2022 was a tough ole year at Forshaw for Southern Districts but from all reports, new coach Jayson Brewer and club coach Matt Barr drew a line in the sand late last year and moved positively into 2023.

Despite their difficulties in recent years, the club retained the majority of last year’s playing group and pushed more players into Super Rugby.

The Rebels have a long road ahead of them to return to their best, but it sounds as though they’re ready to give it a good crack.

Overview with Jayson Brewer:

“We’ve had a really solid preseason looking back at it,” Brewer told Rugby News.

“Our number one focus has been on rediscovering our DNA as a club and re-establishing how we want to play the game. We’ve implemented some new structures both on and off the field and a philosophy of play we are excited to bring to the competition. 

“We’ve just come back from a three day identity camp down the south coast. We had a few things that we wanted to work on as a group, so we took our top 25 players in grade and our top 20 from colts. We worked on the mental skills side of the game mixed with some old fashion physical challenges, while working on our connection as a a group which was really good. 

“We had our first trial against Manly last week and idenfied key learnings across all grades. A big focus for us leading into the season has been around our defence, our decision making around the tackle contest, and our discipline. We were able to work on all of those parts of our game which will allow growth in these areas. 

“Our scrum has also been a big part of the DNA of the club in the past and we want to be really strong at set piece time. 

 “As a group, we’re focussed on the year ahead and have been working as a collective each week. 

“When I arrived at the club we completed  interviews with all key players from right across the grades. After we did that, we turned out attention to 2023 and that’s where it has stayed. 

“We’ve retained the majority of our core playing group. Phil Potgeiter will be our captain again, Jake Douglas is also going around again. They provide great leadership and experience. 

“We’ve then bolstered our ranks through recruitment in a few key areas that we think will add value.

“We’ve got a number of players playing Super Rugby, which is something we’re really proud of as a club and it’s something we want to continue to do. 

“Blake Schoupp is down at the Brumbies. Matt Gibbon is with the Rebels. Jed (Holloway) is at the Tahs and we’ve got Nathan Lawson playing with the Aussie 7s.” 

2022: 12th

Ins: Isaac Kneepens (Auckland), Archie Hoskkings (Exeter), Dante Tatafu (Western Force), Zeke Sopoaga (Wellington), Tupou Sopoaga (Highlanders), Tyla Murvai (Wales), Gavin Wood (Souths, Brisbane), Alan Fitzgerald (Munster), Taisson Lealaisalanoa (Wellington).

Outs: Sama Mololo (MLR), Blake Schoupp (Brumbies), Conor Young (MLR), Greg Foe (NZ), Josh Boker (Easts), Christian Kagiakiss (retired), Blaise Barnes (Eastwood) 

Players to watch:

“Issac Ratumaitavuki Kneepens  is a former Fijian U20s player who also played with Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup. He’s an outside back who I can see doing a fair bit of damage in the Shute Shield this year,” Brewer said. 

“Tupou Sopoaga in the backrow has captained the Cook Islands and been in and around Super Rugby in the past. He’s looking very strong and is a key leader amongst the group”

“Archie Hoskings is a dynamic backrower who has joined from Exeter. He’s impressed the coaching group

“We’ve also had quite a few players from the UK contact us. Players such as  Alan Fitzgerald from Munster and Gavin Wood via Souths in Brisbane. They’ve all fitted in really well. A lot of them are looking for a different experience post Covid and have some really impressive backgrounds. It’ll be interesting to see what some of those boys can do.” 

“George Gibson and young Jackson Ropata have been training with the Waratahs and Junior Wallabies and are also showing good signs early”. 

What style of rugby will we see from Southern Districts this year? 

“At Southern Districts the club has traditionally prided itself on set piece and that won’t change. 

“We are going to play a completely different style to last year though. We’re going to encourage our forwards to interplay with the ball while allowing our backs to express themselves, we’re also going to play with tempo, adapt to situations and invert pressure in various contexts.  

“History shows that the teams that defend well and play the smartest go pretty well in the Shute Shield and we’ve identified that and tried to build our game around those things. 

“Ultimately we want to play an attractive brand of football but also have the ability to adapt our game plan when needed.”  

Which two teams will play in this year’s grand final and why?

“I dare say that the two teams that have the best defensive records and the best kicking games throughout the regular season and the playoffs will be in the grand final. Consistency will play a key factor as well.

“Last year showed that the competition is very close and even with some of the games that Southern Districts lost last year, they didn’t lose by much. 

“We’ve set some goals internally and we’ve been realistic with those goals but I think if we can play to our potential and continue to connect as a group, anything can happen.”