Sports diary: What you didn't know was on this weekend

Looking for something different this weekend? Here's a TWN round-up of sports fixtures you won't find in the mainstream listings.

What to attend

Auckland City v Auckland FC Reserves - 3pm - Live on FIFA+. This is a clash of two powerhouse New Zealand football clubs at Kiwitea Street on Saturday afternoon, where Auckland City FC host Auckland FC Reserves at 3 pm. In stark contrast to how the A-League team is doing, Auckland FC Reserves sit in 11th place after seven games of the 2025 Northern League season. And this is the weekend after Auckland FC’s first team clinched the Premier's Plate in the Men’s A-League competition.

Round one of Auckland Rugby 1st XV 1A competition: The Auckland Rugby 1st XV 1A competition gets underway on Saturday afternoon, with all six matches starting at 2.30pm. Here are all of the fixtures:
Dilworth School v St Peter’s College - Dilworth School
St Kentigern College v De La Salle College - St Kentigern’s College
Mt Albert Grammar v King’s College - Mt Albert Grammar School
Sacred Heart College v St Paul’s College - Sacred Heart College
Auckland Grammar v Botany Downs SC - Auckland Grammar School
Liston College v Kelston BHS - Liston College

Sal’s NBL - Franklin Bulls v Otago Nuggets - Franklin Pool & Leisure - Friday 7:30 pm. Round eight of the Sal’s NBL national Basketball competition is underway and the high-flying Franklin Bulls take on the Otago Nuggets on Friday in Pukekohe. The Bulls currently sit third on the table behind the Canterbury Rams and the Wellington Saints but may push their way up to the top spot with a convincing win on Friday night. Sal’s NBL Basketball games are known for their enjoyable atmospheres and with cheap tickets, you won’t find much better sporting entertainment.

What to watch:

The Rugby Championship U20  New Zealand U20 v Australia U20 - Sky Sport 50 - 11.50pm Thursday. If you haven’t already had your rugby fix this weekend, this is another game to sit down and enjoy. The New Zealand U20 Men’s team start their defence this weekend of The Rugby Championship U20 competition, after winning last year’s competition 36-25 over Australia This year’s competition is being hosted in South Africa, where Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina will contest the second-ever edition. Nine Auckland-based players have been selected in the wider squad, with seven of the nine chosen to play in the first game early on Thursday midnight/Friday morning: Tamiano Ahloo, Blues/Auckland (playing on Friday); Robson Faleafa, Blues/Auckland (playing on Friday), Riley Tofilau, Blues/North Harbour; Sika Pole, Blues/Auckland (playing on Friday); Randall Baker, Blues/Auckland (playing on Friday); Aio Keith, Blues/Auckland (playing on Friday); Caleb Woodley, Blues/Auckland; Rico Simpson, Blues/Auckland (playing on Friday); Harlyn Saunoa, Blues/Auckland (playing on Friday).

Ice hockey: Dunedin is hosting the IIHF Division II Group B World Championships, with teams like Bulgaria, Chinese Taipei, Georgia, Iceland, and Thailand competing against the New Zealand Ice Blacks.  The Ice Blacks sit fifth in the standings. Georgia sits at the top, having won both their games and have the only 100% win record of the tournament. Here are the fixtures for this weekend in Dunedin: Bulgaria vs. New Zealand:, Friday, May 2, 101 Victoria Road, St Kilda, Dunedin; 8pm.

Iceland vs. New Zealand, May 3, 101 Victoria Road, St Kilda, Dunedin; 8pm.

You can find the live stream here. 

NZ U85kg team will face Sri Lanka Tusters live on NZR+. Also this weekend, a squad of the top New Zealand U85kg rugby players have headed to Sri Lanka for a two-match series starting on Sunday. The first game between the weight-restricted side and the Sri Lankan national squad will take place on Sunday at Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy at 10.3 pm (NZT) on Sky Sport and on NZR+ for free. The second game will be a week later at Race Course Grounds, Colombo, Sri Lanka, at Sunday, May 11, 1am (NZT).

This weekend is also rich with some big sporting occasions around the country, including the Blues taking on the Western Force on Friday night at Eden Park, as well as the popular Magic Round fixture on Saturday night between everyone’s beloved New Zealand Warriors and the North Queensland Cowboys. Don't forget too the Los Angeles HSBC SVNS Series, in which the New Zealand teams are at opposite ends of their tables.