Senior men’s club rugby in Dunedin is facing a period of transition marked by shifting player demographics and challenges in maintaining participation levels, according to two longtime figures in the local rugby community. Hayden Finch, coach of Green Island’s 2024 premier title-winning team, and Paul Dwyer, a former club chairman and current columnist, shared differing perspectives on the current state of grassroots rugby in the region.

Dwyer, who has been involved with Dunedin rugby since the late 1970s, expressed concern over a decline in the standard of play within Division 1. He pointed to a trend over the past five years where younger players are entering premier rugby straight from high school, bypassing traditional development pathways such as premier colts. “It’s gone backwards,” he said, noting that a decade ago, a first-year player in premier rugby had to be exceptionally skilled.

Finch offered a more optimistic view, praising the competitiveness of Division 1 and emphasizing that the quality of play remains strong despite demographic changes. He noted a considerable youth influx in senior teams, particularly a reduction in players over the age of 25, resulting in high turnover rates. This influx, while positive in some respects, poses recruitment challenges, as clubs must often recruit from lower divisions to fill senior team rosters.

The decline in colts-level participation is particularly troubling. The Division 1 colts competition has shrunk from nine teams last season to six this year. Data from the Otago Rugby Football Union shows that overall registered player numbers across five men’s senior grades increased slightly in 2026 to 1,665 from 1,602 the previous year, with most growth driven by the Division 2 colts grade. Dwyer highlighted the success of this junior colts competition, which now features 16 teams, contrasting sharply with rapid declines in open-grade numbers.

Both men agreed that the changing nature of grassroots rugby demands adaptive strategies. Finch suggested embracing the rise in social rugby by introducing an under-85kg grade to encourage continued participation from older players who may prefer less physically demanding competition. He emphasized the importance for clubs in Dunedin to follow other associations in adopting such initiatives to sustain engagement.

Dwyer advocated for broader structural reforms at the national level, particularly the need to revise the rugby calendar to create space for club rugby. He criticized New Zealand Rugby for a lack of tangible support for grassroots initiatives despite official statements of commitment. He warned that the survival of the sport depends on the vitality of local clubs, especially as young players increasingly begin their rugby journeys in community clubs rather than schools.

Financially, Dunedin clubs are reportedly managing to stay afloat but face a severe shortage of volunteers, especially coaches and managers. Dwyer described a “serious coaching crisis,” noting that several teams could not be fielded this season due to lack of qualified coaches. He pointed out that while some coaches receive payment, many clubs cannot afford it, exacerbating the challenge. “If you don’t have coaches, you just don’t have teams,” he said, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue over the coming years.

Overall, the insights from both Finch and Dwyer reflect a rugby environment at a crossroads, grappling with demographic shifts, participation pressures, and the need for innovation to sustain the sport’s grassroots foundations in Dunedin.