NZ Harlequins Rugby Club – PO Box 9195 Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.

August 2015

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

www.nzharlequins.co.nz

NEWSLETTERIssue 2

COMING EVENTS 2015

The Annual Harlequins Breakfast, 7 August, guest speaker Brian Clarke, bookings to Haydon Ross- Mob: 027 4 471 590 Email: haydonross@hotmail.co.nz

The Annual Harlequins Dinner: Rugby, Netball and Racing. 31 October. Guest speaker (TBC), bookings to Lance Fletcher - Mob: 027 222 2185 Email: fletchl@xtra.co.nz

Under 17’s Programme

29th August, NZ Harlequins U17s v NZ Area Schools, 1pm, Mill Street Sept 12th, NZ Harlequins U17s v BOP U18, at 1pm, at Morrinsville. Sept 19th, NZ Harlequins U17s v King Country U18, away game, Rugby Park Te Kuiti, 1pm 27 September, Sunday, NZ Harlequins U17s v Thames Valley U18s. 10.40am, Waikato Stadium

U19’s 4 game Programme August 22nd, NZ Harlequins U19s v BOP U19s, Matamata (UMS) 1.00pm August 29th, NZ Harlequins U19s v Tarankai, U19s away in New Plymouth (time TBC) Sept 5th, NZ Harlequins Under 19s v Waikato U19s, Fred Jones Park Hamilton 12.00pm Sept 19th, NZ Harlequins Under 19s v Counties U19s, away venue and time TBC.

NZ Harlequins Premier Team to play Stan Meads Cup selection, 19 September, venue (TBC)

NZ Harlequins U13 Open Weight Team

12 Sept v BOP U13 at Rotorua (TBC) 19 Sept v Taranaki U13 at Otorohanga Rugby Club, 12.00pm

Hi all.

Super Rugby is over and Club Rugby just but finished with Hamilton Marist filling up their trophy cabinet.

We are now enjoying watching International Rugby especially the All Blacks and getting geared up for representative Rugby.

A very successful under 17 Camp was held during the school holidays, with a good number attending showing some exciting talent. They finished the camp with their trial game.

Last Sunday was our under 19 trial. Once again it was good to see some very talented players.

We wish the teams, including our Under 13 team well in their campaigns this year and look forward to seeing them get out on the field.

Thanks to all those involved in putting our teams together and getting them ready for their season.

We have a full bus for our trip to Taipa, with a few more sponsors and members coming along for the ride, which will make for a very enjoyable weekend.

I would like to thank our function committee for all the hard work they have put into the Breakfast Auction and the Cup Dinner. Organising these events don’t just happen and they are a very important part of our club been enabling us to put our teams on the field and meeting all their requirements.

Thanks also to everyone that supports our functions.

Tony Tissingh NZ Harelquins Pesident

NZ HARLEQUINS COMMITTEE 2015 President: Tony Tissingh Past President: Graham Jefferis Vice President: Kevin Hart Club Captain: Lance Fletcher Secretary: Paul Street Treasurer: Murray Pratt Committee: Brian Clarke, Martyn Steffert, Paul Martin, Reiner Van Der Nest, Dave Hall, Bernard Murphy, Haydon Ross, Dean Kaio, Dave Collins.

www.nzharlequinsrugbyclub.co.nz

NZ HARLEQUINS UNDER17s PROGRAMME REACHES 20 YEARS

Th NZ Harlequins Under 17s started 20 years ago, with the first trials being held in Morrinsville. Committee member from back then, Ted Monkley, remembers it well, “It was so exciting, there were 4 trial games and all these young rugby players. All the committe members were running around with with clipboards and the selection process began. It was new and exciting to be a part of.”

Lance Fletcher was also apart of the committee back then and is still involved today. The programme grew over the years and then another committe member, Peter Gilbert, went with Fletch to the NZ Rugby Foundation, where they presented a concept based roughly on Tiny Hill’s Sth Is model. They saw tremendous value in the plan. Peter Gilbert said “Once we had secured support from the Waikato Rugby Union I negotiated with Tainui to get use of the Te Rapa air base as a camp venue, however because of costs, it did not develop. So that is when I suggested using the facilities at St Paul’s Collegiate as the venue. With the concept, the venue and resource personnel secured, the NZ Rugby Foundation came on board as financial backers, which they supported up until 2 years ago. They were most impressed by the facilities and the programme being run at St Paul’s on their visits to the camp. St Paul’s has been the base for over 10 years now and the school is proud to be associated with the

development of young players in the region. It is keen for the relationship to continue in the future.

Over the past 8 years, the involment of the WRU has seen the camp and U17s player development programme go from strength to strength. The WRU Rugby Development Coaches develop not only the 60-70 players each year, at this camp, but also develop up and coming Waikato coaches.

The NZ Harlequins club and the WRU are always looking to develop new ways to enhance and sustain, what is truly a unique and special programme.

NZ Harlequins Rugby Club – PO Box 9195 Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.

NZ HARLEQUINS SUPPORT TE AWAMUTU SPORTS 25th REUNION

The NZ Harlequins Rugby Club have supported another local Waikato Club with their celebrations this year. Te Awamutu Sports celebrated their 25th Jubilee on Sunday 31st May.

The day kicked off at 12.30pm with a Te Awamutu Under 14 team playing a Under 14 NZ Harlequin Country invitation team. The Te Awamutu U14s were coached by David Fox and the Harlequins U14 were coached by Paul Martin. Te Awamutu were the victors in a close fought game 29-22.

The main game saw the NZ Harelquins past player team taking on a Waikato Classics team. A big thanks to David Fox, Haydon Ross and Dave Hall for organising their senior teams. There was alot of good rugby and alot of laughs. NZ Harelquins winning this year!

Thanks to all the players who took part to support the game and Te Awamutu Sports Rugby Club. The weekend finished off with a few jokes, beers and a rousing jersey Auction, at the Te Awamutu Sports Club.

Good looking bunch of old fellas the Waikato Classics and NZ Harlequins Invitation teams for 2015

Waikato Classic Rex Robinson tackles raging bull Lee Lidgard while Damien Karuna looks like he is jumping up to wave him through!

Waikato Classics Alex Bradley, James Magugin and Rex Robinson get set for the lineout

Loosies unite, Tanirau Manawaiti, Deon Muir, Duanne Monkley, Scott Couch, Dave Dillon and Matua Parkinson

NZ Harlequin Lee Lidgard very gently passes the ball like a warm pie.

www.nzharlequinsrugbyclub.co.nz NZ Harlequins Rugby Club – PO Box 9195 Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.

NZ Harlequins printing requirements are proudly supported by FUSION PRINTwww.fusionprint.co.nz Ph:07 847 7214

The NZ Harlequin Rugby Club Hamilton, New Zealand, was formed in the State Fire Office, Hamilton, on June 15, 1938.

The Harlequins first team played in Tauranga in 1939. After the war In 1946, there was a meeting of the club and the club stated it’s aims and objectives as:

• To renew and maintain old friendships of playing days.

• To engage in football free from competition, for the joy of it.

• To invite promising juniors to play for the club and teach such youngsters the spirit of the game.

• To play friendly games with similar clubs when such can be conveniently arranged.

Many All Blacks have played in the New Zealand Harlequin’s jersey over the years and since the inclusion of the under 17 development programme in 1992, has given a clear development pathway for young up and coming Waikato rugby players.

The annual NZ Harlequins’ under 17 programme has been hailed as an outstanding success since its inception in the early 1990s. Nominations for our trials, up to 160 in some early seasons, exceeded all our expectations.

In the earlier days the special squad trainings got the youngsters excited and the battle for places in the playing side was intense. “Every team featured players from smaller country schools and they grabbed their opportunities with relish. It’s the same today.”

The progress of youngsters such as Bruce Reihana, who made the first under 17 team, then Mark van Gisbergan, Isaac Boss, Regan King, and Brendon Leonard proved the value of giving these players the opportunity to shine.

Annual matches with NZ Area Schools and the NZ Vikings Club from Northland have become regular features. A NZ Harlequin camp, backed by the NZ Rugby Foundation and supported by the Waikato Rugby Union for approx 40-45 players, is held at St Paul’s Collegiate annually.

With the new introduction of the Under 19 team in 2014, we look forward to continuing with this team in 2015, along side the under 17’s.

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BRONZE: Steve McLaren of Metallic Recycling Ltd 0274986044

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NZ Harlequins Rugby Team 1939

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If you would like to enquire about becoming a sponsor of the NZ Harlequins Club, please contact Graham Jefferis on Mobile 027 292 9748 or grclean@paradise.net.nz