Rhys Chamberlain

It may not be a raging favourite to win the competition this year but Upper Clutha has quietly gone about its business and is unbeaten five games into the season.

It might not be as prestigious or as well known as the White Horse Cup but the Speight's Challenge Jug is on the move and becoming more coveted.

The absence of Clyde-Earnscleugh from the Central Otago club competition is the biggest talking point of the new season, which begins this weekend. This has led to a rejigging of the draw, and will mean a top-six, bottom-four split in June. Rhys Chamberlain looks at the teams.

Linwood Keas, of Christchurch, beat invitational side Briggy Bears 30-0 to win the Otago rugby league nines tournament held at Opoho Park on Saturday.

Rugby League kicks off in Otago this weekend, with the annual nines tournament at Opoho Park today.

Otago Country begins its Hawke Cup season against Southland at Molyneux Park in Alexandra today.

Otago Country coach Roger Cotton has made two changes in personnel to the team beaten 37-34 by Southland Country last weekend for tomorrow's match against Canterbury Country at Lincoln.

Maniototo made it back-to-back Central Otago premier club titles when it beat Arrowtown 27-8 at Cromwell on Saturday afternoon.

With the final games to be played this weekend before the Central Otago premier competition splits in two, the top six teams and bottom six teams have essentially been decided.

Southern Region continued its grip on Otago Country rugby supremacy as it won across all grades against its Central Otago equivalent, including in the main game which the premier side won 31-22.