Welcome! Welcome to the 8 July update from Christchurch Football Club, keeping you connected with all the awesome events and happenings in and around the club. And what a weekend it was with 4/4 CFC Senior team wins and the AB's delivering at One NZ Stadium v France.  |
Wow what a great weekend, Premier Men’s, Premier Women’s, Crocs and Choppers all winning on Saturday (Axe Attack achieved!!) and the All Blacks winning at Te Kaha One NZ Stadium, how good!! As previously mentioned both Muir and I had the privilege and honour of being with the All Blacks for all of last week and we had an awesome time seeing what goes on in behind the scenes. |  |
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See photo above of Muir giving Will Jordan some advice on “Run, Catch, Pass”😊 I have to mention the outstanding win by our Premier Women’s team who beat Linwood to advance to the semi-finals – this was a fantastic result for this team as beating Linwood who is a strong & skillful team, is a significant achievement for our team and demonstrates their growth & development over the season!! |
 | I would like to recognise the support of two of our sponsors, Peter Timbs (Chris and the team) for supplying awesome Smoked Saveloys to the All Blacks (a tradition started by the wonderful Tane Norton) and to Jason, Nick & Maria from Clarkson Signs for providing individual player signage (48 hours’ notice and 62 pieces of signage produced) of the All Black team playing on Saturday night which was used in the changing rooms! My thanks to you both for working with us. |
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Games being played over the next few days: |
- Crocs play New Brighton on Thursday the 9th of July with kick off at 7pm so come down and support the lads
- Colts were scheduled to play UC on Saturday here at Christchurch Park however this game now has been shifted to Tuesday the 14th of July with kick off at 7pm
- Premier Women’s and the Choppers have the weekend off
- Premier Men’s head to Burnside Park with kick off at 2-45pm so let’s get down there & show Burnside what we are about. This match is of special significance as it is Zac Langdon-Lane's 50th Premier game and Yuta Ohata's Blazer game. – Give em the Axe!
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Senior Prizegiving (Rugby & Netball): 8th of August from 4pm onwards here at the club. Please refer to the attached link to purchase your tickets and for all relevant information pertaining to the night of great celebration. Administration: Gentle reminder to all teams to ensure that all doors are closed and secured when leaving the clubrooms (includes the gym and the gear sheds) as we have found areas of the complex left open overnight during the past week |
 | Lastly… Korekore te whiwhia homai he matā kia tīhaea te kiripoho ka pātukituki nei. Ko te pae o Matariki ki a koe e Mā, o whatu tē kite anō, tō mahana tē rongo ano, e kore te aroha e maroke i te rā, mākūkū tonu i aku roimata mou. Ko ngā puke ki Hauraki ka tārehua. He Tōmairangi ka tau ki te whenua o Tāmaki. I te rā ka tō rā runga i Kaipara Moana. |
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It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Melani Burchett who died peacefully today surrounded by her whānau on Saturday. Melani played for the Premier Woman’s, Canterbury & emerging Black Ferns in the 1990’s. She will be lying in state at Rehua Marae, Springfield Road until her service on Wednesday 8 July at 11.00am. Any questions feel free to call Andre Thompson (021-352-312). |
On the back of the last few weeks in my camp and the last few years in this clubs history, I thought I’d focus on dealing with adversity and what coaches and players can do to get through. This is a two part article and next weeks coaches corner will contain the follow up. I hope you get something out of it. Adversity: The Opponent You Can Never Avoid |
There is an old saying in rugby that you don't find out who you are when you're winning—you find out who you are when everything is going against you. Every player, every coach, every team will face adversity. It is not a possibility; it is a certainty. The question isn't whether it will arrive, but how we choose to respond when it does. Adversity wears many jerseys. Sometimes it is obvious. Sometimes it is invisible. |  |
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On the field it can be a missed tackle that costs the game, a dropped ball with the try line open, a season-ending injury, a red card, selection disappointment, or watching someone else wear the jersey you desperately wanted. It can be losing a final after months of sacrifice or suffering through a season where nothing seems to go your way. |
 | Off the field, the challenges are often even greater. Players battle family issues, financial pressure, mental health struggles, relationship breakdowns, illness, grief, work commitments, and the daily balancing act of trying to be a good teammate while simply managing life. Coaches are no different. They carry the responsibility of results, the expectations of players, the opinions of supporters, committee decisions, family commitments, and often the emotional burden of trying to help dozens of people become better versions of themselves. Rugby doesn't stop life from happening. In many ways, rugby simply magnifies it. |
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The Player's Battle For players, adversity often feels deeply personal. Being left out of the starting XV can feel like rejection. Injury can make you question your identity. A run of poor performances can slowly chip away at confidence until even the simplest skills feel difficult. The temptation is to look for something to blame, the referee, the coach, the selectors. the weather. the opposition. Sometimes those things matter: Most of the time they don't. Growth begins the moment a player asks, "What can I control today?" - You may not control selection, You control preparation.
- You may not control injuries. You control rehabilitation.
- You may not control the scoreboard. You control your next effort.
The players who enjoy the longest careers are rarely the most gifted. More often, they are the ones who become experts at responding well after disappointment. Every setback becomes another training session for resilience. The Coach's Challenge
Coaching adversity is different because success is rarely measured by your own actions alone. A coach can prepare brilliantly and still lose. You can care deeply about every player and still disappoint someone each week through selection. You can spend hundreds of hours planning a season only to see injuries dismantle it within a month. The hardest part of coaching is accepting that influence is not control. The best coaches understand that their role is not to eliminate adversity. It is to prepare people for it. That means creating environments where mistakes are learning opportunities rather than reasons for embarrassment. - Where effort is praised alongside talent.
- Where honesty replaces blame.
- Where difficult conversations happen early rather than too late.
- Where players know they are valued beyond the number on their back.
- Great coaches don't promise players an easy journey.
- They promise they won't face it alone
Cheers Budgie |
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Kia ora CFC Families, And just like that, we have reached the end of the first half of our season! This past weekend marked the last round of rugby before the school holidays, and what a way to finish the term. It was wonderful to see and hear just how much fun our teams were having out on the field — that energy and enjoyment is exactly what junior rugby is all about. |
What a First Half of the Season We have had a tremendous first half to the season. Week in, week out, our players have shown up, worked hard, and most importantly, enjoyed themselves. The growth we have seen across all of our teams — in skill, confidence, and character — has been incredible to watch. From the youngest players finding their feet to our older groups showing real maturity in their play, there is so much to be proud of. |  |
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 | A huge thank you to our coaches, managers, and the many volunteers and families who have given their time and energy to make this all happen. Junior rugby does not run itself, and the commitment shown by so many people behind the scenes is what makes CFC such a special club. |
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A Reminder of What It’s All About As we head into the break, we also want to take a moment to gently remind our wider club community of what junior rugby is here for. First and foremost, it is about our tamariki — their development, their enjoyment, and their love of the game. Results matter far less than the experience our kids are having and the lessons they are learning on and off the field |
We ask all families and supporters to keep this at the forefront, particularly on the sidelines. Positive encouragement from the people they love and respect makes an enormous difference to how our young players feel about the game. Let’s continue to create an environment where every child feels supported, valued, and excited to come back week after week. |  |
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 | Enjoy the Break! The holidays are a well-earned rest for players, coaches, and families alike. We encourage everyone to recharge, spend time together, and come back refreshed and ready to go. There is a great second half of the season ahead of us, and we cannot wait to see what our teams produce. |
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We will be in touch with details on the return to play closer to the time. Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and enjoy every moment of the break with your whānau. Go CFC! The CFC Junior Rugby Committee |
Nominations Now Open – David Burke Memorial Trophy The most supportive club member or friend to the players. Citation: Dr. David Burke (Burkey) was the CFC Doctor from 1992 until his tragic and untimely death in 2005. Burkey was a man who continually gave others his time and always, in a completely unselfish and unheralded manner, put the club and its players’ interests and concerns ahead of his own. Never once did he seek recognition or reimbursement for his services—which, it must be said, went far beyond his professional calling. Indeed, he became a friend and confidant to many of his patients.
Burkey is certainly a man who should not be forgotten, and it is to honour his memory that the David Burke Memorial Award was commissioned by the club. The award is to be presented to a member or friend of the club who epitomizes the qualities most remembered in Dr. David Burke: someone who, throughout the preceding year, has continually given their time, energy, services, and support to the players of the club in a quiet, understated, and supportive manner. Nominees should fit the following criteria: - A member or friend of CFC (need not be a member per se)
- Puts the club and players' interests and time ahead of his or hers
- Understated, supportive, friend of the players
Please submit your nomination(s) in writing to the club before the closing date of 24 July 2026 by emailing: chairman@christchurchpark.co.nz |
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Accommodation at Christchurch Park Whether you're travelling with a sports team, attending an event, visiting with family, or planning a school or business trip, our Christchurch Park Motel is your ideal choice for affordable, comfortable accommodation — all conveniently on-site at CFC. Our motel offers specialist lodging with everything you need: kitchenettes, walk-in showers, Sky TV, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, plus laundry facilities, conference rooms, playing fields, and even an onsite physiotherapy clinic. Nestled in a peaceful, leafy part of St Albans, Christchurch Park is just minutes from the city centre, airport, New Brighton Pier, shopping malls, and top dining spots — making it ideal for both visiting teams and families. 📞 Book now by calling 027 433 5529, or email admin@christchurchpark.co.nz, or visit christchurchpark.co.nz. |
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