Grinter and Lomu Win First National Title – 1990 Wesley College 1st XV

Captain: Niki Tuwhangai Head Coach: Chris Grinter Players: Rhys Duggan, Joseph Vaha’i, Phillip Pihema, Campbell Bryce, Stewart Bale, Peter Campbell, Paki Tamati, Allan Tauranga, Kiley Kanohi, Jonah Lomu, Dieter Schinder, Chris Wade, Joshua Perham, Wiremu Tawhiri, Clint Wright, Leslie Shine, Jacob Byrt, Masele Tolai, Jayson Walker, Lyall Bowsher.

Chris Grinter and Jonah Lomu are towering figures in New Zealand Secondary Schools' rugby history. Lomu is regarded by many as the greatest schoolboy player of all time and later became the highest profile player in the sport. Grinter ignored advice suggesting Lomu, as a fourth former, was too young to play First XV rugby. He is credited by Jonah as “discovering” the rugby colossus.

Chris Bean: First XV 1985-1988: “Chris Grinter is the best coach I ever came across. His understanding of the game and ability to transfer that to the players was outstanding. The success of Wesley rugby is due to those years he spent at the college. He laid the foundation for the success that followed with winning the Moascar Cup and our very first Top four title as a coach.”

The Numbers
Played: 23
Won: 22
Lost: 1
Points For: 763
Tries: 121
Points Against: 117
Tries Conceded: 10
Leading Points Scorer: Kiley Kanohi 235 in 22 games.
Leading Try Scorer: Nick Tuwhangai 26 in 20 games.
 
The Results

• Hauraki Plains College, 38-4
• St Stephen’s II, 54-3
• St Stephen’s III, 86-3
• Hato Petera College, 60-0
• Te Aute College, 28-19
• Waiuku College, 78-3
• Pukekohe High School, 10-6
• Rosehill College, 37-6
• Mount Albert Grammar, 3-16
• James Cook High School, 28-6
• St Stephen’s School, 19-6
• Manurewa High School, 40-6
• Church College of New Zealand, 12-4
• Rosehill College, 34-0
• Brisbane Boys' College, 54-0
• St Stephen’s II, 40-3
• Western Heights High School, 11-0
• Pukekohe High School, 17-6
• Manurewa High School, 19-0
• West's Under 21 (Brisbane), 14-9
• King’s High School (Dunedin), 22-7
• Gisborne Boys' High School, 21-6
• Old Boys,  38-4

 
Honours
1.      Counties Sevens Champions for a fifth year in a row.
2.      Counties First Round Champions.
3.      Holders of the ASB Challenge Trophy for Counties First XV games.
4.      Winners of the Scarlett Trophy for the game against Te Aute College.
5.      Winners of the Gill Trophy for games with St Stephen's.
6.      Winners of the Vince Asher Memorial Trophy for matches with Church College.
7.      Winners of the Hickling Cup for matches with Old Boys.
8.      Counties First XV Champions.
9.      New Zealand First XV Champions.
 
Notes

• Captain Niki Tuwhangai “was an outstanding player and excellent captain. A powerful forward, the team owes Niki much for his contribution and quiet, positive leadership.”
• Vice Captain Rhys Duggan, “was an inspirational member of the team. Rhys was a player of skill, speed, deception and great courage. He was a good as any other schoolboy halfback in the country. It has been an honour to have him as a First XV member for the past three seasons.” Duggan was selected for the Counties Secondary Schools and Northern Region B's. He later played a test for the All Blacks in 1999 and 111 matches for Waikato.
• Jonah Lomu, “is a fourth former who played 21 games and was not outplayed by any of his opponents. Jonah is a star in the making and demonstrated in the final games of the season his amazing talents.” Lomu was selected for the Counties and North Island Under-16's as well as the Counties Secondary Schools.
• Allan Tauranga was the pack’s “anchor man.” He played an incredible 90 games for the First XV and won a Contribution to Rugby Award.
• The Top Four was played in Invercargill. King’s High School was defeated 22-7 in the semi finals and Gisborne 21-6 in the final. In that final Niki Tuwhangi (2) and Jonah Lomu scored tries with Kiley Kanohi adding three conversions and a penalty.
• In 1989 Wesley only lost two of 26 games in reaching the Top Four final which they lost to Kelston Boys' High School 22-19. In 1986 Wesley only lost three out of 21 games. In 1969 the First XV won 17 out of 18 games!

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