Premiers club rugby: get the lowdown

It's that time of the year again with the Southland-wide premier club rugby competition just two days away from starting. Rugby writer Logan Savory puts the six teams that will be vying for the honour of being the 2010 Galbraith Shield winners under the microscope.

BLUES

Last year: Sixth
Coaches: Reece Williams and Mike Mika.
Gains: Glenn Horton (Excelsior), Elliot Dixon (Canterbury), Seminar Manu (Marist), Sam Winsloe (Southland Boys), Bryce Wise (Star), Jeremy Borland (Verdon College), Zane Hiko (Woodlands), Hayden Fahey (returning after a break), Nick Herbert (Auckland).
Losses: Kelvin Harper (Wellington), Sean Colyer (retired).
Key player: Elliot Dixon. The big 20-year-old loose forward has come to Southland from Canterbury with big raps and should make an impression on the Southland club rugby scene this year.
Other key players: Fai Mika, Sam Muir, Glen Horton.Watch out for: Sam Winsloe. The youngster was impressive for the Southland Boys' High School first 15 last year and the loose forward will make the step up to senior rugby this year.

The lowdown: Blues have been one of the biggest movers in the off-season, picking up some very handy recruits. The addition of Stags Seminar Manu and Glen Horton to an already useful backline, as well as getting New Zealand under-20 loose forward Elliot Dixon to the club, means they will line up a powerful 2010 squad. The south city club will head into the season as favourites.

Galbraith Shield titles: 31

MARIST

Last year: Fourth
Coaches: Jamie McKenzie and Troy Manaena.
Gains: Terry Ngu (returning after a break), Matt Taylor (Mataura), Matt Ward (Wyndham), Monty Mitchell, Ginger Mitchell, Mitchell Templer (all Southland Boys), Nick Stanton (Dunedin), Daniel Neho (Christchurch), Iakopo Saimoni (Otago Country), Kelly Sadel (Cromwell), Daniel Simon (Auckland).
Losses: Sam Dixon (injury), Seminar Manu (Blues), Tane Puki (Australia), Kapa Moeke (Australia).

Key player: Iona Sipa. He's just about to celebrate his 34th birthday but don't be mistaken – the impressive No 8 will still foot it with anyone in the Southland club rugby competition. In Sipa, Marist will be certain to get some go-forward ball this year.

Other key players: Ben Nally, Hua Tamariki, Nick McGrath.

Watch out for: Matt Taylor. The young openside flanker has shifted from Mataura to have a crack at premier rugby as he steps in for usual well-performed Marist No 7 Sam Dixon, who is ruled out because of injury.

The lowdown: Marist are a team on the rise with the recruitment of a large batch of young players, including three from last year's Southland Boys' High School first 15. Marist no doubt are a team to watch out for in future seasons but the predominantly inexperienced team may find cracking the semifinals tough this year.Galbraith Shield titles: Five

MIDLANDS

Last year: Beaten finalists
Coaches: Mike Cunningham and David Wheely.
Gains: Willie Umu (Otago Country), Blake Fairburn (DLS), Scott Cochrane (Waiau Star).
Losses: Matt Saunders (Pirates-Old Boys), Tale Tuapati (Woodlands), Peter Grant (retired).
Key player: Mark Wells.Midlands will again possess a forward pack capable of matching any team this season. It is what they can do in the backline that may determine how they will succeed, and leading the backline will be Wells.
Other key players: Dayna Cunningham, Ray Hemi, Tom Fleming.
Watch out for: Tony Dodunski. The midfielder battled with hamstring problems last year and never got to showcase his skills. He will return from Ireland next month ready to make a mark on the club season and try to push for a possible Stags spot.

The lowdown: Last year's Galbraith Shield finalists have received a setback with the loss of one of the province's best-performed club rugby players in Tale Tuapati. However, the Winton-based club will still roll out another strong squad this year and should again make the top-four stage of the competition.
Galbraith Shield titles: one (Winton)

PIRATES-OLD BOYS

Last year: Third
Coaches: John Eske and Peter Forde.
Gains: Matt Saunders (Midlands), Jaavan Ioane (Southland Boys).
Losses: Faaitu Tuamoheloa (North Otago), Sammy Lewenlagi (Collegiate).
Key players: Bryan Milne. Milne is always a well-performed club player. Last year he played a big hand in helping Pirates-Old Boys lead the competition after round-robin play. Another good season will be needed from Milne if they are to challenge for the Galbraith Shield title this year.
Other key players: Noa Soqeta, Dion Bates, Matt Saunders.
Watch out for: Jaavan Ioane. The young back has plenty of pace and skill and is one the Rugby Southland decisionmakers will be keeping a close eye on.

The lowdown: Pirates-Old Boys made massive strides under coaches John Eske and Peter Forde last year when they lost just three games to win the round-robin series. The Surrey Park-based club has maintained the core of its 2009 squad and with the addition of Stags back Matt Saunders it must rate itself a good chance of again at least reaching the semifinals.
Galbraith Shield titles: one (Eastern Hawks).

STAR

Last year: Galbraith shield winners
Coaches: Craig Pullar and Callum Rutledge.
Gains: Mike Newman (Canterbury), Robert Blatch (Canterbury), Nick Annear (Canterbury), Brent Stevenson (Manawatu), Callum Rutledge (returning from overseas), Apana Tuau (Midlands), Troy Crosbie (Excelsior).
Losses: Kane Johnson (retired), Grant Anderson (Heriot), Alesana Muliaina (Waikato), Geoff Smith (overseas), Campbell Cuthill (Dunedin).
Key players: Brayden Mitchell. Mitchell was outstanding for the New Zealand under-20 team last year and will be in search of more of the same form during the Southland club season to try to push incumbent hookers Jason Rutledge and David Hall for a spot in the Stags lineup later in the year.
Other key players: Pale Tuilagi, Mark McHugh, Mana Harrison.
Watch out for: Robert Blatch. The well-performed Southland age-group flanker has been playing his recent rugby in Canterbury but has returned this year and will line up for Star in his attempt to make a mark on the Southland rugby scene.

The lowdown: The defending champions will have a similar-looking squad to the one that was successful last year, which suggests the blue-and-white brigade shouldn't be too far off the pace again. They've also manage to bolster their stocks with the inclusion of three Canterbury age-group players along with outside back Brent Stevenson, who played age-group rugby for Manawatu.Mark Star down as at least semifinalists this year.
Galbraith Shield titles: 25

WOODLANDS

Last year: Fifth
Coaches: Damien Pine and Grant Dermody.
Gains: Tale Tuapati (Midlands), John Dodd (Excelsior), Joe Dawson (Excelsior), Richard Robinson (Excelsior), Jason Morgan (Canterbury), Richard Jones (returning from overseas), Cam Nelson (Central Pirates), Gabrielle Pickering (Pirates-Old Boys).
Losses: Ricky Bakker (overseas), Gareth Cox (overseas), Zane Hiko (Blues).
Key player: John Dodd. Dodd is a sound goalkicking first five-eighth who should direct the Woodlands pack around the park well this season.
Other key players: Alex Ryan, Pehi Te Whare, Sonny Rangitoheriri.
Watch out for: Jason Morgan. The fullback has transferred from Canterbury to Southland to be part of the Rugby Southland academy and will be hoping for a good first-up club season.

The lowdown: As usual, Woodlands will field a strong squad on paper and must be respected. However, getting the team on the park has been difficult because of injuries and representative duties in recent years. If they can claw their way through to a semifinals spot, then Woodlands would be dangerous come the playoffs.
Galbraith Shield titles: Four.

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