Prebbleton’s road to the top of club rugby

Prebbleton won the Coleman Shield for the first time in 49 years. Photos: Podium Photography

Prebbleton’s Coleman Shield win was the icing on the cake in a season which saw three of the club’s other teams claim titles. Jaime Cunningham takes a look at their success.

When Simon Fitzgerald took up the director of rugby role at Prebbleton in September last year, he didn’t expect to be coaching the club’s top side too.

But the supportive environment at Prebbleton made him want to coach again and, 10 months on, he capped off his first season with the club by leading the division 1 team to their first Coleman Shield win since 1974, beating Waihora 37-3 in the final.

“But it was the team all delivering at a high level which allowed me to scope and manage this team,” he said.

He has previously coached overseas in Canada, the United Kingdom and Netherlands.

“At other (club) teams, I was doing everything. Honestly, it has made me continue to want to coach again.”

Club president Jeromy Knowler said they always intended for Fitzgerald to lead the division 1 side, despite his initial reluctance.

“We always wanted to have him as a coach, and he eventually agreed after a month or two, and saw he would be the best option.”

Knowler said their training runs had been a “switch-up” to previous years under Fitzgerald’s expertise.

“He’s bought a lot of change within the senior group,” he said.

“The big thing is that he’s brought professionalism.

“Video analysis is really broken down for the players and the trainings are really specific.”

Prebbleton’s division 1, 2 and colts sides often trained together this season, which ultimately paid off for all teams.

The colts triumphed over Waihora to take out the Ellesmere title, while the division 2 side narrowly missed out on the final after winning nine of their 10 round robin games.

Prebbleton life member and former division 1 head coach Derek Todd first introduced the combined trainings.

Jeromy Knowler.

Knowler said the decision was “kind of ruthless at the time” as players who didn’t necessarily want to play in the top grade were training together.

This season the teams also had shared themes throughout the year and met for Thursday dinners, which Fitzgerald said “gave a good sense of belonging”.

Prebbleton’s women’s team have had a successful year too, winning the Metro premier reserve final against High School Old Boys before beating Springston in the Ellesmere final.

Their success trickled down to the junior ranks too, with new Canterbury women’s coach Jimmy Sinclair hosting workshops for up-and-coming coaches.

Said Fitzgerald: “In amateur rugby, it’s about increasing participation and not losing sight of what we’re here for.”

A large number of players eligible for colts were playing for the division 1 side this year, which Fitzgerald said will be integral for the club’s future.

“People said I was handing out (debut) ties like confetti.

“They’ve had a taste of success as well this year, which is really positive.”

Colts hooker Cassidy Taua is tackled by a Lincoln Bales defender in the Ellesmere final last week. Photo: Podium Photography

Colts players had the opportunity to feature in higher grades largely due to Prebbleton’s combined senior trainings.

“The players really enjoyed training as a bigger group and everyone felt like that had an equal opportunity,” Fitzgerald said.

Knowler said their success had been bubbling away for the last few years, with Prebbleton being beaten in both the 2021 and 2022 Coleman Shield finals.

“I’m really proud of the last three years, we’ve been really competitive and showing signs of promise,” he said.

“I remember about 10 years ago, we had no senior teams in semi-finals.