“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 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.

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:

​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 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):

• 1.30pm Onehunga High School v Christchurch Girls’ High School, field 4
• 2.45pm Manukura v Hamilton Girls’ High School