The ECB Rugby Club sees the U19 grade as a highly important grade in the club and accordingly puts a lot of resources and energy into making sure it is successful. This grade is the stepping stone from First 15 Rugby to U21s to Premier Rugby or U85s and it is therefore very important that the players’ skills are developed and grown whilst they are in this grade.

In 2026, North Harbour this year are reintroducing the U19 grade after not offering it since 2013 (When Bays won the grade).

The club ensures the young men leaving school are coached and managed by the best the club has to offer to ensure ongoing growth of the rugby talent that is returning to the club. All coaches and managers are ECB Old Boys ensuring the history of the club is instilled in the young men that are the future of our Premier Grade Teams.

Furthermore, our club policy is to promote our talented U21 players to the premier team, as form allows. This has proven a successful formula in recent years and may be followed with U19 players contributing to the 21s squad.

Below is the text of a message from Lydia Brown, Head off Rugby Operations for North Harbour Rugby Union received Monday 13 April 2026.

We are still working with the clubs who have players and will run a mini grade for this group. We will continue to send comms around this and please feel free to reach out at any point to send players along to get game time or have a run out if they are not featuring across your other teams.

There will hopefully be a game for these players on Friday 24^th April (venue tbc) which will be Silverdale/Mahu v ECB/Northcote

As soon as we know more we will communicate this.