Mid Western Rugby & Squash Club

13/06/2026

Round 6 saw our 8 junior teams take to the field in the sunshine at Kensington Park, Manaia, and Ngunguru Rugby Clubs. Once again, our players showed great improvement, dedication, sportsmanship, and teamwork throughout the day.
It has been fantastic to see the growth and confidence developing in all of our teams as the season progresses. Every week the players continue to learn new skills, support their teammates, and represent our club with pride.
Congratulations to all of our Player of the Day recipients! Your hard work, positive attitude, and commitment to your team have not gone unnoticed.
Keep up the great work, everyone. We look forward to another exciting weekend of rugby next week! 🏉💚🖤💛

12/06/2026

🏉 HERE IS YOUR TEAM HEADING NORTH TO TAKE ON KAITAIA! 🟢🟡

⏰ Kick-off: 2:30pm

After a great result in our last game and another strong week of numbers at training, the boys head north ready to take on the North Zone champions, Kaitaia, and make a statement!

We’d love to see plenty of green and gold support on the sidelines! 💚💛

A massive thank you, as always, to all of our incredible sponsors for your continued support.
Kia Tūpato!

10/06/2026

🚌 SUPPORTERS BUS TO KAITAIA 🚌

For our away game against Kaitaia this Saturday, we have a 41-seater bus heading north.

We currently have 10 seats available for supporters who would like to come along and get behind the boys.

📍 Meeting at Mid Western Rugby Club: 9:00am
📍 Pick-up at Kensington Stadium: 9:30am
🏠 Arriving back to Mid Western Rugby Club: between 9:30pm and 10:00pm

If you’d like to come and support, please let us know.

If we get plenty of interest, we’ll also put the club van on, which will allow an extra 12 supporters to come along.

Let’s get a strong green and gold crew up to Kaitaia! 🟢🟡

07/06/2026

After a couple of weeks off for King’s Birthday and our bye, the South Zone regular season has now wrapped up.

Unfortunately, results didn’t quite go our way in the final round, and despite finishing with the same win/loss record as Waipu at 7-1, we finish the regular season in second place.

Now it’s time for the next challenge.

The top four teams from the North Zone and the top four from the South Zone now come together for the Northland-wide Championship, and this Saturday we hit the road to take on the North Zone champions, Kaitaia.

It’s a big test first up, but the boys are ready to rip in.

More details to come during the week.
As always, a massive thank you to our sponsors and supporters. Green and gold! 🟢🟡

07/06/2026

Round 5 saw all 8 of our junior rugby teams take to the field at Kensington Park. The rain, hail, and even a bit of sunshine didn't put anyone off! Week after week, our players continue to show incredible sportsmanship, determination, and resilience, no matter how muddy the conditions get.
A huge congratulations to all of our Player of the Day recipients. Your hard work, positive attitudes, and commitment to your teams continue to shine.
Keep up the fantastic work, everyone – we're proud of each and every one of you! 🏉💚🖤💛

24/05/2026

Here are your try and points scorers from Saturdays huge win over waipu!
Great work guys!

24/05/2026

Here are your Players of the Day from Saturday’s win against Waipu!

In what was a dominant performance from our forwards, Dan stood out with his huge defensive presence and strong carries with ball in hand.

Taite showed exactly what he can do when he gets a little bit of space, making full use of his pace to go over for our second try. He then showed his fast feet and agility to weave his way through the defence before putting Lyric in for our third.

Great effort, guys!

As always, a huge thank you to our sponsors for their continued support.

24/05/2026

Wow what an amazing 2026 Club Day we had! The rain held off all day for a jam-packed day of rugby.

Firstly, I would like to thank Waipu, Hora Hora, Old Boys Marist, Mangakahia, and Central Kaipara for travelling to our club and making it such a fantastic day of rugby. We painted Maungakaramea green, black, and gold all day long. From our Under 5s right through to our senior team, it was awesome seeing everyone getting in behind our local club.

A huge thank you to our Junior Club Day sponsors, Northern Rural Haulage, Build Worx, and Mike Barrett Bayleys, who helped us provide every player with a free sausage and drink. Thank you also to Board and Blade for donating a beautiful chopping board for our raffle.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of our whānau for getting in behind the day and being the most amazing people ever. Your support and commitment to our club is hugely appreciated, and days like this wouldn’t happen without you all.

Enjoy a well-earned rest over King’s Birthday weekend, then let’s get back out there and paint the fields green, black, and gold again! 💚🖤💛

24/05/2026

What a day Club Day was! 🟢🟡

The morning kicked off with huge support for our junior teams, and what a way to start the day with all our junior sides coming away with the W!

Then came the main event. We started with a guard of honour for a Mid Western legend, Johnny Gardner, as he ran out for his 250th game in the green and gold.

Before kick-off, we paid our respects with a minute’s silence for ex-club president Errol Keay and old boy Mike Gibson, who have both sadly passed away recently.

Then we were treated to the game of the season so far. Two quality sides, both looking to keep their winning runs going, went toe-to-toe for the full 80. It was tit for tat the whole way, with neither team getting more than a try ahead, and in the end it was a well-struck penalty that proved the difference.

Mid Western 20
Waipu 17

Awesome performance, lads!

After the game, we had presentations for three players who have all played over 150 games for the club: Darren Ganley, Sam Vallings and Johnny Gardner. Each received an engraved handle as a memento of their incredible service to Mid Western.

We also had the privilege of inducting three long-serving members as life members: Murray “Worms” Babe, Danny Woodcock and Tom O’Shea. You all deserve this and more for everything you have done, and continue to do, for our club.

Days at the club really don’t come much bigger or prouder than this.

As always, a massive thank you to our sponsors, supporters, players, coaches, volunteers and everyone who helped make the day what it was.
Kia Tūpato 🟢🟡

22/05/2026

250 games.

For the boys. For the club. Always.

🐗💚💛🖤🐗

John Gardner

250 UP!

One of the legends out at Mid Western, Johnny Gardener runs out in in the green and yellow for 250 games for the club, a Massive Milestone.

From Coach Danny Woodcock
Johnny Gardener is playing his 250th match for Mid Western on sat 23rd May 2026.
He started at mid western in 2006, 20 years ago. Came into the club through his wife's parents who were strong club people.
He played in the winning 2006 killer b's team and the 2007 winning team that won division 2 comp. He was there when mid western was promoted into the premiere comp in 2008 and won the division in 2011 and 2012. Playing for B's and reserving for the A's most games. Often playing over 120min of rugby per Saturday .
2017 Mid Western was relegated to Champion division and had to have a fresh start with a young team. Johnny was there to help the club out and provide numbers and valuable experience to the young team. Mid Western pick up the Blackie Walters trophy in 2019, 2021 and 2025.
He has seen club playing numbers strong and number very short and he has always made himself available to play if the club needed him. Especially in these later years.
He is only 70 something kgs ringing wet and has played ever position in the backs and the forwards except for the front row.
He preferred position in his pride was seven. Where his pace and workmate suited him perfectly .
He is a coaches dream with commitment , speed, never back down attitude and welliness to do what's best for the team.
The perfect club man.
Go well Johhny 2 knee's Gardener.