our ability to attack from anywhere; it’s still about making the right decisions when it is on,” he explained.
“We do have some underrated forwards who will be looking to rise in the Steelers rankings.”
And while he wouldn’t write off any team from being able to win the McNamara Cup this year, Hill said there are a couple of teams in particular that jump out as likely contenders.“All teams are respected. Pukekohe will be looking to go one better than last year and Ardmore Marist will look to build on their improvements last year. "Will be an interesting season, depth helps hugely to get you through.”
The Bob Chandler Cup Premier 2 competition sees all teams following their Premier 1 side with the exception of Waiuku hosting Karaka at Rugby Park.
The Sid Marshall Shield Premier 3 competition kicks off with reigning champions Te Kauwhata traveling to neighbours Maramarua for the Golden Gumboot match-up.
Onewhero hosts Pukekohe, who have a team in the grade for the first time, Manurewa hosts Karaka at Mountfort Park, while Tuakau heads to Drury for their game.
One match to keep an eye on will be the battle between Puni and Te Kohanga at Puni – the two clubs have formed quite the rivalry over the years.
There are three games on the opening weekend of the Massey Cup U21 grade with Karaka facing Pukekohe at Colin Lawrie Fields in a replay of last year’s grand final.
Elsewhere, RuaNorth hosts Ardmore Marist at Maramarua while Manurewa travels to Patumahoe.
The U85kg grade kicks off with Beachlands Maraetai hosting Hamilton Marist at Te Puru Park, Karaka heads up the hill to face Bombay, Pukekohe and Waiuku are on the road in the Waikatp meeting Morrinsville and Fraser Tech respectively, while Patumahoe travels to Drury.
