Alexandra
Coach: Andrew Fisher.
Last year: Did not kick on as well as in 2024 when, coached by Lee Wilson, they sensationally overwhelmed Upper Clutha in the grand final. Last year they lost five of their last six matches. Andrew Fisher comes in as coach after six years with Kurow in North Otago.
Players to watch: Centre Tyler Ford is obvious as an inspirational captain and reliable goalkicker, along with a quality midfield back recruit from league, Tehau Cooper. Irish imports boosted the team in 2023-24 and Alex have picked up two more this year in inside back Luke Gibson and fullback Ethan Mount. Other exciting newcomers are winger Lachie Diack and prop Jake McGinnis, a Dunstan High School product. Losses are Sam Chapman and Jake Denniston, who scored 19 tries between them in 2025.
The oil: Alex have a tough beginning, being drawn against Wakatipu. Then, after a bye, they play high-flying Upper Clutha, but there is plenty of talent in the squad and new coach Fisher is confident the men in green will make their mark as the season unfolds.
Predicted finish: Top four.
Arrowtown
Coach: Aidan Winter.
Last year: Another forlorn season for the Arrowtowners, who have lost 17 of their past 20 games, which has inspired the club’s super hero to step up as coach. Winter, who is in sight of 250 appearances, captained the club when they held the White Horse Cup in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Players to watch: Captain Ryan Egerton, a dangerous playmaker from five or fullback, halfback Josh Brazier, young loose forward Sife Pole and midfield back Ben Sisson.
The oil: Winter has recruited former Highlanders Kenny Lynn, who coached in France and is now with the Pumas, and Tony Ensor, who now runs the Queenstown wellness centre O Studio, to help prepare his squad. ‘‘We’re drilling the players with simple, basic stuff,’’ Winter said. ‘‘Too often they lost their way last season.’’ The club has had a good influx of new players prompting Winter to take an aspirational approach. ‘‘We want to make the top four,’’ he said.
Predicted finish: In the bunch.
Cromwell
Coach: Roger Dawson.
Last year: Won just two games, finishing with a 52-0 drubbing from Wakatipu, a far cry from the club’s halcyon days of 2019-21 when the White Horse Cup took up near-permanent residence at Anderson Park.
Players to watch: Midfielder Hayden Todd, who made his mark with North Otago, has come out of retirement. He will link with Rhys Harrold and former Taieri man Brayden Laing, who has been playing overseas. Up front, the team will be relying on lock Stefan Blakeborough and front-rowers Alex Chubb, Tyson Clark and ex-Heriot player Nathan Raynbird.
The oil: Cromwell seriously underperformed last season when injuries plagued the team. Coach Dawson, the only one of Central Otago’s seven premier coaches to be reappointed, says his team will be far better prepared this year. ‘‘We’ve got a good blend of experience and youth, and we’re looking forward to better results.’’
Predicted finish: Top four.
Upper Clutha captain Lachie Garrick clutches the White Horse Cup in its special box. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER
Maniototo
Coach: Steve Lithgow.
Last year: Always competitive, winning seven of their 12 matches and stretching champions Upper Clutha to 18-9 in the semifinals. Gaining Ben Maxwell gave the backline a lift.
Players to watch: Maxwell, obviously, who directs the backline so well and kicks the goals, along with halfback Matt Horne and outside backs Jack Wild and Daniel Adam. Forwards who will make their mark include Sam Jopp, Peter O’Malley and Mike Huddlestone.
The oil: New coach Lithgow is being assisted by Charlie Hore and Mitchell Lake. While they have lost Joe Browett to Scotland and George Hall, who is building a new home, they have picked up Marshall Bell, a fullback from Mid Canterbury, Hamish Powell from Canterbury Country and a heap of promising locals. Maniototo get to challenge for the White Horse Cup on April 11 but coach Lithgow regrets his team has drawn the opening round bye.
Predicted finish: Top four.
Matakanui Combined
Coach: Nat Jamieson.
Last year: Won two of their 12 matches, which was better than 2024 when they won none.
Players to watch: An exciting midfielder from South Africa is Wianvro Wiese while the new captain is hooker Eliott Miller. The vice-captain is prop Michael Philip, who has represented Otago Country. Openside flanker Archie Calder will make his mark.
The oil: Matakanui Combined have lost sharpshooter Dean Sinnamon, who scored 23 tries over the past three seasons but has headed to South Otago. A preseason victory over Strath Taieri augurs well for the season ahead.
Predicted finish: Bottom three, but could win more than last year.
Upper Clutha
Coach: Mark Evans.
Last year: Won everything, basically, except a mid-season game under lights against Alexandra. Won back the White Horse Cup from Wakatipu and hammered that same opponent in the club final, 35-7. Incredibly, Upper Clutha have won 39 of their last 42 matches. Also edged out Clutha in the Countrywide final.
Players to watch: A giant No8 who has represented Wellington B Eamon Carr, along with outside backs Jack East, Nico Bowering and Will Scurr.
The oil: New coach Evans, who assisted Alex Dickson last season, has lost a few key individuals such as prop Ben McKeich, goalkicker Brodie Flannery and French flanker Arthur Boutillier but has picked up 17 new players. ‘‘To be honest, we could just about field a second premier team to avoid the bye,’’ Evans says. Upper Clutha kick off against Matakanui Combined at Omakau on Thursday before putting the White Horse Cup at stake against Maniototo at the Queenstown Events Centre on April 11.
Predicted finish: Finalists.
Wakatipu
Coach: Tom Cunningham.
Last year: Lost four of their 14 matches, three of them to Upper Clutha, including the grand final when whipped 35-7. Played entertaining rugby but came up short late in the season.
Players to watch: Most notably midfielder Rube Peina, who scored 129 points last year, and No8 Anton Huisman. New coach Cunningham is a great fan of his co-captain and believes he has the talent to go a lot further. Interesting newcomers are Harry Walker-Leach, a utility back fresh out of Wakatipu High School, and halfback Mils Stup-Micki, one of a cluster of players to link with the club from France.
The oil: Coach Cunningham will be assisted by his brother, Max from Wales, where he worked with the national sevens team. A serious loss is speedy winger Connor Hamlin, who is out for the season after rupturing his knee late last season. ‘‘We’ll miss him,’’ Cunningham says. ‘‘There’s no substitute for the pure pace he has.’’ Wakatipu have functioned well in preseason fixtures and Cunningham is confident they will give their fans plenty to cheer about in 2026.
Predicted finish: Semifinalists.
• To celebrate the White Horse Cup’s centenary, Upper Clutha are putting the trophy at stake against Maniototo in Queenstown on Saturday, April 11 at 12.45pm. All seven clubs will play at the Queenstown Events Centre. On the same day, Wakatipu play Arrowtown at noon, Cromwell meet Matakanui Combined at 12.45pm and Alexandra (the bye team) take on an Invitation XV at 2.30pm.
