TUKAPA RUGBY CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - 7 May 2026
ROUND ONE WRAP UP
Well, here we are at the last game of round one and man has time flown. It only feels like yesterday we were talking pre-season and now already the first round is coming to a close with plenty still on the line for our mighty blue and whites.
THE HISTORY BEHIND DAN O'BRIEN DAY
For many Taranaki rugby people, Dan O'Brien Day is more than just another club game — it is one of those old-school rugby days that reminds everyone what provincial rugby in this region is built on.
The day celebrates the fierce rivalry, history and respect between clubs and the battles played over the Dan O'Brien Shield, Barnham Shield and Carbine Club Shield. These trophies have become part of the fabric of Taranaki club rugby and carry years of history, pride and memories with them.
In Taranaki, rugby silverware means something different. These shields are not just handed out at the end of a season — they are defended with pride every time they are put on the line. Just like the famous Ranfurly Shield, challenge rugby creates pressure, passion and tradition that every player wants to be part of.
Over the years, these matches have produced some massive battles between clubs, packed sidelines and stories still talked about around clubrooms today. For our lads, running out on Saturday knowing these shields are up for grabs adds another level of pride and responsibility.
These trophies have sat proudly on the walls at Tukapa over recent years and there is no doubt the boys will be doing everything possible to make sure they stay there.
We will also be posting a link to the history video around Dan O'Brien Day this week, so keep an eye on the Tukapa pages and take a few minutes to have a watch — it is a great reminder of just how much history and passion sits behind these games.
PREMIERS & DIV 1 HEAD TO THE STADIUM
This week sees our Premier men and Div 1 sides head to Stadium Taranaki with the Dan O'Brien, the Barnham Shield and the Carbine Shield all up for grabs.
I am sure the passion and want that our lads will put forward will go up another level this week. This silverware has hung proudly on the walls at Tukapa for a few years now and we really don't want to lose them come Saturday.
Be sure to get over to Stadium Taranaki and get in behind our boys. The only entry to the stadium is through the Star Gym gates and there will be a $5 charge at the gate if you don't have a members pass, so be sure to pay your membership and grab your pass from the bar on Friday night.
TOA GIRLS READY FOR A BIG TEST
Our Tukapa Toa girls head down to Stratford to take on the newly formed Stratford Eltham women's side, who have a bit of a Tukapa look about them after 7 or 8 girls who played in last year's final for Tukapa made the move there this season.
Our girls are well up for the challenge and I'm sure it's going to be a cracking game of rugby.
DIV 2 BACK AT THE CHOOK HOUSE
Our mighty Div 2 lads are back at home taking on Okaiawa, which is always a great day.
The Oki boys play the game the same way our lads do — hard and fair on the field, then enjoy a beer, a laugh and usually a song afterwards. Rugby clubs around Taranaki are built on days like these and long may it continue.
COLTS VS NPBHS UNDER LIGHTS
Friday night also sees our Colts take on NPBHS in a friendly under the lights at the Gully Ground with a 6.30pm kick off.
This is a great way to keep our relationship with the lads from NPBHS strong and also show them that we would love to see them wearing a Tukapa jersey in years to come.
So wherever you end up this week, make sure you support our teams well and really get in behind them. They need your voices and support to help get them over the line.
MASSIVE OLD TIMERS DAY NEXT WEEK
Next week is shaping up as a massive weekend at the Chook House with Old Timers Day kicking off from 12pm upstairs.
I've lined up a great panel full of rugby knowledge to chew the fat and try to answer all those hard questions — everything from how we fix grassroots rugby right through to who the bolter in the All Blacks might be this year.
Be sure to have a few questions ready to throw at the panel.
We will also have the traditional rugby after-match feed dished up from 1pm before all the action gets underway, so jump on the phone, ring your old rugby mates and get them all back to Tukapa for a great catch up over all things life with a side of rugby thrown in.
COLLECTIVE FIRST NATIONAL DAY (16 May 2026)
With Collective First National being a long-serving sponsor of both Tukapa Rugby and Southern Rugby, we are also holding our Collective First National Day in the Ford Tent outside and we welcome the whole crew from Collective to come and enjoy the day with us.
The relationship we have with our naming rights sponsor is second to none and we love it when they bring all their staff to Tukapa and mingle with our members.
These guys love the day, love the club and are always up for a chat about not only selling houses but all things good in life.
So next week don't be a stranger — come say thanks to the crew from Collective for being such loyal supporters of Tukapa Rugby over many years.
For the third time now, Collective have also kitted out all of our juniors in free blue Tukapa/Collective training tees.
Already I've seen heaps of kids walking home from school wearing them proudly during the week. The kids absolutely love these shirts and love showing off not only the Tukapa brand but also the Collective brand, so a massive thank you to all the crew at Collective for continuing to back our club.
KARAOKE TO FINISH THE NIGHT
And if you thought next Saturday couldn't get any better, we are throwing Karaoke into the mix from 7pm through to 10pm, so warm up those vocal cords, pack your singing voice and come have some fun.
See you all somewhere around the grounds this weekend.
UP THE CHOOKS!
Scotty Siffleet
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