New Zealand's National Provincial Championship's gearing up in the south, where one of rugby's most passionate and storied rivalries will kick off again this weekend.
Otago and Southland will open their 2025 campaigns this Saturday in Invercargill for what’s become one of the most anticipated clashes of the NPC calendar. The fixture, better known to fans as Stag Day, is more than just a game.
"We hate them and they hate us, so it’s a great occasion," said Southland prop Morgy Mitchell.
The two sides have been meeting for more than a century. Their rivalry dates back 138 years, and they’re knocking on the door of 250 first class matches. The roots run deep in this southern derby from the days at Carisbrook to Southland's famous Ranfurly Shield defence in 2010.
While Otago dominate the win column, Southland head into this year’s edition with confidence, having won the fixture last year. Now, they’ll be hoping to back that up in front of what’s expected to be a packed-out Rugby Park, with more than 10,000 fans set to roll through the gates.
"We know how hostile that environment is down there," said Otago's Christian Lio-Willie, who is set to play his first match back in the blue and gold since making his debut for the All Blacks. "It's going to be awesome for us. We know it's going to be us 15 against the world."
The origins of "Stag Day" come out of unexpected beginnings. Rugby Southland commercial manager Jack King said it started as a flat party in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
"They pulled what you call a red card party and declared it 'Stag Day' and it kind of just whirl-winded from there, really."
Today, it’s a major calendar event, not just for rugby fans but for Otago and Southland. King said the fixture has is helping revive the provincial game.
"We like to think this sets a standard of what can be achieved in nurturing the product and creating more than just an occasion, something the community can really get behind."
For the players, the rivalry is just as intense.
And this year, it gets personal for the Taylor brothers. Jack is lining up for Southland, while older brother Harry wears the blue and gold. Both have family in the crowd but Jack reckons most of them are backing the Stags.
"All the family have hit me up for a Stags jersey,” he laughed. “So sounds like [Harry] is on his own."
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