Welcome!

Welcome to the latest and first update of 2026  from Christchurch Football Club, keeping you connected with everything happening in and around the club.

Happy New Year everyone and I trust you all have had a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends!!

We currently have lots of things happening within the club from the rugby side Happy New Year everyone and I trust you all have had a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends!!

We currently have lots of things happening within the club from the rugby side all is looking very positive with lots of energy and enthusiasm coming from our players, coaches and managers, our motel units being completely full over the past two months, the playing group from Argentina staying with us and we thank Grant “Grunta” Keenan from the Crusader Global Academy for the opportunity & support, CRFU Metro staff having their first get together at the club – thank you Vaughan Utteridge, working with Edward Hoang from Rollicious who will be our new caterer in 2026 and getting the Food Truck Night established & advertised for the 26th of February – thank you Nic Koster

I want to acknowledge that Jenay Eksteen has decided to step down from her Social Media role within the club for personal reasons and we want thank Jenay for her fantastic work and that we wish her and Andy all the very best especially with their upcoming wedding!

To assist with the club’s social media needs, Grayson Mitchell has stepped up and is assisting with the posts that you are currently seeing – thanks Grayson

Something that is very dear to me is the female game within our club and it is awesome to see not only Vicki, Angie, Jono, Alison, Keela back on board in 2026 but they have “enticed” Cerys, Emma and Joe to join us to continue grow & development the female game within our club – we are fortunate to have such a wonderful group of people working in this space!

We do have sad news to share as we lost some wonderful people over the last couple of months: Adrienne Speedy, Cameron “Macca” Kelly and Brian Mooar (father of Brad Mooar)

As a club we thank Speedy, Macca and Brian for their contribution and support of the club and may you all now Rest In Love

To all the families and friends of Adrienne, Cameron & Brian our thoughts & prayers are with you all at this very sad and difficult time

We attach the eulogy for Adrienne & thank Maureen, Pete & Riley Manson for giving the eulogy and for representing the club

We attach a summary of Cameron’s playing days at the club, and we thank Mark Thompson for giving the eulogy and we appreciate all of Cameron’s family & friends in coming to the club to celebrate his life

Have an enjoyable Waitangi weekend with friends & family 😊

Welcome back to one and all

Pre-season training for all is underway at the club with our female players beginning their sessions on Thursday the 5th of February.

The year has started positively with several new faces on the grass getting themselves sorted for the season to come. Our other, well-tuned, athletes may begin to roll in around March!!

We have several Preseason games in the pipeline for our men’s teams, and we met on Friday the 30th of January begin planning for our Premier Women’s and Un18 teams

As a coach what do you want in preseason hit outs?

Do you want a real challenge to expose areas to work on or do you want an easy opposition to gain team confidence?

I assure you both suggestions are always in the forefront of a coach’s thinking. You want your new players tested but you also want a chance for them to show their skills. In the club’s case we have new players and completely new management so this will be a time for players and management to grow

Coaches, if you are new to this part of the game I will be on your side. I want every coach, new and mature, to know that I am here to help. My role is to help develop our coaches across all the club and ensure the players are getting the best of you

Most important bit of advice is, Make It Fun!

They will begin their professional careers soon enough so while they are not there yet, keep the level of enjoyment as high as possible

In the next few weeks, we will roll out the preseason programme for all the teams so our supporters can see where we are playing and come along and do what they do best

Ok we are warming up for the Super Rugby Season and within 2 weeks we are underway. The Crusaders got a good hit out in Timaru and introduced their wider squad to the speed of Super Footy. With a foot in a couple of camps I’m looking forward to the 2026 Super Rugby season

See you all soon when our season kicks off!!

May They Rest in Peace.

Remembering Speedy

The Christchurch rugby community has been deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and former teammate, Adrienne Speedy. Over the past week, stories and photos have poured in from across Aotearoa and overseas, each one reflecting the impact she had on so many people.

One message from Olena Harrison captured what many of us feel:

“Speeds has been a force of nature in my life, and I will miss her a lot.”

A key part of our rugby whānau

Speedy arrived in Christchurch in 2001 and quickly became a valued member of our rugby whānau, both on and off the field. Between 2001 and 2006, she owned the No. 6 jersey for the Christchurch women’s team, with stints at No. 8 and lock. She was part of our championship‑winning sides in 2002, 2004, and 2006.

During this period, Speedy also played 21 games for Canterbury A, two seasons for Canterbury B, and toured Japan with the Canterbury side.

Known for her deceptive pace, powerful tackles, and fierce competitiveness, she was the teammate everyone wanted beside them.

Her final season in 2006 was one to remember. Coach Pete Rhodes summed it up simply: “Speedy was a machine that year. She finished the round robin as top equal try‑scorer with 13 tries, an incredible achievement.”

And of course, no account of Speedy’s Christchurch years would be complete without mentioning her iconic McCully Cup victory, a legendary sprint under the Saturday night lights that had the whole clubroom cheering.

A teammate, a learner, and a mentor

Former coach Dom Brister shared a message from the UK:

“In the 2004 competition‑winning team, there were so many leaders, so many learners, and so many amazing characters. Speedy was the embodiment of all of these.

She mentored younger players who went on to represent Canterbury and the Black Ferns, while remaining humble and eager to learn from others. One thing I will always take from Speedy is to take each day as it comes and grasp it.”

A love of travel and adventure

Speedy left Christchurch for Dublin in 2006 and then went on to the UAE, where she further developed her successful career as a clinical dietitian.  She also continued to play rugby, transitioning to 7s, and represented the UAE at the Dubai 7s. She coached junior girls teams and was also a well-respected , representing the UAE on the 7s circuit. She returned to Christchurch post-COVID, and over the past few years, many of us shared adventures with Speedy biking, kayaking, paddleboarding and exploring the mountains. Speedy was training for biking and kayaking legs of the 2026 Coast‑to‑Coast when she became unwell. 

Sarah Helmore was training her in the kayak and shared this message: “Speedy loved challenging herself and made huge progress in a short time in her kayak. She was at home in her green, mean, fast machine. In her honour, I will wear her helmet with ‘SPEEDY’ on it during the Coast‑to‑Coast. She’ll be with us on the Waimak, helping us push through the tough moments with her boundless energy.”

Speedy also continued her passion and commitment to referring, coaching, and supporting young referees through the Canterbury Rugby Referees Association. 

A life lived fully

Beyond rugby and adventure, Speedy’s generosity, humour, loyalty, and straight‑up honesty touched everyone around her. She made people feel valued — whether through a message, a visit, or simply showing up without being asked.

Her social media posts — from breakfast photos to wild adventures — always made us smile.

Her teammates have a great respect, mana, and aroha for Speedy. She was a force of nature. Someone who lifted others, brought joy to every moment, and lived life without holding back.

Speedy’s legacy is one of courage, laughter, and connection. She inspired us to live fully, just as she did.

Kia kaha, Speedy. Moe mai rā.

Pete, Maureen & Riley Manson

Remembering Macca

Cameron Trevor Kelly - known to all is CFC mates simply as Macca died suddenly on Friday 23rd January 2026, aged 52.  Macca is not only mourned by his CFC brothers but also his partner Amanda, children Georgia, Jack and Bailey and his step-children Liam, Olly and Flynn.

He was a Canardly from 2009, although Club records don't have him as a registered player until 2011.  He donned the boots for the Canardlys for many years and in more recent time the hybrid Canardly/Heroes and the Choppers.  A key front rower who was happy to be put anywhere on the team sheet if it meant there was a team to field.  He would often pull on the jersey of the opposition team and would take great delight in smashing his own teammates.  He lifted the Canardly Player's Player of the year twice in 2012 and 2016 - underscoring how much he meant to the team, on and off the field.

He was a vital part of the team culture, being the first to volunteer for to help anyone in need.  First to arrive at any social function and often first to leave.  Regular trips away with his mates fishing or boating were a huge part of his and our lives.  While perhaps not possessing a huge love of his trade, he was a skilled plasterer and painter and was the man behind the clubroom's latest facelift and the big red wall above the bar.

His passing has devastated those that knew him and called him a mate.  He leaves a massive hole in the lives of all of those that played alongside and against him on the rugby field.  This 2026 season at CFC will be that much harder for the Choppers and former Canardlys and we hope to commemorate his contribution to the Club in the most appropriate way during the year.

Rest in Peace Macca

Mark Thompson

Become a CFC Sponsor in 2026!

Christchurch Football Club has a proud history as one of New Zealand’s oldest rugby clubs, with thriving junior and senior teams. As we look ahead to the 2026 season, we’re inviting local businesses and community partners to join our CFC family as sponsors.

Sponsorship is more than just a logo on a jersey — it’s a chance to support local rugby, give back to the community, and connect your brand with hundreds of local families and supporters.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank our current sponsors for their incredible support. Your commitment keeps our juniors and seniors on the field, fuels the growth of rugby in our community, and makes a real difference to the success of our club.

If you’d like to explore how your business can get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Simply complete our short Expression of Interest form here and we’ll be in touch with more details.

Can You Help Welcome Our Incoming Players?

As we prepare for an exciting 2026 season, we have several players joining us from around New Zealand and overseas and we’re calling on the CFC community for support.

We have a large group of new players arriving in the new year, and we’re looking for any leads on:

Flats or rooms to rent (homestay)

Work opportunities (casual, part-time, or full-time)

Any information or support you can offer will make a huge difference in helping these players settle in and feel welcomed into the CFC community.

If you’re able to help in any way, please get in touch:gm@christchurchpark.co.nz

rugby@christchurchpark.co.nz