Valley Hunters secure inaugural Minor Premiership Shield

The SWG TSI Valley Hunters claimed the first-ever Pepsi Capital Rugby Union (CRU) Minor Premiership Shield after holding off the Kramer APAC Brothers to a gripping 41-40 win in the Men’s Premier Division fixture on Saturday, 12 September 2026, at Bava Park.

The minor premiership shield was introduced this season under the leadership of the newly elected CRU executive team, led by President  Michael Bai.

With the inaugural minor premiership shield on the line, two of the premiership heavyweights rose to the challenge, leaving everything on the pitch in a high-octane, titanic clash that ended dramatically.

The floodgates opened in the first half. The Brothers scored three tries with two converted goals, while the Valley Hunters recorded two tries, two successful conversions, and one penalty goal, leaving the halftime score at 19-17.

It was a seesawing affair in the second half, with the brethren registering two additional tries, two goals, and three penalty kicks. The Valley men returned the favor, picking up three tries, two converted goals, and one penalty kick to shatter the men in black.

Coach Frank Genia said he was pleased with the result, crediting his men for their hard work this season and becoming the first club to clinch the inaugural CRU minor premiership shield.

“I told the boys to stick to our game plan. Two minutes is a long time, so I told them to execute our policies, get into the opposition’s half, and then pick up their work rate. That was my simple message to the boys, which they executed well,” Genia commented. 

“Yeah, it’s pretty good. I’m happy for the boys. They work hard, similar to all clubs. All the sacrifices they put in training to perform on the weekends have paid off. To be leading this group of men, I’m happy for them. They got some recognition for their efforts this year.”

He explained that the finals will be a different environment, noting that the team needs to work on key areas during the week and be prepared to compete in the first week of the elimination finals.  

With the regular season completed, coach Genia said the back-to-back premiers (2024-2025) now shift their focus to the playoffs, hoping to maintain their winning form and reach another grand final.