Bowls Auckland officially opened its 2025–26 representative season with the annual Rep Season Launch, held Wednesday night at Royal Oak Bowls. With near-perfect attendance, it was the biggest rep launch yet — a clear sign of the programme’s strength and momentum.

Performance Lead Paul Mackinnon set the tone with a talk on What is Talent? Breaking it down to ability, potential, and performance foundations, Paul illustrated his points with inspiring stories — from Susan Boyle’s rise to stardom, to quadriplegic Nick Vujicic’s perseverance, and the elite teamwork of the US Navy’s Blue Angels.

With squads and teams now named, focus shifts to the season ahead, starting with this weekend’s opening fixtures.

1–5 Year Squad
Fresh energy runs through the 1–5s. Several players have stepped into starting roles after learning the ropes last season, while others graduate to higher squads — seven in total. After sweeping the trophies in Cambridge in July, the group is hungry for more success.

Women’s Squads
Led by new coaching duo Trish Croot and Ian Fisher, the women’s premier and development programme blends proven Premier talent with new faces bursting with potential. Their approach balances growth and experience, aiming to sustain Auckland’s proud legacy while building for the future.

Men’s Squads
The men’s set-up welcomes Peter Blucher as head selector/coach with Sean Hird and Tere Brunton alongside. Blackjack Tony Grantham headlines a Premier squad strengthened by rising stars Liam Hill, David Motu, and Adam Blucher, while the Development side features standouts stepping up from recent 1–5 campaigns.

The Competition
Auckland faces strong opposition: North Harbour’s internationals, Bay of Plenty’s consistency, and Northland’s growing depth. The 1–5s, as always, remain the wildcard with fresh names emerging.

The stage is set! Come and cheer on our Auckland reps as they launch their 2025–26 campaign!

👉Check event info & details here