Club Rugby: The Tribune's 2025 form XV (to date)
Southland’s premier club rugby competition took a break over King’s Birthday weekend. The Southland Tribune’s Logan Savory took the time to put together a form XV through the first nine rounds.
Southland’s premier club rugby competition took a break over King’s Birthday weekend. The Southland Tribune’s Logan Savory took the time to put together a form XV through the first nine rounds.
15. Brad Kooman (Blues)
Kooman started the season well and was a key figure in the early rounds for Blues as they started 2025 in impressive fashion. Although he probably hasn’t had the same sort of impact in recent weeks.
14. Hughan Sharp (Star)
Sharp has missed parts of the season through injury, but he has still offered up to have a decent impact for Star during its revival in recent weeks to show he is one of the better attacking threats in Southland club rugby.
13. Jaye Thompson (Pirates-Old Boys)
Like Sharp, Thompson has missed some game time this season through injury, but whenever he has played for Pirates-Old Boys, he, as usual, has caused opposition teams real problems.
12. Fletcher Morgan (Woodlands)
Morgan started the season at fullback before finding a home at second five-eighth for Woodlands. Has been a key in helping Woodlands with some go forward and is pushing for an opportunity with the Stags in 2025.
11. Banuve Dretiverata (Barbarians)
Dretiverata has provided the Barbarians with a real attacking threat this season, which has captured some interest. He was included in the Southland XV that was supposed to play against an Otago XV this week, before Otago pulled out of that game.
10. Greg Dyer (Pirates-Old Boys)
Greg Dyer has for many years has been a key figure directing Pirates-Old Boys around the field in club rugby, and that hasn’t changed in 2025. His fingerprints are all over Pirates-Old Boys’ march to the top of the table through the first nine rounds.
9. Jackson Hughan (Star)
Hughan joined Star fresh out of Otago Boys’ High School this year, and he has been one of Star’s best to date, particularly in recent weeks, where he has made some good inroads through his running game.
8. Zyon Walters (Star)
Walters has probably been the best loose forward in the competition through the first nine rounds of the 2025 club season. His energy in both defence and with ball in hand has been a key asset for Star.
7. Jackson Bevin (Marist)
Marist struggled early in the season before finding some form in recent weeks, and Bevin has been a key figure in that, particularly in the win over the Barbarians, where he carried the ball well.
6. Caleb Karangaroa (Woodlands)
Caleb Karangaroa had previously been involved in the Australian U18 squad and was part of the Western Force academy before he linked with West Coast to play in New Zealand’s Heartland Championship last year.
He has been a key figure for the Woodlands to date in 2025 since joining the Southland club.
5. Hunter Burgess-Areaiiti (Marist)
Burgess-Areaiiti continues to be a solid performer for Marist at club level and probably has got better as the season has gone on with some decent outings in the past couple of weeks.
4. Alex Yallop (Woodlands)
Yallop has been one of the standouts in Southland club rugby this season, making his physical presence felt in the second row for Woodlands. He will be another pushing for game time with the Stags in 2025.
3. Brian Tyrell (Woodlands)
Tyrell has had a strong 2025 club season to date, both at scrum time and with his presence around the field. He was included in the Southland XV squad, which was supposed to play against Otago, but the game did not go ahead.
2. Alex Fraito (Pirates-Old Boys)
Fraito has got through plenty of work for Pirates-Old Boys this season, stepping up at hooker in the absence of Shaun Kempton, who has had New Zealand U20 commitments. Fraito has been one of the table-topping Pirates-Old Boys’ best.
1. Mykeel Sleeman (Barbarians)
Sleeman has been a key performer for the Barbarians in recent seasons, but the loosehead prop has stepped it up further through the first nine rounds of the 2025 season.