Centurions Rugby
Football Club (Inc)
PO Box11-101 WellingtonNew Zealand
May 2008
President’s message
This year’s committee
Welcome to you all from the 2008 Committee. This year’s committee is the same as last year with the addition of Tracy Smith. A big welcome to Tracy. Tracy comes on to the committee with considerable experience in school boy rugby. He will join Hamish Vance, Mike Russell and Mick Reedy in this area of our activities which has become a most important part of our club. Hamish and his dedicated team work very hard to get games organised with First XV’s. These games are played as coaching games and the school boy players receive the benefit of the many years of valuable experienceof our volunteers. We also select an Under 16 team which is one step down from the WRFU Representative team and is a great boost for those players bordering on the top team. The players in this team also act as back up to the top team. This year we are planning for the team to play two or three other similar sides in the Hurricanes area.
New members
We also welcome two new members to the club, Dunn Kaiwai and Paul Russo. Both these gentlemen have had a long association with our wonderful game both playing and coaching. We look forward to seeing them in our clubroom during the season.
Membership numbers
Something that does have to be addressed is our membership numbers. Over the years we have a number that fade away and some that just pass away and it is important that that we have new and younger members being nominated. Look around your clubs and see if there is anyone that fits the bill. The criterion remains the same as always, services to rugby.
Subs are due
While on the subject of members don’t forget your subs please. We don’t get any revenue from the bar or food that is sold in our clubroom so paying subs is important. William Alfred Brien is always ready to relieve you of the necessary payment.
Newsletters
Newsletters are put out by our Editor Graham Stephen. If any member has anything that should be included please let Graham know. Contact details are included in this newsletter.
We would also like to get as many of our newsletters as possible sent out by email. Over the next few weeks John Burrows may come up to you and ask for your email address in order to update our database. Don’t worry if you are not on email, we will still post a hard copy but the move to electronic delivery will save us a lot of money and time.
Clubroom
The clubroom is for your use. You can purchase visitors passes from Bill Brien for $10.00 each per season and this allows you to bring your friends along. The prices for food and drinks are the same as in the public bar down stairsbut the surroundings are much friendlier and rugby oriented. The clubroom is open an hour and a half before and after each game and as some have found out, if the weather or the game is not up to much you can sometimes get a drink during the game and keep an eye on the TV. (Mum’s the word).
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Brendan Gard’ner
President
Annual luncheon
As most of you know by now our Annual luncheon is set down for Friday 4 July which of course is the day before the All Blacks take on the Boks at Westpac Stadium. Our organising Guru, John Burrows, has done a fantastic job. He has secured the services of that great iconic All Black, Ian Kirkpatrick as our guest speaker and if that was not enough he has snared a trip to Brisbane for the third Bledisloe Cup All Blacks v Wallabies Test on 13 September as the raffle prize. It does not come any better than that.
Basically the tables are all sold but there is usually some last minute change and if you are still looking to be accommodated you should quickly let John know in case he is able to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
John’s contact details are:-H 233 1983, Mob 0274 441 675, E
From the Club Captain
We are working hard on our school boy programme for 2008 and looking to firm up on a number of fixtures. As soon as the fixtures are confirmed we will let you know.
At this stage the first confirmed fixture is a coaching game against HIBS which will be played at Trentham at 4.00pm on Wednesday 28 May. If you are able to be there you will be assured of an interesting and enjoyable time so what about getting along and showing your support.
Remember we are looking to widen our group of past players who are able to participate in these games as well as bolster our team with some current Wellington or Hurricanes players. This is a relatively easy way for our “old players” to give something back to the game so if you are prepared to make this contribution Hamish Vance or Mike Russell would love to hear from you.
Club website
As previously reported our website is up and running and the numbers visiting the site prove it is very popular. The website enables the club to keep members up to date with information about coming events, newsletters and contact information etc and as mentioned in the President’s message we are working towards a situation where the website is our primary means of communication for all the advantages this will bring.
If you have not already supplied your email address could you please send the following information to either Brian Coomber or Graham Stephen whose contact details are included in this Newsletter.
Centurion Members Email Address
Name………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Email Address……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Visit our website now. .
Rebel Sport Super 14
Competition almost complete and hopefully our Hurricanes can earn a home semi final thus allowing us to gather in the clubrooms to witness and celebrate another great occasion. Watch out for this possible semi final here during the weekend 23/25 May 2008.
Otherwise the All Blacks v Ireland at 7.35pm on 7 June will be the next opportunity to get together once again followed by the Test against the Springboks on 5 July.
Air New Zealand Cup
To assist members in managing their diaries in the coming months and making sure that you are on hand to support the Vodafone Wellington Lions the following is the Lions itinerary for 2008.
DateOppositionVenueTime
Fri 1 AugustHawkesBayStadium7.35pm
Thurs 7 AugustNorthHarbourAlbany7.05pm
Fri 15 AugustCounties-ManukauStadium7.35pm
Fri 22 AugustSouthlandInvercargill7.35pm
Sat 30 AugustBay of PlentyStadium2.35pm
Fri 5 SeptemberManawatuPalmerston North7.35pm
Sat 13 SeptemberWaikatoStadium 7.35pm
Sat 20 SeptemberAucklandAuckland7.35pm
Sat 27 SeptemberTasmanStadium5.30pm
Sat 4 OctoberOtagoDunedin7.35pm
A full list of fixtures, through courtesy of WRFU, is shown on the back of this Newsletter.
Executive contact details
OfficeName HomeMobileEmail
PresidentBrendan Gard’ner 04 9021204021 609 0955
Vice PresidentJohn Burrows233 19830274 441 675
Past PresidentRoss Crotty 472 49900274 507548
SecretaryBrian Coomber383
TreasurerBill Brien385 9488027 443 2411
Club CaptainHamish Vance568 67500274 402 069
CommitteeWarren Allen385 9202
Nigel Hughes384 9375021 458 016
David Moloney973 6230021 417 014
D’Arcy Quinn562 0099021 288 8848
Mike Reedy562 7699027 344 3049 .
Mike Russell472 21140274 48 22 33
Tracy Smith562 7062
Graham Stephen