Sponsored: Blues primed for another busy season

The Central Rugby Club will be firmly in the spotlight during the 2025 season.

For the first time, the Blues’ premier team will be the sole Marlborough-based side in the Tasman Trophy competition, flying the flag for club rugby on this side of the Whangamoas.

Consequently, they are the only local club to field both a premier and division two side, putting pressure on that most valuable of resources – players.

However, the Blues, based at the western corner of Lansdowne Park, have flown high in recent times.

In 2022 they became the first Marlborough-based side to win a Tasman Trophy final then, a year later, they repeated the dose, making history on this side of the hill with a thrilling victory in the decider on home ground. Last season they were narrowly pipped in an away final by Kahurangi.

Although this will be something of a rebuilding year for the Blues, who are missing quite a few of their 2024 crew, some familiar faces return to premier ranks.

Experienced operators, such as inspirational hooker Quentin MacDonald, lock Matt McCormick, prop Dusty Foley, midfielder Ben Filipo, prop Sione Papani, midfielder Nigel Satherley, winger Cody Weir and lock/loosie Wayden Smith are back, providing the solid base of another very competitive Blues outfit.

Of the younger brigade, lock Peyton Yakas, flanker Jack Kelly, utility back Eric Lawson, wing Koloa Fotu-Moala and lock Luke Martella also return.

With Moutere having been unable to pull a premier side together this year Central have picked up a few former Magpies – midfielder Jake Pacey, utility back Clyde Paewai, winger Senetenari Ponesi, flanker Jack Burdon, prop Tafa Asiata-Tusani and lock Sam Neal.

Another welcome arrival is 2024 Mako prop Quinn Harrison-Jones, who played for Nelson Marist last season.

There are other newcomers to the club, namely hooker Callum Nimmo, a former NZ under-85kg representative, halfback Logan Phillips, first five Francis Schumann and last year’s MBC First XV standout at fullback, Leo Marfell.

Notable absentees for the Blues this season are flanker Braden Stewart, playing in Perth, and halfback Ethan Jones, currently in Europe, Mitch Smith, Jake Cresswell and the versatile Jesse MacDonald, although the former Mako may yet put in an appearance.

Quentin will once more handle the coaching duties, along with Hamish McKerrow.

Central have a couple of pre-season matches. They met Ashley at Renwick on March 15, and will play Lincoln University in Kaikoura on March 29. The Tasman Trophy premier competition is set to kick off on April 5.

Five Nelson-based teams will take part in the Tasman Trophy - Stoke, Waimea Old Boys, Kahurangi, Marist and Nelson.

Central are again expected to field a very competitive division two side. The second-tier crew, under the reins of Nathan Gill and Wayne Young reached the final in 2022 and the semis over the previous two seasons so will be hoping to go all the way in 2025.

The Blues will also be strongly represented in the junior ranks, the club holding a well-attended Muster Day on March 16. They are expecting to field teams from under-6 to under-12 this season.