Tukapa Rugby Club Newsletter – Winter Wrap-Up 2026
As our senior club rugby season has now come to an end, and with our junior rugby having just three weeks remaining, this will be my last newsletter for a couple of months.
I’m also lucky enough to be heading overseas for a break, so I wanted to take the opportunity to wrap up what has been another fantastic season for our club.
What a way to finish!
Our Colts completed an incredible three-peat, coming from behind to defeat NPOB in what was arguably the best game of Club Finals Day. To top it off, our Senior Thirds (Division 3) claimed the Plate Final with a gutsy win over Kaponga, capping off a brilliant day for Tukapa Rugby.
Looking back across the season, I think we can all be incredibly proud. Every team represented the club with passion, our volunteers once again gave countless hours behind the scenes, and our supporters continued to turn Sanders Park into one of the best places in Taranaki to play rugby.
While one season has finished, planning for 2027 has already begun.
The icing on the cake was our 2026 Prizegiving and Horse Racing Night last Saturday. Around 150 people came together to celebrate our players, coaches, volunteers and supporters. It was a fantastic evening and a fitting way to finish the season. Congratulations again to all of our award winners listed below.
What’s Coming Up
School Leavers Information Evening
Monday | 6.00pm | Tukapa Clubrooms
If you know any Year 13 students finishing school this year, please encourage them to come along and find out why Tukapa is the club for them. We’d love to welcome the next generation of players into our club.
Tukapa Bantams (Under 85kg)
Our No Forestry Tukapa Bantams are due to play on the weekend of 8 August. Due to a first-round default, we’re waiting on this week’s results to confirm where the game will be played. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates.
Representative Rugby at Sanders Park
Club rugby may be over, but there’s still plenty of rugby to enjoy at Tukapa.
This season we are proud to host the following representative fixtures:
• Saturday 8 August – U20 Men vs Bay of Plenty U20s – 1.00pm
• Saturday 15 August – Development vs Bay of Plenty – 2.00pm
• Saturday 15 August – U20 Men vs Counties Manukau U20s – 1.00pm
• Saturday 5 September – Development vs North Harbour – 12.00pm
• Saturday 19 September – Development vs Counties Manukau – 2.00pm
Come down and support representative rugby at Sanders Park.
Looking Ahead
The rugby doesn’t stop there…
• October – Tukapa Club Sevens
• October – Club of Origin
• November – The inaugural Tukapa Fishing Competition
This is shaping up to be another great club fundraiser, so dust off the fishing rods—we’ll have plenty more information coming soon!
Clubrooms
Even though the season is winding down, the clubrooms remain open.
Every Friday & Saturday
3.30pm – 6.00pm
The clubrooms will also open from 12.00pm on representative game days.
Whether you’re calling in for a quiet beer, catching up with mates or simply staying connected with the club, we’d love to see you.
One Year On – Remembering Daniel Nganeko
For those who attended Prizegiving, you heard me speak about the one-year anniversary of losing one of our own, Daniel Nganeko.
One year has passed, but the hurt is still very real.
Not many days go by where I don’t think about Daniel or wonder if something could have been different. He was more than just a supporter of Tukapa, he was part of our family.
The justice system may have delivered its outcome, but for Daniel’s family, his friends, and everyone at Tukapa Rugby, nothing can replace the man we lost.
As a club, we continue to stand beside the Nganeko whānau. We remember Daniel not for the way his life ended, but for the smiles he brought, the friendships he built, and the unwavering support he showed our club.
He will always be part of Tukapa Rugby.
And finally,
I’d like to thank every player, coach, manager, referee, sponsor, volunteer, parent and supporter who has contributed this season.
A rugby club is far more than what happens for 80 minutes on a Saturday—it is built by the people who give their time, their energy and their passion week after week.
Enjoy the off-season, support our junior teams over the final few weeks, and before we know it, we’ll be back doing it all again.
One Club. One Family.
Scott Siffleet
Chairman
Tukapa Rugby & Sports Club
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