East Coast format decided

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

SENIOR players in the East Coast’s nine clubs will enjoy a wealth of rugby this year.

Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby Union finalised a two-round club competition. Round 1 begins on March 11 with Round 2 ending on July 15.

Points from Round 1 will be carried through to the second round; semifinals will be played on July 22, and the final will be on July 29.

All senior teams will play at least 16 games during the season, compared with about 10 in the 2015 and 2016 seasons, when a conference draw was followed. Another difference this season will be that club rugby will be played every weekend — including Easter — except for Queen’s Birthday weekend when the annual East Coast-Poverty Bay fixture is held.

Ruatoria City have a bye in the first weekend, and their players will form the core of the East Coast representative team playing in the central region Maori tournament, Te Tini a Maui, in Masterton on March 11.

The Heartland competition starts on August 26, although the draw has not yet been finalised.

Barry Cup holders Uawa will also be defending their trophy.