2011 Barbarians Middleweight Report

Results for the NZ Barbarians RFC Middleweight games for 2011

BARBARIANS CUP - 2011

Played on 24/9/2011 at Paeroa

Auckland U85kg - 55 - Colin Faulkner 3, Joel Murphy 2, Jono Willis , Brendon Lambert, Scott Thomson, Kieran Eddy Tries, Scott Thomson 3 Conv , Robert Dunne 2 Conv

Thames Valley 7.

Played on 17/9/2011 at Suburbs RFC Shadbolt Park.

Auckland U85kg - 32 - Jono Willis, Steve Kitchener , Joel Murphy, Daniel Harris, Loren May Tries, Scott Thomson 2 Conv, 1 Pen

Harbour U85kg -18 - Shaun Mortenson, Albertus Engelbrecht Tries, Daniel Wallis 1 Conv , 1 Pen , Shaun McCann 1 Pen.

Half Time 10 All.

Barbarians Cup Points for 2011

Auckland - Played 3 - 3 Wins - Points For 146 - Points Against 43 - Bonus PT 3 - Total Points 15.

North Harbour - Played 3 - 2 Wins, 1 loss - Points For 77 - Points Against 70 - Bonus PT 2 - Total Points 10.

Waikato - Played 2 - Loss 2 - Points For 34 - Points Against 66 - Total Points 0

Thames Valley - Played 2 - Loss 2 - Points For 29 - Points Against 89 - Total Points 0

Auckland U85kg have won the Barbarian Cup with one match to play on 24/ 9/ 2011 v Thames Valley at Paeroa Kick off 11am.

5/3/2011 Barbarians Middleweight 25 Defeated U85kg Development 6
Played at Ardmore Marist.
Tries Barbarians - Daniel Hainsworth, Bronson Rameka, Johnny Kaisuva Daunivuka, Chris Aim, Scott Thomson 1 conv, 1 pen.

12/3/2011 Barbarians Middleweight 33 Defeated Thames Valley Development 14.
Played at Thames Rugby Club.
Tries Barbarians - Steve Kitchener, Albertus Engelbrecht, Josh Van Der Valk, Brendan Lambert 2 Tries, Scott Thomson 4 conv.

19/3/2011 Barbarians Middleweight 48 Defeated U85kg Development 14.
Played at College Rifles.
Tries Barbarians - Daniel Hainsworth, Steve Kitchener, Aaron Westrbook, Albertus Engelbrecht, Ben Stephenson, Mark Shaw, James Valentine, Ben Steele 2 conv 1 pen, Scott Thomson 3 conv.

25/3/2011 Barbarians Middleweight 62 Defeated OB University U85kg Wellington nil.
Played at Te Whaea Artifical Turf Newtown.
Tries Barbarians - Joe Kingstone, Brendan Lambert, James Valentine, Bronson Rameka, Scott Thomson, Johnny Kaisuva Daunivuka, Mark Shaw 2, Ryan Lee 2, Ben Steele 2 conv, Scott Thomson 4 Conv.

• Total Tries - 26.
• Points For 168, Against 34.
• Most Tries - Brendan Lambert 'Lock ' 3.
• Most Points - Scott Thomson 32 points.

Just in closing - I would just like to thank The NZ Barbarian Rugby Football Club for getting behind the Middleweight Team in its third year. When speaking to players over the years how they felt putting on the Famous Red Jersey for the first time they all said they grew an extra two feet and the honour that goes with it, with history, famous names, and there confidence has reached a new level for the future. The Barbarians gave them all an opportunity. Thank you for that,

Deano Allnutt
Manager, NZ Barbarians Middleweight Rugby Team.

Barbarian Involvement in Middleweight Rugby

The Barbarians became involved in the U85kg rugby grade in 2008 believing that there was an opportunity for the club to assist in fostering this grade. It is an amateur grade, encompassing many players, who because of weight, work, time restraints, find that this grade caters for serious amateur players, playing to high technical status. We believe that many future club committee, and club officials, will come from this base of enthusiastic young men. To date the trend of senior players "doing their time" within their club is trending downwards. Following acceptance by the Barbarian committee it was decided to put a Barbarian flavour to the grade by referring to it as "Middleweight Rugby".

Middleweight rugby is played as a grade in Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, North Harbour. Counties, Waikato, and North Auckland are trialling the grade. NSW has a strong competition. In the past Auckland has played Wellington and has attended an 80/80 tournament hosted by Malaysia. We were also aware of previous trans tasman games between North Harbour and Sydney.

Following a very successful trip by an Auckland U85kg grade to Thailand in 2002 Ken Baguley (currently Chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union) suggested that NZRFU consider promoting this grade of rugby. Nothing came of this, however, his paper has become the basis of our club's plan for this grade.

Following the completion of the inaugural Middleweight Rugby tournament, a combined effort by the Auckland Rugby Football Union and the Barbarians, a NZ Barbarian side was selected to play an Australian side. The tournament was attended by teams from North Harbour, Auckland, Waikato, and the U23 National Thai team. This Barbarian selection then toured Sydney winning the two games it played. This format has continued with a team from Thames replacing the Thai team last year.

Every effort is being made to include teams from Wellington, Canterbury, as well as Counties and Northland.

The Barbarian Rugby Football Club see entry into weight restricted rugby as an integral part of the Club's effort to foster amateur rugby. We are committed to continue to drive forward for a National Competition as part of the NZRFU calendar.

The club has been presented a very prestigious trophy, The Lodore Trophy, by the Family Trust of Norm Bennett, to be presented for excellence within this grade.