Where rugby is played for love

I love this stuff.

http://www.clubrugby.co.nz/wellington/story.php?id=504
All Blacks getting back to their original clubs.
For you non-kiwis this is the local Wellington amatuer competition.
Though I hope they don't play this weekend cause my boy plays for MSP.

Yeah that's pretty cool ngan. Do you know much about Julian's brother Ardie?

That's a good win over norths nganboy. Where's the final being played- stadium?. Havnt followed a lot of wellington club stuff since moving here.

Is this the semi-pro competition below the Provincial level? Or just local clubs down the road?

Local club side. These clubs are the feeder to the Wellington ITM provincial side. At our base level in NZ everyone belongs to a club. Some may not get to play due to other commitments but at least in my day club membership is a must before going on to other levels.

Ah so clubs feed the provincial team? I would assume NZ club rugby at that level is very strong then. Professionals playing for their club over here would be considered madness. Does the NZRU allow it? They could get injured and you would think they want their centre's wrapped in cotton wool atm.

They call it the 'grass roots' Morgannwg. It's common for ABs to play a couple of games for their club if they're coming back from injury or are trying to get match fit. Weepu played some games for his wellington club earlier in the year when he was at the blues and needed to shift some pounds. Smith may play some games after he's recovered from eye surgery (assume it'll still be going). Nonu and Savea probably just wanted to keep fitness up between now and 4N.

Morgan - I'd place the Wellington Prem comp at about Nat 2 in England.

You've got a lot of up and coming players striving for pro contracts or ITM Cup places which put them on the professional pathway. You've also got lots of experienced heads who have probably played for Wellington at one time or another...

Auckland club comp probably another level up, Nat 1 I would say.

Anyone agree/disagree?

On a sidenote, I saw Ma'a Nonu donated 17 test jumpers to his club Oriental Rongotai. What a great gesture. Interesting to note in the article I read, in the SF of the WC, he swapped his jumper not with an Aussie, but with his long time centre partner, Conrad Smith. What a grea pair they are!

Morgannwg wrote: Professionals playing for their club over here would be considered madness.

Happens in Ireland, great way to get match fitness after lay off.

http://m.brne.ws/sport/oconnell-back-in-club-action-483443.html

But that's the semi-pro level that feed the provincial teams. The clubs we are discussing are amateur.

They could do what you point out in Wales too, but they don't. Only guys on the fringes of the Regions go back and play for their Premiership clubs when they aren't getting much game time. The season is long enough without additional games for the top players.

Ardie is a loose forward. He played for the 7s team this year.
The final is being played at Hutt Park (I think)

So in NZ its
Club rugby - amateur
Provincial rugby - semi-pro
Regional (super) rugby - pro
ABs - obviously pro

Most AB's get little to no game time at the provincial level now days.
So to see 3 ABs in one club match is mighty cool.

Same system that has been put in place in Wales.