New Zealand Schools’ v Australian Schools Barbarians
Knox Grammar School, kick off 4pm (NZT)  
   
  
1. Fatongia Paea (Sacred Heart College)
2. Shilo Klein (St Andrew’s College)
3. George Dyer (St Paul's Collegiate)
4. Cullen Grace (Timaru Boys' High School)
5. Tupou Vaa’I (Wesley College)
6. Quade Tapsell (Gisborne Boys' High School)
7. Josh Southall (St Patrick's College – Silverstream)
8. Devan Flanders (Hastings Boys' High School)
9. Humphrey Sheild (Napier Boys' High School)
10. Lincoln McClutchie (Hastings Boys' High School)
11. Leicester Faingaanuku (Nelson College)
12. Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
13. Isaiah Punivai (Christs College)
14. Etene Nanai (St Kentigern College)
15. Danny Toala (Hastings Boys' High School)
16. Abraham Pole (Otago Boys' High School)
17. Tamaiti Williams (St Kentigern College)
18. Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe (Hastings Boys' High School)
19. Charles Alaimalo (Hamilton Boys' High School)
20. Jeriah Mua (Hastings Boys' High School)
21. Taufa Funaki (Sacred Heart College)
22. Rivez Reihana (St Kentigern College)
23. Tauterangimarie Kapea (Hamilton Boys' High School) 

New Zealand Schools Barbarians vs. New Zealand Maori Under 18
Sport & Rugby Institute, Palmerston North, kick off 2pm  
  
1. Oliver Norris (St Peter’s College, Cambridge)
2. Tane Te Aho (Hamilton Boys’ High School) - captain 
3. Patrick Thacker (Christ’s College)
4. James Thompson (St Peter’s College, Cambridge)
5. Taine Plumtree (Wellington College)
6. Joshua Bokser (Napier Boys’ High School)
7. Taine Te Whata (Otago Boys’ High School) - vice captain
8. Tovo Faleafa (Auckland Grammar School)
9. Louie Chapman (Christchurch Boys’ High School) – vice captain 
10. Fergus Burke (St Paul’s Collegiate)
11. James Stratton (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
12. Kienan Higgins (St Patrick’s College – Silverstream)
13. Josiah Maraku (Feilding High School)
14. Siave Seti (St John’s College)
15. Rico Syme (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
16. David Meki (Rosmini College)
17. Ethan McQuinlan (Feilding High School)
18. Saula Mau (Auckland Grammar School)
19. Samipeni Finau (St Peter’s College, Cambridge) 
20. Simon Parker (Otamatea College)
21. Luke Donaldson (St Paul’s Collegiate)
22. TJ Ane (De La Salle College)
23. Kaleb Talamahina (Southland Boys’ High School)

​The New Zealand Barbarians Schools team has subdued a tenacious Tongan Schools side 33-19 at the Sport and Rugby Institute in Palmerston North this afternoon.
 
Apart from two soft tries at the beginning of the match for the hosts it was a very even contest between a sometimes unpolished New Zealand team and a fiercely determined and often well organised Tongan outfit.
 
New Zealand breezed to a 14-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

​The first try was scored by prop forward Oliver Norris (St Peter’s College, Cambridge) following an offload by second five-eighth Keinan Higgins (St Pat’s Silverstream) down the shortside which led to a break and ended with a kick that forced the Tongan fullback to be taken into touch. A strong maul and a couple of phases later Norris went in.
 
Fullback Rico Syme (Christchurch Boys’ High School) scored the next try. He stepped off the left foot and darted 40 metres to beat the defence. Fergus Burke (St Paul’s Collegiate) converted to double the score.
 
An intercept by Tongan captain and No. 8 Apitoni To'ia sparked Tonga back into the game. His 25-metre charge was followed by a bruising run by centre Siosefa Finau and a try was scored by loosehead prop Hiliau Latu.This was unconverted and it was 14-5.
 
Tonga then lost the ball over the line when they had another chance to score. New Zealand openside Taine Te Whata (Otago Boys’ High School) had an impressive game, and he charged down a ball and strode away, but was pulled down short.
 
Finau made another booming run but lost the ball over the line. Barbarians lock Taine Plumtree (Wellington College) ran like a flanker at times and one such 30 metre run led to another chance. However his flashy offload was fumbled by a support player.
 
Barbarians halfback Louie Chapman (Christchurch Boys’ High School) scored the last try of the first-half when he ran down an attacking kick. Earlier Syme wriggled out of a tackle and turned defence into attack. The halftime score was 19-5 to the New Zealand side.

The start of the second half saw a second try to Tonga, scored by centre Finau after big breaks by blindside Nawruz Kanongata'a and To'ia. This closed the gap to 21-12.
 
The Barbarians won a tighthead scrum and out stretched Tonga, replacement outside back Kaleb Talamahina (Southland Boys’ High School) crossing to extend the lead to 26-12.
 
The Barbarians crossed for another try, through first five-eighth Fergus Burke.
 
Tonga then got their hands on the ball for sustained periods and attacked with vigour in the close quarter channels. They hammered away for 10 minutes and were rewarded by a try to Kamongata'a
 
The New Zealand Barbarians dominated the scrums in this contest, and the best players were flanker Te Whata, lock Plumtree, fullback Syme and flyhalf Burke.
 
The next game in this series is on Monday, with the New Zealand Barbarians back in Palmerston North to play the New Zealand Maori U18 team. Tonga Schools meet a Wellington U18 selection on Monday in Porirua. 

The New Zealand Schools team plays Fiji Schools today at 5pm (NZT) in Sydney. Hamilton Boys' High Schools second five-eighth Quinn Tupaea will captain the side (photo above, photo by Dave Lintott Photography). The team is:
​
1. Tamaiti Williams (St Kentigern College)
2. Sam Cooper (St Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton)
3. Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe (Hastings Boys' High School)
4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellington College)
5. Tupou Vaa’I (Wesley College)
6. Charles Alaimalo (Hamilton Boys' High School)
7. Jeriah Mua (Hastings Boys' High School)
8. Devan Flanders (Hastings Boys' High School)
9. Taufa Funaki (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)
10. Rivez Reihana (St Kentigern College)
11. Leicester Faingaanuku (Nelson College)
12. Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Boys High School) – captain
13. Tauterangimarie Kapea (Hamilton Boys' High School)
14. Kini Nasolo (Hastings Boys' High School)
15. Etene Nanai (St Kentigern College)

16. Abraham Pole (Otago Boys' High School)
17. Fatongia Paea (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)
18. George Dyer (St Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton)
19. Quade Tapsell (Gisborne Boys' High School)
20. Josh Southall (St Patrick's College – Silverstream)
21. Humphrey Sheild (Napier Boys' High School)
22. Lincoln McClutchie (Hastings Boys' High School)
23. Isaiah Punivai (Christs College)

New Zealand Schools Barbarians encounter Tonga Schools at Sport & Rugby Institute, Palmerston North, kick off 2pm. Their side is:

1. Oliver Norris (St Peter’s College, Cambridge)
2. Tane Te Aho (Hamilton Boys’ High School) - captain
3. Patrick Thacker (Christ’s College)
4. James Thompson (St Peter’s College, Cambridge)
5. Taine Plumtree (Wellington College)
6. Joshua Bokser (Napier Boys’ High School)
7. Taine Te Whata (Otago Boys’ High School) - vice captain
8. Tovo Faleafa (Auckland Grammar School)
9. Louie Chapman (Christchurch Boys’ High School) – vice captain
10. Fergus Burke (St Paul’s Collegiate)
11. James Stratton (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
12. Kienan Higgins (St Patrick’s College – Silverstream)
13. Josiah Maraku (Feilding High School)
14. Siave Seti (St John’s College)
15. Rico Syme (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
​
16. David Meki (Rosmini College)
17. Ethan McQuinlan (Feilding High School)
18. Saula Mau (Auckland Grammar School)
19. Samipeni Finau (St Peter’s College, Cambridge)
20. Simon Parker (Otamatea College)
21. Luke Donaldson (St Paul’s Collegiate)
22. Lemeki Namoa (Sacred Heart College)
23. Kaleb Talamahina (Southland Boys’ High School)

​“I just saw the line and went for it. A push in the back from Danny Toala helped get me over,” Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe recalls of his winning try for Hastings Boys’ High School in the National Top Four final against Hamilton Boys’ High School recently.
 
With three minutes to play Hastings narrowly led 18-17 when the big prop willed himself to the line in an inspired surge. Hastings coach Josh Syms says the effort is typical of the passionate Tavita-Metcalfe.
 
“Josiah loved training. He always wanted to do one more scrum, one more drive or one more defensive drill. He just wanted to get better every time he trained. His work ethic is rare,” Syms endorsed.
 
Tavita-Metcalfe is originally from Levin. In 2015 he was a standout for Horowhenua-Kapiti at the Hurricanes Under-16 tournament, attracting interest from both Feilding High School and Hastings Boys.’ Tavita-Metcalfe explains why he choose to accept a scholarship from the latter.

“The brotherhood at Hastings is really strong. I think that’s why we were successful. We had talented players, but we grew close and trusted each other.”
 
Tavita-Metcalfe actually lived with hooker and fellow teammate Damarus Hokianga.
 
“Hastings doesn’t have a hostel so I am grateful to Damarus and his family for taking me in. They are like a second family now,” Tavita-Metcalfe acclaims.
 
In an all-conquering season, Hastings at one point went eight games in a row without conceding a try. When they were held to a draw by Hamilton Boys’ High School in the Super 8 final though it was a timely reality check.
 
“Hamilton really took it to us. They are big boys and played well. It forced us to work harder,” Tavita-Metcalfe reflects.
 
Tavita-Metcalfe missed the Hurricanes regional semi-final against Wellington College, but was imperious against St Pat’s Silverstream scoring two tries in a resounding 47-17 thumping of the Wellington champions.
 
In the top four final, Tevita-Metcalfe not only scored the winning try, but made a storming run before halftime to create another five-pointer for Hastings. His league background has developed an appetite for running the ball.
 
“I love to run the ball and take people on. I am trying to improve all aspects of my game all the time,” Tavita-Metcalfe says.

Interestingly Tevita-Metcalfe attended Waiopehu College while living in Levin which is the same school as Carlos Spencer. Spencer was an All Black and in 1993 won the Bronze Boot award as the best player for the New Zealand Schools’ in the Australian Schools’ test. New Zealand won the game concerned in Rotorua 32-7. Future All Blacks Jonah Lomu (2), Christian Cullen and Pita Alatini also scored tries.
 
Tavita-Metcalfe will be joined in the New Zealand Schools’ by fellow teammates Devan Flanders, Lincoln McClutchie, Jeriah Mua and Danny Toala. Unfortunately fellow prop Kianu Kereru-Symes will miss the tour after sustaining a knee injury.
 
The New Zealand Schools play their first game on Thursday against Fiji Schools, in Sydney.
 
Hastings Boys’ High School results - 2017
Played: 21
Won: 20
Drawn: 1
Points For: 1035
Points Against: 122

Scores
Pre-Season: Kelston BHS, 53-0
Pre-Season: King’s College, 22-13
Pre-Season: Mount Albert GS, 43-5
Pre-Season: St Kentigern College, 15-5
Pre-Season: Wellington College, 50-10
Tranzit Festival: Wairarapa College, 48-7
Tranzit Festival: St Patrick’s College, Wellington, 106-7
Tranzit Festival: Rongotai College, 55-0
Traditional: Lindisfarne College, 75-0
Super 8: Palmerston North BHS, 100-0
Super 8: Napier BHS, 38-3
Super 8: Gisborne BHS, 70-0
Super 8: Rotorua BHS, 53-0
Super 8: New Plymouth BHS, 32-0
Super 8: Tauranga BC, 64-0
Super 8: Hamilton BHS, 20-16
Super 8 Final: Hamilton BHS, 12-12
Hurricanes Semi-Final: Wellington College, 78-0
Hurricanes Final: St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, 47-17
National Top Four Semi-Final: St Kentigern College, 29-10
National Top Four Final: Hamilton BHS, 25-17

Unbeaten team to win the National Top Four

1986: Auckland Grammar School - 22 wins, draw
1991: St Stephen’s School - 21 wins
1992: Auckland Grammar School - 22 wins, draw
1994: Gisborne Boys’ High School - 25 wins
2000: St Peter’s College, Auckland - 19 wins, draw
2001: Wesley College - 19 wins
2004: Christchurch Boys’ High School - 18 wins, draw
2005: Christchurch Boys’ High School - 24 wins
2008: Hamilton Boys’ High School - 18 wins, 2 draws
2010: Mount Albert Grammar School - 17 wins
2012: St Kentigern College - 20 wins
2017: Hastings Boys’ High School - 20 wins, draw

Note: Hamilton claim an unbeaten season in 2013, but lost to King’s College in pre-season, a result noted at King’s. Hamilton’s record therefore stands at 17-1, according to the school it’s 16-0.

​The New Zealand Schools’ and New Zealand Schools’ Barbarians teams have today been selected for their upcoming campaigns.

Players have spent the past three days in a development camp at Massey University’s Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North.

New Zealand Schools’ Council chairman Garry Chronican has named the New Zealand Schools’ team which features six players from this year’s 1st XV national champions, Hastings Boys High School.

Coach Jason Holland said there were tough decisions to make in selecting the Schools team.

“The camp has been very high quality and the players have really applied themselves over the past few days,” said Holland.

“The guys have come to us in good nick and we’ve got a squad with strength and depth across all positions.”
The team will remain in Palmerston North before departing for Australia on Tuesday, 26 September.
​
President of the New Zealand Barbarians Club, Ron Williams, announced the New Zealand Schools Barbarians’ team. 

The New Zealand Schools Barbarians is;

Joshua Bokser - Napier Boys’ High School
Fergus Burke - St Paul's Collegiate
Louie Chapman - Christchurch Boys High School
Luke Donaldson - St Paul's Collegiate
Lesinali TovoFaleafa - Auckland Grammar School
Samipeni Finau - St Peter's College - Cambridge
Kienan Higgins - St Patrick's College - Silverstream
Josiah Maraku - Feilding High School
Saula Mau -  Auckland Grammar School
Ethan McQuinlan - Feilding High School
David Meki -Rosmini College
Lemeki Namoa - Sacred Heart College
Oliver Norris - St Peters College - Cambridge
Simon Parker - Otamatea College
Taine Plumtree - Wellington College
Siave Seti - St John's College
James Stratton- Palmerston North Boys’ High School
Rico Syme  - Christchurch Boys’ High School
Kaleb Talamahina- Southland Boys’ High School
Tane Te Aho - Hamilton Boys’ High School
Taine Te Whata - Otago Boys’ High School
Patrick Thacker - Christs College
James Thompson - St Peters College - Cambridge

Coach Brad Mooar said his team has an exciting mix of players that have the potential to produce exciting rugby.

“It’s a talented group that has a good mix of power, size and skill. We want to see them express themselves on the field and represent the Barbarians Club with pride.”

The New Zealand Schools Barbarians team will remain in camp in Palmerston North ahead of their first match on Thursday.
Unavailable for selection due to injury were Finlay Brewis (Westlake Boys High School), Dennon Robinson (Hastings Boys High School) and Kianu Kereru- Symes (Hastings Boys High School).

Match schedule

28 September
New Zealand Schools v Fiji Schools, 2pm at Knox Grammar School, Sydney
New Zealand Barbarians Schools v Tonga Schools, 2pm at Sport & Rugby Institute, Palmerston North

2 October
New Zealand Schools v Australian Schools Barbarians, 1pm at Knox Grammar School, Sydney
New Zealand Barbarians Schools v New Zealand Maori Under 18s, 2pm at Sport & Rugby Institute, Palmerston North

7 October
New Zealand Schools v Australian Schools, 1pm at TG Milner Field, Sydney

The National Māori Under 18 team has been selected to play New Zealand Schools Barbarians and Tonga Under 18 later this month.

Chair of New Zealand Rugby Māori Board, Dr Farah Palmer, today announced the team which is made up of talented young players, many of whom were part of New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) E Tū Toa in 2017.

E Tū Toa is a nationwide programme which uses rugby as a vehicle for young Māori to connect with their culture and learn wider life skills.

Dr Palmer said the national side was created to encourage talented young Māori to stay in rugby and provide them with development opportunities both on and off the field.

“The Under 18 Māori Team provides a genuine rugby pathway for rangatahi (youth) to step up from representing their regions to higher honours.

“What makes this team different is the connection of all players and coaches to ‘Te Ao Māori’ the Māori World. It’s the foundation of all our camps, with players and coaches learning waiata, haka and tikanga which enhance their wellbeing and achievements in rugby and life.”

This is the second year the Under 18 Māori team has been selected. Players from the 2016 side have gone on to represent their respective unions at the recent Jock Hobbs National U19 tournament, as well as achieving selection for other national age-grade sides and Super Rugby academies.  The National Māori Under 18 team has been selected to play New Zealand Schools Barbarians and Tonga Under 18 later this month.

Matches: 

Monday 2 October - Rugby Institute in Palmerston North 
National Under 18 Māori v New Zealand Schools Barbarians
Kick-off 2pm

Friday 6 October – Porirua Park
National Under 18 Māori v Tonga Schools
Kick-off 2pm

Georgia Ponsonby has rugby on her mind.

Georgia is the captain and leader of Feilding High School’s sevens and fifteens teams and tomorrow night she will make her second consecutive start at No. 8 for the Manawatu Women’s team in the Farah Palmer Cup NPC competition.

The Cyclones return home from Canterbury for their first home game of the series against Waikato and Georgia is excited by the challenge. “Our game is the curtain-raiser for the men’s game and is our televised game as well, so I’m looking forward to that,” she told College Sport Media this week.

After having the bye in the first round, Georgia made her debut off the bench in a 35-27 win over Wellington at Petone and then started in their 10-40 loss to Canterbury in Christchurch last Saturday.
​
“Canterbury had a lot of attacking speed and offloading and we just didn’t match it.” Christchurch Girls’ High School fullback Grace Brooker scored two tries. “It didn’t help that our scrum got pumped, but our lineouts were an improvement from the Wellington game.”

Georgia is one of three current schoolgirls in the Cyclones Women’s NPC squad, along with lock Jessica Fagan-Pease who is also the Palmerston North Girls’ High School netball captain and  on the bench on Friday against Waikato, and her Feilding HS teammate and year 12 player Ashleigh Knight who has yet to make her debut.

Georgia made her debut for Manawatu in sevens last summer, with the Cyclones beating Wellington 26-5 in the final of the Central Region Tournament and then missing out 17-24 to Counties Manukau in the final of the National tournament in Rotorua in January.

Having played with many of the established players previously, she is not overawed. “When I started training and playing with the sevens team and with players like [Black Ferns fullback] Selica Winiata I was a bit nervous but I am more used to it and learning off Selica and others is really good for me.”

Plus there’s other former Fielding High School players also playing for Manawatu that she’s played with. Georgia, Lauren Balsillie, Nicole Dickins (captain) and Corrineke Windle are all Feilding HS players and in the starting XV against Waikato.

Other recent former Feilding HS players to have played international rugby are Sarah Goss, Charlotte Scanlan, Crystal Mayes, Mallory Townshend, Hayley Hutana (all New Zealand) and Amy Cockayne (England).

As well as being a Manawatu Cyclones player, Georgia is the leader of her school teams that are in a re-building phase after being two-time National champions in 2012 and 2013.

“I joined the Feilding High School team in year 10 in 2014. I had played netball up until then, which was my main sport and I continued playing both but I gave up netball last year just so I could focus on rugby.
​
Georgia is the only year 13 player in this year’s Feilding HS sevens team and one of three year 13s in the fifteens team. “We have got lots of new players, we have got a few year 12s and more year 11s. We also have an U15s team, so hopefully the future is good.”

For the first time in several seasons, Feilding HS didn’t win the Manawatu girls championship this year, beaten by Manukura in the final.

This put Feilding up against Wellington champions St Mary’s in the Hurricanes semi-final, a match they defaulted. Georgia explained that they forfeited this game primarily because it clashed with the netball finals that some players were also involved with and they had a couple of key injuries and a suspension (a red card against Manukura).

The school is now focussed on sevens. “We have started training for the Condor 7s at the end of the year. We train on a Monday after school and at the moment we go over to Wanganui on Wednesdays to play in a series of practice games.”

Georgia is a boarder at Feilding High School. Her father is a station manager half an hour out of Taihape on the Gentle Annie Highway that goes to Napier.

There is little that is gentle about her play though. An industrious loose forward in fifteens and prop in sevens, Georgia leads by example in all teams she plays for.

Her uncle Tom Deighton was a hooker and the most capped player (26 appearances) in the combined Manawatu-Hawke’s Bay Central Vikings team that played in the men’s NPC competition in 1997 and 1998. Her younger brother is also a boarder at Feilding High School.  

Coming up in the October school holidays are the trials for the U18 Girls Sevens, U18 Girls Maori Sevens and U17 Girls Sevens teams.

Each Super Rugby franchise base is set to host its own training camp and trials, from which the teams will be selected for the second annual World Schools Sevens tournament in mid-December. Georgia made this team last year, which was selected from the Condors tournament.
​
 Georgia is one three Feilding HS players in the 120-strong squad, along with Jannah Rowden, and Myah Rata
Next year she is eyeing up starting an ag commerce degree at either nearby Massy University or Lincoln University. Either way she wants to continue with rugby beyond this season. 

Secondary School players from across New Zealand assemble tomorrow, Friday 22 September, for the 2017 New Zealand Schools Development Camp at Massey University’s Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North.

49 young athletes will, over three days, take part in activities on and off field before the New Zealand Schools and New Zealand Schools Barbarians teams are named on Sunday.

The New Zealand Schools team will fly to Australia for three matches against Fiji Schools, Australian Schools Barbarians and Australian Schools.

The New Zealand Schools Barbarians team will remain in Palmerston North for matches against Tonga Schools and New Zealand Maori Under 18s.

The National Māori Under 18 team has been selected to play New Zealand Schools Barbarians and Tonga Under 18 later this month.

Chair of New Zealand Rugby Māori Board, Dr Farah Palmer, today announced the team which is made up of talented young players, many of whom were part of New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) E Tū Toa in 2017.

E Tū Toa is a nationwide programme which uses rugby as a vehicle for young Māori to connect with their culture and learn wider life skills.

Dr Palmer said the national side was created to encourage talented young Māori to stay in rugby and provide them with development opportunities both on and off the field.

“The Under 18 Māori Team provides a genuine rugby pathway for rangatahi (youth) to step up from representing their regions to higher honours.

“What makes this team different is the connection of all players and coaches to ‘Te Ao Māori’ the Māori World. It’s the foundation of all our camps, with players and coaches learning waiata, haka and tikanga which enhance their wellbeing and achievements in rugby and life.”

This is the second year the Under 18 Māori team has been selected. Players from the 2016 side have gone on to represent their respective unions at the recent Jock Hobbs National U19 tournament, as well as achieving selection for other national age-grade sides and Super Rugby academies.