  Above and right: Ridge Studd captaining Wellington College against St Pat's Silverstream earlier this year. PHOTO: Club Rugby. “I’m a rugby player not Jamie Oliver,” Ridge Studd responded when asked to explain an injury which kept him out of the Under 18 Centurions representative team for a fortnight. Studd burnt his leg badly while cooking an egg. “I was cooking poached eggs and went to check a Mitre 10 Cup score. When I returned to the kitchen the pot was frothing. I went to switch off the element, but knocked the pot and the water spilled down my leg,” Studd recalled. “It bloody hurt, but I only thought I needed some cold water and a bandage. When my sister got home she insisted I go to the hospital where I was told it was more serious.” Studd is no cook, but he does have the right ingredients on a footy field. Studd was the captain of the Wellington College First XV this season, and though his team struggled, Studd’s consistency at openside flanker was recognised when he was appointed co-captain of the Under 18 Centurions. Studd provides an insight into his leadership philosophy. “As a captain I try to lead by example and bring a die for the jersey approach. In every team there are boys who want to be in the team and boys who really don’t. Although we didn’t win many games at Wellington College, I was lucky to have the support of a lot of boys who brought the same attitude.” The Centurions have brought a positive attitude to the Hurricanes Under 18 provincial tournament. The defending Trust Bank Central Secondary Schools Provincial champions will seek to defend their title on Saturday when they travel to Cooks Gardens to tackle Whanganui Under 18. Whanganui have beaten Poverty Bay (51-22), East Coast (40-14) and the Hawke’s Bay Saracens (41-18) to earn top spot by a point. Whanganui is largely comprised of boys from the Collegiate First XV who had their most successful season in many years. Whanganui beat Wellington College (5-32) at the annual quadrangular tourney in July. “Whanganui were quite niggly, and clever when they were niggly. They were quick to pounce on our mistakes and had a couple of key players who were damaging. The Fijian 8 ran it from everywhere while the 12 was good on attack and defence,” Studd observed.  The Centurions team after their win over the Horowhenua-Kapiti 18s last weekend. The Centurions greatest strength appears to be togetherness and leadership. “We’ve had 36 players in the team this year, all of whom are still part of the team,” Studd stresses. “We’ve got five boys who are first year out of school and some Scots boys who have returned after their season ended. We’ve got leaders across the park which makes good playing a whole lot easier.” The Centurions have had wins over Wairarapa Bush (36-22), the Wellington Samoans (17-12) and Horowhenua-Kapiti (62-10). Last year, the Centurions beat Wairarapa Bush 50-10 in the final, while Whanganui were sixth out of eight teams. Studd, fullback Bill Tamani (Tawa College) and midfielder Sage Shaw-Tait (Scots College) each scored a double in the crushing of Horowhenua-Kapiti. Better usage of territory was the telling factor in the slender success over the Samoans. HIBS prop Harry Press (called up to the NZ Barbarians School squad) and workhorse lock Bede Brown (Rongotai College) are two forwards who have flourished in the campaign. The Centurions backline has been spearheaded by first-five Richard Evans (Hutt Valley High School). Police detective and Tawa club affiliated Damian Rapira-Davies is the Centurions head coach. Studd concluded with affirmation for another member of the team. “Daniel Peckston is one of our managers, not officially, but he’s one of those rare guys who does everything from folding jerseys to running touch. He’s a bit lippy, which is sometimes annoying, but we love him. Daniel’s passion for the game is what it’s all about.” Daniel is a current student of Hutt Valley High School. The Hurricanes U18 provinical tournament final between the Whanganui U18s and the Centurions U18s kicks off at Cooks Gardens, Whanganui on Saturday at 12.45pm.  14/9/2019 New Zealand Māori Under 18 teams named NZ Maori 2017 Photo - Credit:Andy McArthur The New Zealand Māori Rugby Board has today announced the Māori Under 18 teams for 2019.
The New Zealand Māori U18 Ngā Whatukura team will face Fiji Schools and also play in the game of three halves against New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Schools Barbarians in Palmerston North later this month. Players have been identified through regional and national camps and selected on form from school, regional and club rugby. New Zealand Māori Rugby Board Chair Dr Farah Palmer said she was excited to see young Maori talent recognised in the naming of these teams. “It will be great to see the mana of Māori rugby on display over the next two weeks as the NZ Māori U18 Ngā Whatukura team play Fiji Schools in Rotorua and also take on the New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Barbarians schools teams in a game of three halves in Palmerston North. “This team represents the future of Māori rugby and our next generation of Māori talent whom I’m sure will move onto higher honours,” said Palmer. The New Zealand Māori Rugby Board also acknowledged and celebrated the players selected in the U18 Ngā Mareikura team. While there is no match for the under 18 girls in 2019, Palmer said the Board wanted to congratulate the efforts of the young wahine athletes this season and commented that efforts were being made to ensure a programme for this team would be established in future years. The Ngā Whatukura team will assemble in Rotorua on 17 September before matches against Fiji Schools (22 September) and in the game of three halves in Palmerston North against the New Zealand Schools and the New Zealand Schools Barbarians (26 September). New Zealand Māori U18 Ngā Whatukura team is; Blake Rogers - Scots College - Te Aupouri Carlos Karaitiana - Rotorua BHS - Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe Cassius Misa - Te Teko Rugby & Sport Club - Ngāti Kahungunu Ethan Seed - Francis Douglas MC - Te Atiawa Harry Hansen - Otago BHS - Ngāti Porou Hemopo Cunningham - Rotorua BHS - Ngāti Pikiao Hunter Nuku - Taradale RFC - Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tai Jacob Ward - Napier BHS - Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu Jayden Walker - Napier BHS - Ngāti Kahungunu Jock McKenzie - Westlake BHS - Ngāti Maniapoto Jordan Thompson-Dunn - Hastings BHS - Ngāti Kahungunu Kaharoa Takuira-Mita -Tauranga BHS - Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui Keegan McGregor - Christchurch BHS - Ngāti Raukawa Mercedes Hodge - Hastings BHS - Tūwharetoa Nephi Sanireve - Trident High School - Ngāti Awa, Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau Nikora Broughton - Arataki Sports Club - Ngāti Ruanui Niwa Barlow - New Plymouth BHS - Tūwharetoa Noah Hotham - Hamilton BHS - Ngāi Tai Rocky Olsen - Whangarei BHS - Ngāti Whātua Stuart Leach - Rotorua BHS - Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe Tamaikoha Te Aute - Rangiuru Sports Club - Te Arawa Taylor Dale - Otago BHS - Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua Thomas Murray-Edwards - New Plymouth BHS - Ngāti Whakaue Tiaki Fabish - Old Boys University, Wellington - Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Whānau ā Apanui Valance Yates - St Kentigern College - Ngāpuhi Ngā Kaiako/Kaiwhakahaere Kahu Carey - Head Coach - Rangitāne, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Jeremy Wara - Forwards Coach - Tainui, Ngāti Tahinga, Ngāti Tiipa Ngatai Walker - Backs Coach - Ngāti Porou Simon Kneebone - Set Piece Coach - Ngāti Porou Duncan Cameron - Manager - Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa,Te Whānau ā Apanui, Rangitāne Mihaere Emery - Cultural Advisor - Tahoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Raukawa Tiki Edwards - Campaign Manager - Whakatōhea, Ngāti Raukawa NZ Māori U18 Ngā Mareikura team is; Jaylyn Campbell Waitakere City Rugby Club Te Rarawa Tuia Edwards Hastings GHS Ngāti Kahungungu Vici Rose Green Hamilton GHS Ngāti Maniapoto Daeja Kaponga Putaruru College Ngāti Raukawa Jurney Blair Te Rarawa Rugby Club Te Rarawa Mia Anderson Kerikeri High school Ngāpuhi Savannah Bodman Kamo High school Ngāpuhi Raegan Robinson Karamu High school Ngāti Kahungunu Milly Mackay Petone RFC Ngāti Porou Alesha Williams New Plymouth GHS Te Atiawa Mania Nuku Hamilton GHS Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui Kelsey Teneti Lytton High School Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau ā Apanui Shaniqka Wall Nga Paerangi Manukura School Ngāti Tūwharetoa Cortez Te Pou Tūhoe Karamu High School Ngāti Kahungunu Raumati Rogers Marlborough Girls College Tūhoe Charm Sandilands Karamu High School Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tahu Holly Topp Tauranga Girls’ College Ngāi Tahu Layla Te Rini Trident High School Tūwharetoa Klee Begbie Putaruru College Ngāti Raukawa Karlee Cruickshank Central Southland Ngāpuhi Jamie Church Kavanagh Collage Ngāti Maniapoto, Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou Naia Toaolamai-Holden Christchurch Girls High Te Atiawa, Ngāti Porou Shania Kohinga North Otago Ngāti Maniapoto Ngāti Tūwharetoa Jasmine Oconnell Manukura Ngati-Kahungunu, Ngāti-Maniapoto Calista Ruruku University of Waikato Te Atihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi Ngā Kaiako/Kaiwhakahaere Jayson McRoberts Head Coach Ngāti Kahungunu Caleb Angew-Jones Assistant coach Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Geri Paul Assistant Coach Ngāti Awa Paula Taylor Anderson Manager Te Atiawa Tamara Toaloamai Assistant manager Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Hāmoa Tuterangi Nepe-Apatu Support Ngāti Kahungunu  Players from 29 schools across the country have been named in the New Zealand Schools’ and New Zealand Schools’ Barbarians teams for 2019, announced by New Zealand Rugby today. A huge 1st XV season culminated last weekend with the Finals played in Palmerston North, the city will also play host to the 50 young players selected across the two representative teams. The New Zealand Schools squad features seven players that were involved in the schools programme last year, including two who have graduated from the Barbarians team. The Heartland Unions are represented in the New Zealand Schools team by Whanganui Colleagiate’s Ben Strang. Players represent a total of 12 provincial unions with the biggest representation from Auckland and Canterbury. Newly-crowned National Co-Ed champions St Kentigern College has seven players selected across the two national Schools teams, with Christchurch Boys’ High School and King’s College also strongly represented. The New Zealand Schools’ team is:  The New Zealand Schools’ Barbarians team is: is;   Christchurch Girls' High School after their South Island final win over St Hilda's Collegiate.  The Hine Pounamu Trophy that is presented to the winner of the Girls Rugby Top 4 tournament. This coming weekend’s eighth annual Girls Top 4 rugby tournament features the champion schools from the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes and combined Crusaders/Highlanders regions. Southland Girls’ High School were the South Island winners and representatives for the first seven years, and won the title in 2016. Their run of appearances has been broken and five-time Crusaders UC Cup champions Christchurch Girl’s High School will be there for the first time this year. On Friday, Christchurch GHS meet Auckland’s Onehunga High School in one semi-final, while Hamilton Girls’ High School play Manukura in the other, in a replay of last year’s decider for the Hine Pounamu Trophy (won by Hamilton). Christchurch Girls’ High School’s co-captains are first five-eighth Alice Dalzell and blindside flanker Charlotte Allen. Alice said that Christchurch GHS are excited to be going to the Top 4 for the first time. “At the start of the year our goal was to retain the UC Cup and win in the South Island, which we have achieved and we are really proud of that,” said Alice. “Going up to Palmerston North will be a new experience for the players, but we have prepared for this opportunity all season and have put in extra trainings since the start of term two.” Last year, Christchurch GHS were beaten 0-39 by Southland GHS in the South Island decider, but last weekend turned that result around by defeating Dunedin’s St Hilda’s Collegiate 71-21. “It has been great to see how our team has grown and everyone has come together so well this year,” said Alice. “We don’t have star players but everyone plays for each other.” Co-captain Charlotte agreed. “One thing we asked the girls before last weekend’s South Island final against St Hilda’s was for them to come off the field afterwards feeling like they had played the best game they had ever played in and then no matter what the score was we would be happy.” “Every girl on the field did that, and it was whole team effort and that is why we achieved the result we did against St Hilda’s.”  Christchurch GHS UC Cup champions for the fifth consecutive year. Christchurch GHS previously beat Darfield High School in the final of the Canterbury-wide UC Cup competition that is played on Wednesdays throughout the season. Heading into Friday’s Top 4 semi-finals, Christchurch GHS’s season record is: played 13, won 13, points for 835, points against 72. The leading points scorers are Mia Cochrane (159) and Naia Toaolamai- Holden (133). The top try-scorer is Alice Hutchinson, who has scored 19 tries. Co-captains Alice Dalzell and Charlotte are one of several year 13 players who have been in the team for a few seasons, so the trip to the Top 4 will be extra special for the school leavers. Equally, there will be a similar number of year 9 and 10 players in the Top 4 squad, so win, lose or draw this weekend it will be a well-balanced side and also one that they can build for the future. Some of the older players play Senior Women’s club rugby in Christchurch, for High School Old Boys. Several players also play sevens for the school and have experience playing against the North Island schools at the annual Condor 7s in December. A couple will bring experience playing other sports to a high level, such as No. 8 Jaidyn Busch who is the defending NZSS Senior Girls and U20 Women’s Australian Shot Put champion. Christchurch Girls' High School Top 4 squad: Alice Dalzell, Alice Hutchinson, Anna Sweeney, Charlotte Allen, Eliza Dalzell, Erin Humm, Gemma Diedrich, Harriet Cochrane, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg, Jaidyn Busch, Jordan Sanders, Jorja Miller, Kezia Fowler, Blyth,Libby Thomas, Loren Edwards, Mackenzie Allan, Maggie Kelly, Mele Fifita, Mia Cochrane, Michaela Horler, Naia Toaolamai Holden, Rhiannon Merhtens, Rylee Munro, Salome Naikau. The Top 4 trophy The girls play for the Hine Pounamu Trophy, which previously was a challenge trophy first presented in 2012 by Rugby Girl and on the line every time the holder took the field against inter-provincial opposition. It is now designated as the main prize at this tournament. Top 4 tournament winners: 2012: Feilding High School 2013: Feilding High School 2014: Hamilton Girls’ High School 2015: Hamilton Girls’ High School 2016: Southland Girls’ High School 2017: St Mary’s College 2018: Hamilton Girls’ High School 2019 Hine Pounamu Trophy semi-finals (Friday 7 September, at Massey University):
  Riley Higgins finds the tryline in a recent fixture against Rongotai College. PHOTO: Mike O'Leary. Riley Higgins is hoping this season ends in a similar fashion to 2018.
Last year the St Pat’s Silverstream outside back injured his ankle; returning in time for the Premiership final won by Silverstream 29-22 over St Pats Town. In May 2019, Higgins broke his thumb against Napier Boys’ High School, but has returned in strong form with a Player of the Match display on national TV against St Pat’s Town and a rare, but efficient appearance at first-five in Silverstream’s 41-10 victory over Rongotai College in the semi-final last Saturday. “I haven’t played first-five since Under-15’s. We had an injury so everybody moved in one. I’m feeling good and looking forward to Sunday,” Higgins enthused. Silverstream will seek to become the first team since Wellington College in 2006 to win a hat-trick of Premiership titles. Unlike the previous two seasons Silverstream will start as underdogs against an unbeaten Scots College. Scots thumped Silverstream 34-7 about a month ago. “Scots played well that day, but we had half a dozen players injured and five second XV players on the bench,” Higgins rued. “Their backs are dangerous, but I felt we matched them in the forwards. If we stick to our structures and shutdown their danger men we’ve got a chance,” he continued. Higgins will benefit greatly from past experience. Last year, in the unfamiliar position of wing, he set up the first of three tries for lock Neyla Masima (now with the Warriors). “We were down 10-0, but showed good composure to comeback. I tried to get involved and was happy to contribute something positive,” Higgins reflected. Riley’s older brother Kienan Higgins has had positive experiences in finals. In 2017, Kienan was named Player of the Match when Silverstream beat Wellington College 17-11. This season he set up a try in Norths 25-16 win over Wainuiomata in the Wellington club rugby Jubilee Cup climax. “Kienan likes to remind me that he's won more finals. He doesn’t say anything else, but I know he’s supportive,” Riley laughed. Silverstream’s season hasn’t been a laughing matter. Their record 28-game unbeaten streak in the Premiership ended and traditional losses to New Plymouth Boys’ High School, St Bede’s College, Palmerston North Boys’ High School and Rongotai College were suffered. However the likes of Julius Masoe, Mika Felix, Jacob Beattie and Peter Lakai have shown considerable improvement in the forwards and centre Rocco Berry is back to spearhead the backline. Higgins partnership with the recently signed Warrior is perhaps the biggest weapon Silverstream has. “It’s good to have Rocco back. He’s got a lot of experience and lifts the confidence of the younger boys,” Higgins acclaimed. Scots had nine selections in the Hurricanes Under-18 camp, Silverstream none. A Silverstream victory would be a massive upset, but Silverstream won the 2010 and 2012 finals from fourth and second position respectively. “They’ve got two arms and two legs like us. There is a lot of pride in this team. We won’t make it easy for Scots,” Higgins concluded. Heading into the final, top qualifier Scots College won eight from nine matches in the round-robin this year, scoring 430 points and conceding 88. Third placed qualifier St Pat’s Silverstream won seven and lost two, scoring 348 points and letting in 111. The Premiership final between St Pats Silverstream and Scots College is at Jerry Collins Stadium at 12:10pm on Sunday. It is also finals days for all other college grades on Saturday at St Pat’s Silverstream, headlined by Tawa College and Porirua college squaring off in the Premier 2 Murray Jensen Cup final at 1.30pm.  The Polson Banner changes hands today. IMAGE: Sky TV.  The Polson Banner has now been contested 115 times. Palmerston North Boys’ High School hosted Napier Boys’ High School in their annual full sports exchange. In the senior sports, the home school won the rubber 3-2 – including winning the famous Polson Banner First XV rugby match. In the five major sports that were contested amongst the senior teams, Palmerston North BHS beat Napier BHS 27-15 in the First XV rugby, won the First XI Football 5-3 and the Senior golf 6.5 - 1.5. Napier won the First XI hockey 2-0 and also won the First V basketball 83-61. Palmerston North generally had the better of the junior match-ups – results at the bottom of this article. In the first XV rugby, Palmerston North Boys’ High School won the Polson Banner for the first time since 2015. The win was Palmerston North’s 64th in the 115th edition of the Polson Banner. In heavy underfoot conditions and weather that started off sunny but turned wet in the second half, Palmerston North played with patience on defence and extra adventure through their backs, with fullback Ruben Love a standout. They won four tries to three, to also register a bonus point win in the final Super 8 fixture of the year for both teams. The home side out-scored the visitors three tries to one to lead 17-5 at halftime. But it was Napier that made the more positive start, dominating early possession and bustling centre Jack Sheridan bursting through from 40 metres to score. Palmerston North worked their way into the contest and in the 21st minute right wing Jayden Keelan returned a kick in play and set sail for the corner flag before passing inside to fullback Love to score their opening try. In the 27th minute Keelan and Love attacked the shortside first phase from an attacking scrum near halfway, a raid that was brought down just short of the line. This soon led to their second try from a subsequent scrum close to the line through bulldozing prop Nasser Tato.  The updated Super 8 points table after this match. Just before the break, Napier missed touch with a clearing penalty and fullback Love ran the ball back up towards the 22. Palmerston North recycled quickly from the next ruck and halfback Matt Oldridge darted towards the corner and set up a try for second five-eighth Josh Ellingham.
Napier made a good fist of the opening exchanges of the second half, using their forwards to good effect up the middle and 10 minutes in were finally awarded with their second try to lively halfback Angus Kilmister after a lineout drive. Palmerston North regrouped and after being held up moments before, popular replacement prop Darius Mafileo crashed over to score what was to be the match-winner. Love’s conversion made it 24-10. With rain arriving, Napier responded with a forwards try to Reece Henderson after another series of pick and goes. But that was as close as they got, Love sealing victory with a penalty on fulltime. About the Polson Banner The Polson Banner is one of the oldest interschool rugby trophies up for grabs in New Zealand. It was first played for in 1907 but "back dated" to 1904 to record all of the fixtures between the schools. The original silk banner was donated by the 1902-12 NBHS headmaster, A.S. Polson, and has the colours and the crest of the two respective schools on the reverse sides. The scores for each year's match has been embroidered on the banner over the years. Polson Banner Statistics Played: 115 Palmerston North BHS Won: 64 Napier BHS Won: 46 Drawn: 6 Palmerston North BHS Biggest Win: 45-3, 1981, Won 51-10 in 2015. Napier BHS Biggest Win: 43-14, 2002 Polson Banner last five matches: 2015: Palmerston North BHS 51 – Napier BHS 10 2016: Palmerston North BHS 17 – Napier BHS 17 (draw) 2017: Napier BHS 12 – Palmerston North BHS (10) 2018: Napier BHS 36 – Palmerston North BHS 19 2019: Palmerston North BHS 27 – Napier BHS 15 2019 Napier – Palmerston North sports exchange results included: Rugby 27-15 win to Palmerston North in First XV Rugby 45-12 PNBHS U14 Rugby 7-5 to Napier in Second XV Rugby 17-12 to Napier in Colts Rugby 19-12 to PNBHS in Third XV Rugby Football 10-1 to PNBHS Junior A Football 0-0 draw in Second XI Football 5-3 win to Palmerston North in First XI Football Hockey 21-0 win to Palmerston North in Colts Hockey 3-0 win to Palmerston North in 2nd XI Hockey 2-0 win to Napier in First XI Hockey Basketball 88-50 win to Palmerston North in Junior A Basketball 83-61 win to Napier in Premier A Basketball Debating Wins to Palmerston North in both Junior and Senior Golf Palmerston North 6.5 - 1.5  The Chiefs U18 Development squad to match up against the Crusaders and Blues Under 18 sides this Saturday, 13 July. Team Messam will make the trip south to Blenheim to take on the Crusaders Under 18’s at Lansdowne Park. While Team Clarke will host the Blues Under 18’s at St Paul’s Collegiate. Both games will kick off at 12.30pm. The teams are: Team Messam:
Reserves:
Team Clarke:
Reserves:
 A curious thing happened when the Hurricanes Under-18 training squad was recently announced for their annual development camp in Napier.
Traditional powerhouses Wellington College and St Patrick’s College, Silverstream only had a single selection; Wellington loose forward Flynn Crampton. Scots College haven’t won the Premiership since 2014, and accounted for eight of the 15 selections from the capital. How can a school that has won just a solitary open weight title in the past four years (Scots second XV are the reigning Premier 4 champions) be so heavily represented in a major representative squad? What’s going on in Wellington Secondary School rugby? Anecdotally, the standard of the First XV premiership is the worst it’s been. Numbers are falling in most grades and solutions for improvement aren’t necessarily straightforward. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is looking to implement a new governance structure for secondary school rugby (this year), to be followed by a new strategy (in 2020) to build player numbers. Wellington provides a vivid insight into many of the challenges the game faces. Dwindling Numbers Rugby is decreasing in popularity. Since 2012, boys teams across Wellington have decreased by 18.3%, (minus 20 teams, or around minus 440 players). More alarmingly: · Since 2012, open weight Premier teams have fallen by 19%, (minus 9 teams). · Since 2012, non-Premier open weight age-grade teams have fallen by 47%, (minus 17 teams). Tumbling numbers isn’t just a Wellington trend. Between 2013-2018, the number of teams in Auckland fell from 225 to 181. In North Harbour numbers are even more drastic, with a third of teams vanishing in the past five seasons. Why are boys not playing rugby? The NZR Secondary Schools Rugby review identified several reasons, the most interesting of which are contained in a student feedback section and include:
The Wellington College First XV is suffering the worst run of results in its history. This season they are in grave danger of missing the top four of the Premiership for the first time. In the past three years Wellington’s First XV have been the victims of record defeats against Hastings Boys’ High School, St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, Scots College, Nelson College, Christ’s College, Feilding High School and Palmerston North Boys’ High School. In the past five years Wellington has experienced embarrassing stumbles against Kapiti College, Hutt International Boys’ School and Wairarapa College. Why should we be concerned? Wellington College is by some distance the capital's largest state boys school and therefore provides a vivid illustration of boys sporting preferences. Wellington has a national reputation for being traditionally powerful in rugby. Wellington won the Premiership as recently as 2016, which might suggest Wellington is on a temporary rebuilding cycle. However, Wellington losing more games than it wins was almost unthinkable a few short years ago. Despite having a relatively healthy 10 teams at present, closer inspection of the programme suggests a rapidly weakening First XV was only a matter of time. Between 2010 and 2016, aside from the First XV, the only open weight title success was the Under-15A’s, which captured the Division I title in 2010. Contrast that with St Pat’s Town who have won six open weight grades since 2014 and Silverstream, who have won a dozen. Anecdotally, “small white boys from Khandallah and Kaori” are avoiding rugby like the plague and don’t have the size to compete at the heavier levels. In 2018, Wellington enjoyed a very fruitful sporting year. Wellington are the national cricket, swimming and futsal champions; a staggering 576 boys play the latter code. Additionally, Wellington athletes won half a dozen medals at the National Track & Field Championships. Rugby is no longer king at Col. Non competitive Games One of the arguments presented in favour of increasing the Premiership grade from eight teams to ten was to expose more players to the highest level and thus boost the standard and competitiveness of the competition. Despite honourable intentions, the opposite has proven true. Between 2012 and 2016, just under half (84) of all Premiership fixtures were decided by 20 points or more. Since expansion there have been 130 games of which 77 (59%) have been settled by 20 points or more. On top of that there have been two defaults and a century posted by St Pat’s Town. This past weekend Kapti was beaten 106-3 by Silverstream in a nonsense of a contest in which Kapti left out half a dozen of their leading players, an acknowledgment they were beaten before they'd started. This Saturday, Hutt International Boys’ School will default their fixture against St Pat’s Town citing a “shortage of player numbers.” Silverstream have won the Premiership the past two years by an average winning score of 53-7. When Silverstream won in 2012, their average winning score was 23-11. Granted Silverstream upset a formidable Wellington College outfit in the final, but even Wellington’s average winning score that year was only 26-7. Unusually, between 2010-2015, the school which finished first in the round robin failed to win the Premiership. The NZR Secondary Schools Rugby Review identified uncompetitive competitions as a major force for driving students away from the game. There were complaints being consistently beaten by large scores results in a loss of enjoyment and motivation. The review also recommended NZR establishes a clear definition of which grades are considered performance grades, with all other grades recognised as existing primarily to maximise the appeal and benefit to participants. The shape a ‘high performance’ grade would take is uncertain, but clearly the Wellington Premiership is drifting away from ‘high performance’ with so many one-sided games. The Rise of Scots College In 2009, Scots First XV lost to the Wellington College 2nd XV in the Premier II final. Five years later Scots were the National champions. The only other team at the school to win a grade in that five year period was the 2nd XV who won the lowly Premier 5 grade in 2012 and Premier 4 the next season. Since 2010, Scots have won a mere six College Sport Wellington grades. How have Scots, with a small roll (slightly over 500) and little reputation for rugby, become such a force in the First XV Premiership? The answer is simple: greater coaching resources and more rugby-playing students joining the school. In 2014, eight players were on scholarship in the Scots starting XV that beat Silverstream 21-18 in the Premiership final. Under current eligibility rules a First XV is allowed no more than five players that are “new to school.” A “new to school" tag is carried for two years, while internationals never shrug the title. Essentially, done methodically with enough planning and forethought, a third of your team can still be imported. The best way to consistently build a powerful team with little strength below (Scots don’t even have an Under-15’s side) is to recruit by specific positions or attract top juniors and expose them to superior training while they effectively bide their time making the First XV. There are, of course, benefits for some boys who gain scholarships, like receiving a better education and coaching. And universally chastising boys and their families for accepting scholarships is nothing more than petulant. Perhaps the demands of a younger and more complex professional game necessitates programs like Scots. The expertise and resources to prepare players for the next level simply doesn't exist across multiple schools? There is nothing in the present rules to prevent Scots or others (uninhibited from zoning laws, a whole separate issue) from constructing a First XV in an obviously top-down fashion. However, having a side monopolise leading talent without any growth in the lower grades appears to harm the game. The NRZ Secondary Schools Rugby review identified scholarships as a factor in driving boys away from the sport. Inexplicably Scots lost their points from a first round win against Rongotai College this season for erring in the number of “new school” players they had in the 22. This was a staggering oversight given Scots is coached by a paid Rugby Director whose a member of the Wellington Schools Secondary Schools Executive and New Zealand Schools coaching staff. It’s interesting to note the tightening of eligibility rules in the 1A Auckland competition has had a noticeable impact on the competitiveness of the results. In 2018, 62% of all games were decided by 20 points or more. After eight rounds this year that figure had dropped to 46%. Ironically, Saint KentigernCollege, the target of much criticism for their flagrant poaching, suffered their first 20-plus point hiding in well over a decade when they were thumped 52-19 by King’s College, another school accused of overtly aggressive recruiting practices. I changed "six" to "eight" here:  Fulltime in the final and Nelson College have held on to beat Whanganui Collegiate 13-7.  Nelson College held off waves of late Whanganui Collegiate attack on their own line to beat them 13-7 and win the 93rd Quadrangular Tournament in atrocious conditions at Wellington College this afternoon. After scoring the only points of the second spell soon after halftime through second five-eighth Louis Carmine, and with wind and rain closing in, Nelson were forced into defensive mode for much of the rest of the game. Whanganui, through their committed ball runners, led by No. 8 Semi Verdoese and bustling hooker Ben Strang, closed out the match hot on attack on Nelson’s line. There were at least four clear chances to score plus a charge-down of a clearing kick but all were repelled by Nelson whose unwavering defence held firm. Earlier, it was Whanganui who scored the game’s first try after a break into the 22 and subsequent forwards momentum sending lock Hunter Morrison over the whitewash. Second five-eighth Te Atawhai Mason guided the conversion through with the wind and they led 7-3 late in the half. Nelson created momentum and their forwards were held up over the line, forcing a 5-metre scrum, from which halfback Mason Lund made a dart and scored to put them up 8-7 at halftime. Nelson won the tourney for the 26th time (five shared) overall and the third time in the past five years. The last final to feature Nelson and Whanganui prior to today was in 1996 when Nelson also won 29-15. The last time Whanganui beat Nelson in a final was 33-9 in 1974. The last time Whanganui won a final was in 1991, the year Ed Sheeran was born and Bryan Adams was top of the Billboard charts. Home side Wellington College could count themselves unlucky not to beat Christ’s College in the playoff for third and fourth, which finished up as an 18-18 draw. Conditions were dry throughout the first-half of this match, but both sides struggled in the difficult crosswind and in the rain when it arrived at halftime. Christ’s went ahead 5-0 early through a try to prop Liam Pratt, before both sides kicked a penalty to advance the score to 8-3. About five minutes before halftime, Christ’s halfback Max Goulter scored a try from a 5-metre scrum to extend their lead to 15-3. But Wellington College scored a timely try in reply to blindside flanker Oscar Quin. The conversion made it 15-10 at the turnaround. Wellington flyhalf Jacob Waikiri-Jones closed the gap to 15-13 with a penalty, as his forwards dug deeper and pushed Christ’s close several times. Christ’s gave away several penalties and eventually had a man sent to the sin-bin. In his absence, Wellington came up with what appeared to be the winning try to hooker Chris Bramley. But Christ’s had one final raid up into opposition territory and second five-eighth Shun Miyake kicked a penalty to level it up to 18-18. The last draw in the third-place playoff was in 2013 when Christ’s shared an 18-18 draw with Whanganui Collegiate. The last draw between Wellington and Christ’s was a 15-15 tie in the same fixture in 1996. Wellington have still never finished outright fourth in consecutive years at the Quad.   Day one (Monday) reports:
Whanganui Collegiate: 32 v Wellington College: 5 Whanganui Collegiate defeated Wellington College for the first time since 1996; earning their biggest win against the hosts since 1927 with a sometimes impressive, often dogged display. Whanganui effectively won the game in the first ten minutes leaping to a 15-0 lead. An early handling error by Wellington enabled Whanganui to enter the Wellington 22 and kick a penalty. Whanganui No.8 Semi Vodosese proved explosive at times and a 60-meter burst by the Fijian was the catalyst for a try to bustling hooker Ben Strang. Te Atawhai Mason produced a classy display. Not only was his goal kicking near faultless with five success from six attempts, but searing pace saw the Whanganui second-five score the visitors second try from a charge down and 40-meter pursuit. Wellington enjoyed obvious superiority in the scrum, but a lack of pace and precision in the backline meant little reward materialised. No.8 Flynn Crampton did close the gap to 15-5 at halftime, but Whanganui was successful in foiling most of Wellington’s attack, despite losing a player to the sin bin. Wellington rejected a number of kickable penalties and were made to pay dearly midway through the second-half when Mason slipped his marker to complete a double. Vodosese completed the scoring when he strode clear just before fulltime. Lock Joseph Abernethy and captain Kenry Kilmster on the blindside were other standouts for Collegiate. For Wellington, hooker Christopher Bramley was determined and reserve midfield back Apisaloma Tulua isn’t absent of size or ability. Nelson College: 26 v Christ’s College: 14 In addition to qualifying for the final, Nelson College claimed maximum points in a Crusaders First XV competition fixture to go top of that competition. Nelson never trailed on the scoreboard and that was fitting given the industry and excellence of their forwards. In addition to scoring four tries, Nelson was held up over the line three times as they posed plenty of questions of the Christ’s defence. Nelson’s initial breakthrough was made by lock Daniel Dixon who punched through a hole and drove 15-metres. Nelson camped inside the Christ’s 22, but were unable to breach the reigning Quad champions defence. Two minutes before halftime, Nelson captain Fergus Hughes crossed after supporting a break by wing Ben Faingaanuku at the halfway mark. Disaster struck Nelson at the kickoff when a fumble was collected by Christ’s centre Will Greenslade who finished over the course of 25-metres. Hughes was a constant threat for Nelson and a second converted try stretched the lead to 19-7. Second-five Shun Miyake is the lynchpin of the Christ’s backline. In addition to an educated boot, he has deceptive speed and two steps and two dummies led to a brilliant solo try from past halfway to close the gap to 19-14. Christ’s failure to build consistent forward pressure telling and when No.8 Taya Brown crashed through for Nelson’s fourth try, the contest was settled. Christ’s skipper Zach Gallagher can hold his head high in a beaten pack. 27/6/2019 Crusaders squires for Development Camp A group of over 70 secondary school players from across the Crusaders region have been selected for the Squires Development Camp next month.
The camp, organised in conjunction with New Zealand Rugby, will run from July 7– July 10 at St Andrew's College in Christchurch. It provides an opportunity for emerging talent to learn from Crusaders and provincial union coaches and development staff, and is not limited to rugby training and skills. Educational elements of the camp include personal development, nutrition, mental skills and well-being. Two squads will be chosen at the conclusion of the camp; one will travel to Timaru to play a Highlanders U18 side on Friday 12 July, whilst the other will head to Blenheim to play a return fixture from 2018 against the Chiefs U18 team on Saturday 13 July at Landsdowne Park. Both matches are scheduled for 12:30pm kick-offs. The following players have been selected for the 2019 Crusaders Squires Development Camp: Amini Toga: St Andrew's College Anton Segner: Nelson College Ben Innes: St Andrew's College Ben Lopas: Christchurch Boys' High School Callum Simpson: Christchurch Boys' High School Charlie Murray: St Andrew's College Clayden Paranihi: Christchurch Boys' High School Daniel Dixon: Nelson College Dom Clarke: St Andrew's College Dom Gardiner: St Bede's College Elisara Vaifale: St Thomas of Canterbury Eto Bainivalu: St Bede's College Fabian Holland: Christchurch Boys' High School Fergus Hughes: Nelson College Finn Moffat: St Bede's College Fletcher Anderson: Christ's College George Brown: Timaru Boys' High School George Methven: St Bede's College Harri Langworthy: Christchurch Boys' High School Isaac Cotter: St Bede's College Isaiah Malaulau: Nelson College Isi Saumaki: St Andrew's College Jack Harding: St Andrew's College Jack McDonald-Hill: Nelson College Jack Sexton: St Andrew's College Jack Stokes: St Andrew's College Jamie Carr: St Andrew's College Jamie Hannah: Christchurch Boys' High School Jermaine Pepe: Rangiora High School Joel Parry: St Andrew's College Josh Neilson: Rangiora High School Justin Evans: St Bede's College Keegan McGregor: Christchurch Boys' High School Keelan Murrell: Marlborough Boys' College Kynan Stowers-Smith: St Bede's College Lino Tauti: St Andrew's College Logan Bainbridge: St Bede's College Louie Carmine: Nelson College Luca Inch: Nelson College Macca Springer: Waimea Combined (Waimea College) Mason Lund: Nelson College Max Goulter: Christ's College Max Hughes: Christchurch Boys' High School Montel Peppard: St Thomas of Canterbury Monu Moli: Marlborough Boys' College Netaleni Taufateau: St Thomas of Canterbury Niko Barton: Nelson College Ollie Lewis: Christchurch Boys' High School Preston Marsters: Nelson College Sailosi Rova: St Thomas of Canterbury Sam Scott: Lincoln Combined (Ellesmere College) Seb Calder: St Andrew's College Shun Miyake: Christ's College Tama Faiotonu: St Thomas of Canterbury Taya Brown: Nelson College Tino Vakaloa: Marlborough Boys' College Tom Thornalley: Nelson College Torian Barnes: St Andrew's College Uriah Tuli: Shirley Boys' High School Wil Gualter: Lincoln Combined (Lincoln High School) Zach Gallagher: Christ's College In addition to this squad, a Wider Training Group has also been selected and will be involved during the camp: Angus Grant: St Bede's College Brandyn Boyle: Lincoln Combined (Ellesmere College) James Mullan: Rangiora High School Tadeo Andriani: St Bede's College Josh Taula: Christchurch Boys' High School Lachie James: Rangiora High School Patelesio Latu: Timaru Boys' High School Thomas Schmack: Christchurch Boys' High School Blair Ryall: Lincoln Combined (Lincoln High School) Kole Harmer: St Thomas of Canterbury Cameron Henderson: Christchurch Boys' High School James Robertson: Timaru Boys' High School Hamish Jones: St Bede's College Caleb Beck: Rangiora High School |
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