Rugby: Minimum disruption at Auckland club level

There is good news for followers of Auckland club rugby as the premier season kicks into gear today.

Auckland NPC coach Mark Anscombe has decided to hold his July pre-season fixtures midweek to minimise disruption to the business end of the club programme.

This should benefit the likes of University, Grammar-Carlton and Marist, all of whom were heavily hit by rep duties last year.

Around half the premier sides will have new head coaches, the most notable being former Fiji, Auckland, North Harbour and Northland coach Wayne Pivac, who has taken the reins at Pakuranga.

Former North Harbour assistant Milan Yelavich assumes the mantle at Waitemata, and former Counties and New Zealand Maori loose forward Teina Clarke steps up at Te Papapa-Mt Wellington.

Defending champion Ponsonby also has a new coach - former Ponies and Manu Samoa loose forward Siaosi Vaili, who spent last year at the helm of Teachers-Eastern.

Former Auckland B winger and Auckland Sevens coach Ramsey Tomokino is in charge at Suburbs.

There has been a good standard of footy in the pre-season Waka Nathan Challenge Cup, and from the pack, Grammar-Carlton and Otahuhu have emerged as finalists, the former knocking off Ponsonby in the semifinal.

That final will take place on April 24 at Otahuhu's Sturges Park.

The Eden-Roskill Eagles marriage is over, and the side has reverted to simply Eden.

Today's feature game to open the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield round-robin is the Dave Grace Memorial Trophy clash between Marist and University at Liston Park.