Wellington College celebrate their Quad title final win over Nelson college. Photo / Andy McArthur

Kelston-St Kentigern draw puts Grammar top; Wellington College win two matches on the same day; Rotorua hold on to the Moascar Cup - but only just; First XV malaise in the capital; Quad’s dramatic draw; Central North Island’s old boys star in the Super Rugby final; all the top action nationally ...

By Bruce Holloway and Adam Julian

Draw! Like a deadly prompt to two unflinching, hair-triggered Western gunslingers, there was an ominous ring to the very word at the conclusion of an engrossing 22-22 stalemate between St Kentigern and Kelston Boys’ High in First XV rugby on Saturday.

Because when the smoke cleared after these title-chasing teams had shot each other to pieces at St Kentigern, with the pitch littered with cramped bodies, the hard-fought draw effectively meant there was a new sheriff in town.

Auckland Grammar dutifully collected the badge in swaggering two points clear at the top of the 1A table for the first time, following their 26-15 home win over St Peter’s.

There were easily identifiable contrasts between the St Kentigern and Kelston camps.

This was a classic Auckland clash between east and west, public versus private, red versus blue, bagpipes versus ghetto rap, and in the carpark, Audi versus HQ Holden.

However there was also an unavoidable similarity between the teams, insofar as both needed replacement goalkickers to come off the bench and land vital late penalties to ensure the consolation points were shared two apiece.

Kelston made a wretched start, not only coughing up tries to St Kentigern halfback Keanu Graham and dangerous No 8 Toni Tuuhoko-Pole within the first nine minutes, but also losing influential skipper and goalkicking ace Max Talbot to injury.

Worse, for the sixth week in a row, Kelston copped a yellow card, with Hinckley Ioka sent to the bin for a high tackle.

But the silver lining for Kelston was that Year 11 replacement first five-eighths Josh Poutu came off the bench and unassumingly played a blinder.

Poutu, who had only made his 1A debut a week earlier with another cameo off the bench, made breaks at will, and played a critical role in tries to powerful No 8 Satli Fretton and blindside Vunivalu Niupalau.

He also kicked two conversions in a tricky wind and landed a vital late penalty, which for a spell looked like it might be enough to secure a treasured win.

Poutu wasn’t flawless – his kicks for touch need work – but he was an impeccable replacement for Talbot, who has himself been in rare form this season.

Meanwhile, for St Kentigern, it was Jaydon Randall who also came off the bench and popped over a penalty to level at 22-22 with two minutes to play – having hit the post with another late penalty attempt.

Earlier muscular St Kentigern right wing Owen Lamb, who has a personal best of 11.02s in the 100m, had given his team a 19-14 halftime lead with a try in the corner.

It was created via a crossfield kick from Ezra McCarthy, who has already signed a three-season deal with the North Queensland Cowboys and turned out for their U17 team.

But Kelston halfback Flynn Talbot drew his team level with a smart second-half try from a quick tap.

St Kentigern were more technically proficient and made fewer errors, with halfback Graham a steady influence and also adding two conversions.

But there was something compelling about the more free-spirited manner in which Kelston went about their work, with hooker Zak Schramm highly mobile and Maddax Bernard good value for money in the tight.

Spookily, St Kentigern’s last three 1A draws have all ended 22-22, following a similar result against De La Salle in the 2023 semifinal and against Sacred Heart in 2025.

St Kentigern should have No 8 Lucian Mikaele back from a four-match suspension for stomping for their away match against St Paul’s on Saturday.

Auckland Grammar are now the only 1A team with a perfect record – seven from seven – after they avenged their 2024 and 2025 losses to St Peter’s.

Nuggetty hooker Connor Murdoch secured two tries, with centre Tyler Byres and fullback Louie Du Plessis getting the others and Ethan Halaapiapi kicking three conversions in their 11-point home win over St Peter’s.

For St Peter’s there were tries to hooker Vaai Moli and left wing Afa Nyel-Vaaga, while Cruz Ngataitafau added a conversion and a penalty.

Meanwhile, the St Kentigern-Kelston draw mitigated the damage for third-placed Sacred Heart, who were upset 36-29 at home by fast-improving Mt Albert Grammar.

Sacred picked up two bonus points for four tries and losing by seven points, exactly the same reward the other two top four schools harvested for their draw, so retained the status quo in that respect, while Mt Albert are now just four points off a top-four berth.

But for all that, this was Sacred’s worst showing of the year, particularly in the first spell, when Mt Albert Grammar surged to a 22-0 lead through tries to Lucian Mikaio, Riley Hogan and Dylan Yare.

Sacred centre Soane Ma’asi stepped the defence and sprinted 20m to score under the posts, but his team still trailed by 25-7 at the break.

In an improved Sacred second half, lock Luke Arnoot, powerful wing Troy Hola and hooker Ryan Smeath added tries, but that was offset by Mt Albert wing Semisi Folaumoetao also scoring and efficient first-five Blake Climo accounting for 14 of his team’s points from the boot.

With two minutes to go, Mt Albert Grammar only led 30-26 but fullback Jarno Andrewes sold a big dummy which led to Sacred being penalised for stealing the ball on defence, which contributed to a margin of more comfort.

Dilworth had their biggest win of the season, 38-7 away to Botany Downs College, with the feature being three tries to No 8 Amjayden Tafatoa Mauga.

That kept them in eighth, two points ahead of De La Salle, who battled to a 31-29 win over a Liston College team in search of its first win of the season. De La Salle skipper and hooker Folau Sii led the way with two tries.

Incidentally, on Wednesday De La Salle face St Paul’s at Cornwall Park at 3pm in Auckland’s premier rugby league final.

King’s College notched a much-needed 28-12 win over St Paul’s with tries to wing Leo Kirkland, lock Bassy Tupou, second-five Matthias Petelo and impressive flanker Finn Thompson, while fullback Manaariki Kea-Cameron converted all four. It was just King’s second win of the season.

Auckland 1A draw, Saturday (home team first, all 2.30pm): St Paul’s v St Kentigern v Kelston; King’s College v Kelston; St Peter’s v De La Salle; Auckland Grammar v Liston; Mt Albert Grammar v Botany Downs; Dilworth v Sacred Heart. Points: Auckland Grammar 34, Kelston 32, Sacred Heart 28, St Kentigern 27, Mt Albert Grammar 23, St Peter’s 18, Dilworth 14, De La Salle 12, King’s College 11, St Paul’s 8, Liston 6, Botany Downs 4.

Rangitoto prepare to face Rosmini

Third-placed Rangitoto College warmed up for an important Kyocera-sponsored North Harbour First XV fixture against second-placed Rosmini College on Saturday with a 33-5 Thursday night away victory against Massey High.

It’s been a tough old season for bottom-placed Massey, but they at least enjoyed their best first-half performance of the year in persistent showers, and only trailed 7-5 at the break.

It was a stern contest in contact and though Rangitoto enjoyed a wealth of possession in the first half, a committed Massey defence kept the game tight.

However, Rangitoto right wing Benjamin Fraser completed a nice backline movement to score in the corner.

Massey’s handling errors and conceded penalties kept them stuck in their own half until a late effort by fullback Jade Fernandez, who showed plenty of guile and pace to score from a ruck 20m out towards the close of the first spell.

In the second half, Rangitoto made their presence felt with second-five Chase Hawkins making an incisive line break 20m out to score a fine try.

Shortly afterwards a free kick, skilled re-gather and storming run by Massey’s openside Shaun Butler took his team close to scoring a second try midway through the second half.

More successful was Rangitoto front rower Bell Misipati, who ran straight and hard at the line, breaking several Massey tackle attempts, to score under the posts.

A brilliant 30m solo try by Rangitoto first-five Campbell Bibbie, who has one of the best side-steps at pace in the competition, was followed by a Lopo Nai charge-down and run to the line to seal a comfortable victory.

Bibbie was also excellent with the boot making four out of five conversion attempts.

Meanwhile, competition leaders Westlake Boys’ High continued on their merry way with a 70-19 away win over Mahurangi College.

There were 10 tries for Westlake, with right wing Anakin Ormsby-Cairns leading the way with two. All tries were converted, either by first-five Luke Waller or sub Levi Leith.

For Mahurangi there was an eighth-minute try to fullback Sam Wech and others to lock Tesimoni Fine and flanker George Innes.

Second-placed Rosmini College were even more dominant in hammering Ōrewa College 88-3, with No 8 Luchian Opperman, second-five Lachlan Murray and blindside Liam Kelly all nabbing hat-tricks.

Whangārei Boys’ High blanked Takapuna Grammar with centre Casey Wright racking up 22 points, including six conversions.

North Harbour draw, Saturday (home team first, all 12 noon): Whangārei v Massey; Rangitoto v Rosmini; Westlake v Ōrewa; Takapuna v Mahurangi. Points: Westlake 45, Rosmini 41, Rangitoto 31, Whangārei 29, Mahurangi 16, Ōrewa 11, Takapuna 9, Massey 2.

Rotorua hold on to the Moascar Cup – but only just

The Moascar Cup will remain in Rotorua for at least another week, but it was a close-run thing when Rotorua Boys’ High were held to a 24-24 draw by Hamilton Boys’ High, the school they acquired it from last year.

Hamilton enjoyed an early lead with prop Deon Fifita making a bruising run through traffic, but after that there was never more than five points in it either way.

For Rotorua there were first-half tries to lock Luke Worsp – shortly after Hamilton had No 8 Isaiah Edwards binned – and hooker Patelisio Tavake, while Hamilton wing Carson Hunter replied.

Hamilton gained the lead for the third time when hooker Hunter Hammond burrowed his way through several tacklers to make it 17-14.

However, a further converted Tavake try and a penalty from Luke Chapman took Rotorua out to 24-17 with five to play.

But the Hamilton pack ground Rotorua down in the closing seconds for Hunter to score under the posts for an easy conversion, allowing them to share the points, if not the cup.

The last draw in the Moascar Cup was an 18-18 tie between holders Christchurch Boys’ High and Christ’s College in the 2018 Miles Toyota Premiership final. Future All Black Sam Darry locked the scrum for Christ’s.

The last draw Hamilton played out in the Super 8 was a 12-12 tie with Hastings Boys’ High in the 2017 final. It was Hastings’ worst result in a 21-game unbeaten season. Folau Fakatava, Josh Lord, Quinn Tupaea and Cortez Ratima are All Blacks from that vintage.

Hamilton also drew a Moascar Cup and National Top Four final (26-26) with Scots College at Rotorua Boys’ in 2014. The late Connor Garden-Bachop in Year 11 scored two tries for Scots. Solomone Tukuafu (husband of Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu) scored two tries for Hamilton.

Rotorua’s last draw in any New Zealand-based fixture was in 2024 (20-20) against Tauranga Boys’ College in a Chiefs regional playoff. By virtue of scoring the first try, Rotorua eliminated the Super 8 champions from National Top Four contention.

The Rotorua-Hamilton draw allowed Napier Boys’ High to jump two points clear at the top of Super 8 after their impressive 40-17 win over Tauranga Boys’ College.

Napier were in control after early tries to halfback Harry Bain and hooker Harry Jones, but first-half tries to lock Kahn Charlton and Timothy Saua kept Tauranga in contention. A second converted try to Jones earned Napier a 21-10 halftime lead.

Napier first five-eighths Will Lovatt showed his class with two second-half tries, taking his match tally to 20 points. Tauranga first five-eighths Nathan Theron scored a second-half try for Tauranga.

There was frustration for Gisborne Boys’ High, losing 36-40 at home to Hastings Boys’ High a week after losing by five points to Rotorua.

Tries in the final 10 minutes to talented lock Flynn Morrissey and first five-eighths Ruan Ludwig brought Gisborne into range, but Hastings had 40 points in the bank by then.

For Hastings it was an important result after two first-up losses, with right wing Jimione Ratuere the standout with three tries.

New Plymouth stunner

On Thursday New Plymouth Boys’ High climbed into fourth place with a 44-17 home win over defending champions Palmerston North.

At a packed, boisterous Gully, there were early indications that Palmerston North Boys’ were in for a difficult day.

French exchange student and rugby sharp-shooter Bastien Lallemand slotted two early penalties and ultimately contributed 19 points to the win from his boot.

Captain and hooker Nate Werder galloped 35m untouched through the middle of a ruck to make it 13-0.

When Taj Taogaga did the same in the 69th minute, New Plymouth put the exclamation mark on their biggest win against the Super 8 champions since a 21-6 triumph in 2001. That year, Jimmy Gopperth was in the New Plymouth First XV. He just ended his astonishing first-class career of 526 matches in which he scored 4258 points.

Interestingly, in 2005, Palmerston North won the Super 8, thrashing New Plymouth 45-5 in the process. The following year, they lost 22-21. New Plymouth’s last win against Palmerston North had been a 23-10 success in 2020.

Palmerston North are a dangerous attacking outfit with centre Cayden Pardy possibly worth a nod from New Zealand Schools selectors.

Unfortunately their defence is not up to the mark at present. A clinical New Plymouth continued their resurgence.

It was 20-17 at halftime, with New Plymouth piling on 24 unanswered points in the second half. Wesley Elisara and Zack Revell were among the try scorers.

Super 8 draw, Saturday (home team first, 12 noon unless stated): Gisborne v New Plymouth, 11am; Hamilton v Napier; Palmerston North v Tauranga; Rotorua v Hastings. Points: Napier 15, Hamilton 13, Rotorua 11, New Plymouth 11; Palmerston North 10, Hastings 7, Tauranga 6, New Plymouth 6, Gisborne 3, Hastings 2.

Central North Island: Hay making all the points for St Paul’s

Unflappable St Paul’s Collegiate fullback Jackson Hay scored all of his team’s points as they beat defending Central North Island (CNI) champions Feilding High 16-13 at home to keep his team top equal with St Peter’s.

St Paul’s trailed 10-3 at halftime, with centre Alifereti Raka and hooker Lucas Goodman scoring tries for Feilding, and Hay converting a penalty.

But in total Hay chimed in with three penalties, a conversion and a critical 46th-minute try, where he received just one out from the ruck and went over under the posts, then converted to draw St Paul’s level.

A Fomai Viliamu penalty put Feilding back in front but Hay, in his third year for St Paul’s, sealed the game with penalties in the 59th and 68th minute.

The last time Feilding lost consecutive games in the CNI was in 2021 when they were beaten by St John’s Hamilton (41-0) and St Peter’s Cambridge (38-10).

However, St Paul’s have a historic edge over Feilding, having won 12 of their 17 games since 2014.

St Peter’s stayed top thanks to an important 27-18 away win over St John’s Hamilton – and now lead this match-up 8-2.

In a tight first half, prop Joshua Aukuso scored early for St Peter’s but left wing William Hayde levelled for St John’s before halftime.

Two second-half converted tries in a five-minute spell gave St Peter’s a crucial buffer, with first-five Luca Millar and then centre Zeke Clarke crossing, as they capitalised on St John’s errors.

Johnnies halfback Riley Eagle gave his team a fighting chance with a 53rd-minute try but this was cancelled out by St Peter’s hooker Schqane Zammit scoring at the end of a 20m maul.

St John’s reserve prop William Botherway had the final say with a consolation try out wide.

Meanwhile, Lindisfarne College remained third with a 69-24 win over Francis Douglas College, to now be tied up 8-8 in head-to-head contest. Flanker and deputy head boy Beck Allen led the way with two early first-half tries.

On Saturday Lindisfarne are away to St Peter’s and in honour of this fixture former Lindisfarne coach Grant Gilbert has presented a new trophy, the Gilbert Cup.

Gilbert was at the Lindisfarne helm for about 20 years where he enjoyed 280 wins in 410 games but prior to his arrival at the college in 1985 he also coached St Peter’s First XV for a year.

“Given this is the 90th year since St Peter’s founding I thought it appropriate to create a trophy fixture,” Gilbert, who expects to be on hand for its inaugural presentation, said.

Rugby World Cup winner and scorer of 52 tries in 51 games for the Lindisfarne First XV, Israel Dagg once said: “Grant is an absolute champion of a bloke. He saw prospects for me on and off the field that I couldn’t even imagine.

“He was more than a teacher. He was a role model and a father figure. He taught me respect and life lessons. He even opened my first bank account.”

Gilbert has been retired for 11 years but has ongoing interaction with the Lindisfarne First XV with two of his proteges, Andre Bell and Laurent Simutoga, now coaching them.

He sees the St Peter’s fixture as being pivotal in determining playoff places.

“This year looks to be one of the most even CNI competitions, although I suspect Feilding have yet to fully unleash.”

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Wesley College beat St John’s Hastings 93-0 after leading 45-0 at the break. Wesley have won all 10 of their matches against St John’s who’ve now lost 33 in a row.

Central North Island draw, Saturday (home team first): Feilding v Wesley; Whanganui v St Paul’s; Matamata v St John’s Hamilton; St Peter’s v Lindisfarne. Points: St Peter’s 31, St Paul’s 31, Lindisfarne 28, Feilding 23, Wesley 18, St John’s Hamilton 14, Francis Douglas 11, Matamata 5, Whanganui 2, St John’s Hastings 0.

Central North Island old boys star

There were 11 players from Central North Island (CNI) schools representing the Hurricanes and the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final.

Hurricanes co-captains Jordie Barrett and Du’Plessis Kirifi both played for Francis Douglas Memorial College when they won their only title in 2013. A newly initiated medal for tournament MVP is now named after Barrett.

“It’s a pretty special competition,” Barrett reminisced. “It’s great to see that there’s still a healthy buzz among New Zealand schoolboys.

“I remember playing with Dupes (Du’Plessis Kirifi) and losing to Samisoni Taukei’aho at St Paul’s Collegiate.”

Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i locked the scrum for the only Wesley College team to win the CNI, in 2017.

“It was only our second year in the competition,” Vaa’i recalled. “We ended up taking it out. I’ve played with and against a lot of CNI boys. I’ve got the bragging rights.”

Divide and conquer: Wellington College win two games on the same day

While captain Z’kdeus Schwalger praised the effort of his Wellington College forwards on Sky TV after their resounding 43-13 win against Nelson College in the 100th annual quadrangular final, another forward pack from the same team was shoving St Bernard’s College into retreat, helping create a try for unmarked left winger Denzel Beyer-Rieger in a Wellington Premiership contest.

Wellington went on to conquer the Lower Hutt Catholics 34-12, winning overlapping First XV fixtures in two different cities, 197 km apart, on the same day.Beforehand there was an extraordinary tiff, which even briefly made headlines on the Legend of Marty Banks social media community, over whether the fixture could be rescheduled to accommodate the 100th Quadrangular.

But despite there being seven weeks before the Premiership semifinals and withstanding the risk of injuries from too much rugby, a spare date to stage the fixture couldn’t be found.

Instead of defaulting, Wellington decided to play twice, but this left their Second XV and Kapiti College First XV without a game in the Premier 2 Murray Jensen Cup.Wellington coach Neemia Tialata, Benny Steinbauer, Te Peneamine Parai, Isaac Davey-Tiotio, Kade Hill, Wynand Wolfaardt (opening try scorer), and Cooper Werkhoven returned from Quad to bolster an angry makeshift outfit.

Wellington established a 15-0 lead at half time, a tenuous advantage into a wind so strong the goal posts swayed to the point of near collapse.Using the elements effectively, workhorse No 8 Peteru Leaupepe and captain and prop TJ Fonoti barged ahead with vigour, cutting the deficit to three. When the visitors botched a routine kick-off catch, momentum shifted.Wellington were able to secure a four-try bonus point in the Premiership. Davey-Tiotio scored a try, as he did in Wellington’s 50-10 win against Whanganui Collegiate on Thursday to book a Quad final spot.

Meanwhile in Whanganui, Wellington’s forwards were similarly ruthless in dispatching Nelson College, scoring the same number of points (43) as they did in April’s sesquicentennial fixture.

It wasn’t pretty to watch, but two tries from tighthead prop Harry Baddington and hooker Noah Sipeli show how combative Wellington were.

First five-eighths Joe Barry kicked four conversions and is running the cutter with growing verve.

Fullback Liam Soper, who scored 23 points in a day one 48-29 victory over Christ’s College, tighthead prop Coby Davis, and second five-eighths Viliami Holani enjoyed a fine tournament.

Wellington have won the Quad outright on 34 occasions, with this win being its first since 2023. They have won 38 of their 72 Quad matches against Nelson and 112 of 190 matches all time.

Meanwhile, the double-date debacle even drew the wrath of Lower Hutt Mayor Fauono Ken Laban, who commented on the Quadrangular for Sky Sport: “What an appalling situation. We are supposed to look out for our young players and have that duty of care. There are no winners out of this debacle.”

Schwalger told Sky Sport. “Part of history. I have no words. Yeah, nah, happy with this group.”

By coincidence, St Bernard’s shifted last year’s Wellington College fixture to midweek. It meant they played four games in 10 days. Wellington played five games in a gruelling 15-day span.

How much rugby is too much rugby? Wellington have at least 1000 more boys than St Bernard’s, who left Dufferin St, with five potential injuries.

Two games in one day?

Two full competition games on the same day is highly unusual in First XV rugby, and in two different cities, likely unprecedented. It is not unusual in pre-season for festival days to feature shorter matches or for games to be divided into quarters with rolling substitutions to trial talent. An overseas tour may require ingenuity to achieve a common goal.

Remarkably, the All Blacks have twice played on the same day. On September 3, 1949, they lost two official test matches to Australia in Auckland, 11-6, and then to South Africa in Durban, 9-3.

Champion prop Okey Geffin kicked all of South Africa’s points, while the All Blacks’ sole try came from centre Morrie Goddard (Timaru Boys’ High School).

Historian Huw Richards noted, “This double failure was rooted in the New Zealand Rugby Union’s guilt at having betrayed their players by bowing to South African apartheid laws, sending a touring team there minus several Māoris. The consolation prize was a home series against Australia.”

There was better luck on June 14, 1970, when the All Blacks beat Western Australia (50-3) and an ARU President’s XV 52-3 at Perry Lakes Stadium (1962-2009) in Perth en route to South Africa.

Winger Bruce Hunter (Waitaki BHS) was the only player to start both games and scored five tries that day. He was also a three-time national 800m champion. Outside back Bill Davis (Hastings BHS) played in both games, replacing injured loose forward Brian Lochore (Wairarapa College) against Western Australia.

The ARU President’s XV clash was also unique because 19-year-old Singapore-born medical student Jamie Hendire played his only first-class match for the All Blacks. He had played for Western Australia against New Zealand and was asked to fill in for the All Blacks against the President’s XV because Mormon Sid Going didn’t play on a Sunday due to religious beliefs.

On September 14, 1946, Wellington won three first-class games on the same day. Wellington beat Auckland 17-9 in Auckland, while Wellington XVs beat Manawatū 11-6 and Horowhenua 23-8.

In 1997, Black Ferns Rugby World Cup winners Tammi Wilson (Auckland Girls’ Grammar) and Dianne Kahura (Thames High) played a touch test for New Zealand against Australia in Auckland, but skipped the next test a short while later to rush to a Black Ferns suit fitting even though they hadn’t been officially announced in the team.

Quad’s dramatic draw

When Whanganui first five Cruz Malo, right sock up, left sock down, slotted a conversion with the last kick of the game in the consolation playoff of the quad, the locals celebrated like a 21st.

And so they should. The kick looked like it was going to miss, but instead rebounded off the left upright and tumbled over.

It’s been a lean season for Whanganui, winless in CNI and down 21-7 with two minutes left, apparently no chance of a positive outcome against Christ’s.

However with loosehead prop Harry Sherritt on the charge and a determined bench, Earnie McQueen halved the deficit after the scoreboard clock passed 70 minutes.

With 75:24 showing, right winger Kobe Simmonds was unmarked and euphoric following courageous continuity. Did Malo and Wellington first-five Joe Barry sit together at the Quad dinner? Barry pulled off the same “in-off” kick to sink St Patrick’s College, Silverstream.

He did that again while converting a try for rampant blindside Laifone Kamoto (Sky TV final man of the match) when it was 22-13 in the 34th minute of the final.

In 2016, Isaiah Punivai and in 2020, Jack Jones won the Sky Sport Fans Try of the Year award while playing for Christ’s College.

A beauty scored by centre Hoani Kahukiwa in the 61st minute could be a contender as well. It started with a tackle and strip by second-five Havery Gubb in the Whanganui 22 on the left touchline and ended six passes and 80m later on the opposite side with centre Kahukiwa dragging three defenders with him.

It was the fifth draw in 72 Quad games between Whanganui and Christ’s. The last draw had been an 18-18 tie between Christ’s and Wellington in 2019.

Silverstream run riot against Rongotai

While nearly 35,000 spectators roared the Hurricanes to a glorious Super Rugby Pacific final victory at a sold-out Hnry Stadium on Saturday night, alarm bells must be ringing at College Sport Wellington and Wellington Rugby Union headquarters over the dire state of the Tranzit coachlines-sponsored First XV Premiership.

So far in 2026, 17 of 25 games have been decided by more than 20 points. Since 2017, 234 games – well over half – ended with that margin. Wellington haven’t produced a New Zealand Secondary Schools player in the past two seasons.

If ever there was an illustration of the decay, it was on Wednesday when defending champions St Patrick’s College, Silverstream, inflicted a 109-0 humiliation on Rongotai College, an all-boys school and typically a perennial contender.

Rongotai famously won the Premiership three times consecutively from 1996 to 1998 and again in 2003. Since those halcyon days, Rongotai have been semifinalists four times since 2016.

Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea and Ardie Savea are Wellington’s greatest All Blacks so far this millennium. All three attended Rongotai.

Since June 2024, Rongotai have won only one of their last 14 Premiership matches and have even struggled to beat historical minnows like Hutt International Boys’ School.

What is going on?

Rongotai’s decline likely reflects a wider malaise in the capital.

In 2016, there were 11,014 registered players; in 2024, 9021. That means 133 fewer starting XVs. Over the past two years, Wellington Rugby Union has posted losses exceeding $1 million. Previous trust funding of nearly $500,000 to pay rugby development officers at clubs to support coaching before college and establish connections after school has vanished.

How does rugby regain appeal and competitiveness?

The causes and solutions to this predicament aren’t straightforward, but more urgency and innovation are required before things get worse.

For the record, Rongotai were down 47-0 at halftime against a ruthless Silverstream smarting from their first defeat in 21 Premiership games a week earlier.

As if things couldn’t get worse, the visitors conceded a penalty try and a yellow card for a no-arms tackle on Silverstream winger Troy Waldrom as he dived over the line in the 44th minute.

While Rongotai was undermanned, Silverstream rushed in five tries, three straight from the kickoff. At 79-0, first five-eighths Fletcher Cooper didn’t bother to summon the tee for a shot straight in front. Inevitably, the scrums became uncontested in the second half.

Silverstream scored 16 tries with a dozen different individual scorers. Captain and blindside Ryder Thompson celebrated a hat-trick. Waldrom sped in twice as did Oakley Time. Jaxon Ropitini, swapping from fullback to halfback and hooker, Javhan Hunt were among the chief destroyers and scored tries, while Atonio Tupou added insult to injury with an explosive cameo from the bench.

Cooper finished with 27 points from 11 conversions and a try. That passes the record of 24 points (six four-point tries) scored by John Leslie in Silverstream’s previous record win against Rongotai College of 74-6 in 1988.

The largest previous defeat Rongotai had likely suffered was in 2013 when they lost 88-3 to Scots College. In that match, Scots scored 14 tries and converted nine, with future Japanese international Malo Tuitama scoring five tries and former Hurricanes prop Alex Fidow adding two tries and two conversions.

The result even compelled Silverstream’s all-time leading points scorer, Murray Tocker (601 points in 78 games), to protest.

“The times have changed, it’s actually a sad result … It’s time to revisit the entire system in New Zealand.

“We need more young college students playing, both boys and girls. The current system isn’t working and has no future … Come on NZR, wake up.”

Silverstream won all four matches against Rongotai when Tocker was in the First XV. The scores were: 1971 (20-9), 1972 (22-10), 1973 (33-7), 1974 (24-0).

Tocker played for Wellington and Hawke’s Bay and is an eight-time Jubilee Cup-winning player and coach with Marist St Pats. In 2016, he was appointed president of Wellington Rugby.

Rathkeale boilover

Is the above melancholy misguided? Rathkeale College caused the upset of the season when they rolled St Patrick’s College Wellington (Town) 27-26.

No 8 Jone Ralulu scored a try and was at the forefront of a committed pack that hassled Town into uncharacteristic mistakes. Town led 19-17 at halftime but were overtaken with second-half points from William Orsborn and Josiah McCallum. Town prop Noah Leavasa-Tavoi scored a try and was a towering presence.

Rathkeale’s rugby director is former Southland Ranfurly Shield-winning fullback, Robbie Robinson.

The Māori All Black, who won Super Rugby titles with the Chiefs in 2012 and 2013, was delighted with the outcome.

“It’s another stake in the ground for where we’re at as a programme,” Robinson said. ”The forward pack put in some really dominant defence all game.

“Both the backs and forwards are starting to understand and grow their attacking skill sets, which is great to see. It was a tough, physical game, a real team effort to get the win.”

In other matches, Scots College overcame Wairarapa College 39-26, and Hutt International Boys’ School topped Mana College 39-21.

Tranzit Coachlines Premiership: Wellington College 24, Silverstream 20, Rathkeale 19, St Pat’s Wellington 19, Scots 15, Hutt International 15, St Bernard’s 12, Wairarapa 6, Rongotai 1, Mana 0.

Southland and Christchurch Boys’ continue momentum as South Island results go to script

Southland Boys’ High School won their eighth consecutive match, scoring five tries in the first half of a 41-0 whitewash of St Thomas of Canterbury.

Southland’s forwards did the business with front-rowers Paul Carter, Simpson Stevenson, and Elliot Wilson all getting themselves on the scoresheet in the first half.

Christchurch Boys’ High were made to work hard, but still banked a bonus point in their 29-21 win over Marlborough Boys’ College. Jonty Leary and Max Carr had strong games and scored tries.

St Bede’s College accounted for King’s High 39-31. Winger James Setter scored 17 points. Head prefect Zane Rakete-Gray bagged a double for King’s.

Meanwhile, St Andrew’s College stayed in the top four of the Miles Toyota Premiership with a 55-22 hiding of Shirley Boys. Winger Jock Sidey (3) and Jett Timbrell (2) combined for half of St Andrew’s nine tries.

In the Southern Schools Rugby Championship, Wakatipu High School and Waitaki Boys’ shared a 19-19 draw. Two tries from captain and openside Blake Hyslop saw South Otago High School nudge Dunstan High School 20-19.

John McGlashan College smashed St Kevin’s 59-5, with left winger Yoko Fujii scoring a hat-trick. Central Southland College trampled over Mount Aspiring High School 40-5, and Taieri College pipped Hokonui Colleges 26-20.

South Island Schools points: Southland 42, Christchurch 35, St Bede’s 24, Timaru 21, Nelson 20, Otago 18, Marlborough 16, St Thomas 15, Shirley 14, King’s 14, Christ’s 12.

Miles Toyota Premiership points: St Andrew’s 25, Christchurch Boys’ 23, St Bede’s 19, Timaru 15, Nelson 15, Shirley 11, St Thomas 10, Marlborough 8, Christ’s College 5.

Southern Schools, Top 6: John McGlashan 25, St Kevin’s 16, South Otago 15, Waitaki 13, Dunstan 4.

Trivial pursuit closer

There’s been some outstanding trivia from the commentators at the Fifa World Cup. How about this nugget: Hull City is the only Premier League team without a closed letter (characters that contain an enclosed white space) in its name, such as “o”.

So who is the best New Zealand First XV without a closed letter in their name?

# Disagree with anything here? We welcome alternative viewpoints. Email us at nzschoolboyrugby@gmail.com.

Latest from School Rugby

Auckland Grammar bans content creator over social media rugby footage

Quadrangular team of the century: The All Blacks in and those who missed out

A century of school pride on the line at New Zealand’s oldest rugby tournament

The hidden engine behind 60% of New Zealand’s exports

Source: New Zealand Herald