Cortez Ratima is the most experienced halfback in Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks squad. Photo: Jesse Wood
Ōtorohanga Sports’ Cortez Ratima, 25, has retained his spot in the All Blacks halfback trio following Dave Rennie’s first squad naming.
He is joined by Crusader Kyle Preston and Hurricane Cam Roigard in Rennie’s 34-man cohort for the Nations Cup.
Cortez Ratima excelled for the Chiefs.
The Hamilton Boys’ High School educated Piopio product was one shining light for the Chiefs in their 60-5 drubbing by the Hurricanes in Saturday night’s Super Rugby Pacific grand final.
Rennie said the squad was already finalised before the grand finale.
All Black 1214 Ratima is one of seven Waikato players named in the side.
He is the most experienced halfback in the squad, having played 21 tests since making his All Blacks debut in 2024. Roigard has played 17 tests and Preston just one.
Ratima is signed to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2028.
Fellow former HBHS student, Ōwhango-raised Josh Lord, 25, has also kept his spot in the squad under new management.
Josh Lord will look for more All Blacks game time after a big Super Rugby season. Photo: Jesse Wood
Lord is signed with New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2029.
The rangy Chiefs lock has showed his athleticism in one of his best season’s yet, following an injury-ravaged few years.
In Saturday’s final he led the game’s tackle count with 20.
Since making his international debut against the USA in 2021, Lord has appeared in 12 tests.
Te Awamutu Sports’ Josh Moorby (Hurricanes) – another HBHS alumnus – was one of four new caps named alongside Anton Segner (Blues), Fehi Fineanganofo (Hurricanes) and Xavier Numia (Hurricanes).
Waitomos wait continues
By Dan Tasker.
Waitomo came within a whisker of ending their season on a high, falling just short in a 17-12 loss to the Taumarunui Eels on Saturday.
The search for the elusive win that has evaded them for more than three years will carry into 2027 for Waitomo, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying at a misty Waitomo Domain.
Trailing Eels 12-0 at half-time, Waitomo began to peg the visitors back bit by bit, electing to kick the penalty goals on offer as they regularly camped down in Eels territory.
By the 60-minute mark, Waitomo had crept to within touching distance at 12-9 down thanks to three Phil Lord penalties, but a try to centre Logan Ngaronga took a bit of pressure off Eels.
The green-and-blacks weren’t done though, as Lord knocked over another three-pointer before coming within centimetres of the try-line as Waitomo desperately fought for every piece of ground around the ruck.
Eventually time ran out for their efforts toward a first victory since their 29-22 triumph against Kio Kio United at the Waitomo Domain on May 27, 2023, bringing an end to another winless season with the bye this week.
The Eels will be relieved to escape the caves with the win under their belt as they prepare for Saturday’s do-or-die clash against Waitete at Cherry Grove.
The winner is destined to lock in fourth spot and a semi-final against Taupō Marist on July 4.
Waitete are desperate for a win to build some sort of momentum heading into the business end of the season, having not tasted victory since beating Waitomo 112-7 on May 23.
They were kept scoreless, beaten 24-0 by King Country premier men’s club competition leaders Taupō Marist in Te Kūiti on Saturday, when Marist lock Reeve Satherley featuring with two tries.
Districts held on to second place with a dominant 64-7 win against Piopio at the Rukuhia Domain and will a strong showing when they host Marist this week if they are to seal a home semi-final with Taupō Sports on their tail.
Sports will make the trip to Piopio coming off the bye and will be energised for a big win to pinch a home semi-final off Districts in the last round of the regular season.
The season came to an end for the Waitete women in Te Kūiti on Saturday, going down 37-15 against United Matamata Sports, who will play Taupiri-Te Kauwhata in the Waikato Women’s Championship this weekend.
Matamata number eight Addison Tuhakaraina was in hot form to score four tries for the visitors, taking for revenge for their 24-22 regular season loss against Waitete and booking themselves a spot in the final.
However it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Waitete as their U13 team booked their spot in consecutive finals after comfortably beating Piopio 59-10 in the semi-final in Te Kūiti.
The young blues will now get the rare chance to win back-to-back King Country titles in on Saturday Te Kūiti, where they will face Taupō Sports Vikings in the final. Vikings saw off Ōtorohanga 28-27 in the other semi.
King Country premier men’s club rugby standings (after 13 weeks): Taupō Marist 57, Taumarunui Districts 44, Taupō Sports 39, Waitete 33, Taumarunui Eels 33, Piopio 21, Waitomo 6.
Women win in Hamilton
By Jesse Wood.
The Ōtorohanga Sports women were too good for Fraser Tech in Waikato Club Rugby on Saturday.
Ōtorohanga won the women’s premiership match 22-10 at Elliott Park in Hamilton.
Fullback Keighley Brough helped herself to a double, while hooker Grace Houpapa-Barrett and Koiatarau Edwards also got a try apiece.
Impressive 2025 Waikato player Libby Kearins-Te Whare slotted a conversion.
In the men’s premier A championship Lone Star Cup match, Ōtorohanga golds lost 54-27 to Hamilton Old Boys at Fred Jones Park.
Fullback Jake Laurent got a hat-trick. Other scorers were centre Waisea Taninaloka and Manieta Vonovono.
Halfback Liam Fox added a conversion.
In the earlier championship WRU trophy match, Ōtorohanga B fell 34-7 to Hamilton Old Boys B. Winger Gabriel Simpson was the blues side’s sole try scorer. Pivot Zach Coles converted the try.
This weekend the women host Putāruru at Island Reserve and the men’s sides are also at home, facing premier newcomers Leamington.
