Last night Rugby Southland held their 139th AGM and is proud to reflect on a year marked by significant progress, strengthened community connection, and memorable achievements across all levels of the game.

CEO Hua Tamariki said the union’s financial result was one of the standout achievements of 2025. “To deliver a surplus of $110,000 after entering the year with an approved forecasted deficit of $140,000 is something our entire organisation can be proud of. It reflects disciplined management, strong commercial support, and the commitment of everyone at the union.”

Tamariki said commercial growth continued to build momentum. “We’ve strengthened partnerships with long-standing Southland businesses and funding operators, while also welcoming new partners into the Rugby Southland family. These relationships are vital - they allow us to invest back into our people, our programmes, and our community.”

He also highlighted the union’s progress across its strategic pillars. “We’ve made meaningful strides toward the outcomes that guide our long-term direction. Whether it’s community engagement, participation at the grassroots level, performance, pathways, or organisational capability, we’re moving in the direction set by the Board, while ensuring we remain focused on a sustainable future for rugby in our province.”

Chairman Murray Brown said the growing support from the Southland community was evident throughout the year. “Seeing a 19.7 percent increase in game day attendance at SBS Bank Stags home games shows just how much pride Southlanders have in their team. That passion also carries through to our digital platforms, where we’ve seen up to 22 percent growth across all channels. The Stags remain a loved and relevant part of our community identity.”

Brown also acknowledged the strength of representative rugby in 2025. “Fielding around 11 representative teams is a testament to the depth of talent in Southland. The introduction of the Southland Metro team, competing alongside Southland Country for the inaugural Tuppy Diack Shield, added a new and exciting chapter to our regional rivalry with Otago.”

Reflecting on the SBS Bank Stags’ NPC campaign, Brown said, “the highlight was undoubtedly lifting the Ranfurly Shield against Waikato. It was a moment of immense pride for our province. The effort of the union that followed – in delivering a compact but extraordinary community engagement effort – ensured that the Shield was shared widely and celebrated across Southland during its time in the province. That speaks volumes on the capability of our people and their passion for our team and our community.”

Tamariki added that the year also marked an important step in providing a clear line of sight with our coaching pathway. “The elevation of Scott Eade to Head Coach demonstrates the value of developing local coaching talent. Scott’s journey from grassroots to NPC level is exactly the kind of pathway we want to foster.”

Both leaders acknowledged the collective effort behind the year’s achievements. Tamariki said, “Our players, staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters are the backbone and enablers of everything we do. The successes of 2025 belong to all of them.” Brown added, “We are proud of what has been achieved, and we are excited for what lies ahead as we continue to represent Southland and the union with pride.”