2021 School rugby
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Some news.
As his playing career wound down, Mark Hammett was intent on teaching as a career option, only for coaching to intervene before he fulfilled that ambition at his former school. Hammett is a month into his new role as director of high performance and well-being at St Thomas of Canterbury College, a position that dovetailed nicely with the end of his tenure as an assistant coach at the Highlanders after Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Former All Black hooks into high-performance role at Christchurch college
Former All Blacks hooker and Super Rugby coach Mark Hammett has taken a job at his former Christchurch high school.
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The Central North Island (CNI) competition starts on Saturday, 15 May. There are 10 participating schools; no change from last year.
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Update on New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Programme 2021
Following World Rugby's recommendation to postpone Rugby World Cup 2021, the New Zealand Schools’ Rugby Union (NZSRU) has confirmed that all three national 1st XV championships will again be hosted at the Massey University Sport & Rugby Institute in Palmerston North 17th – 19th September .
The Barbarians National Secondary School Rugby Championships comprise- the New Zealand National Girls 1st XV Championships for the Hine Pounamu Trophy
- the New Zealand Barbarians National 1st XV Championship for the Barbarian Cup
- the New Zealand National Invitational Co-educational Schools 1st XV Championship for the Barbarian Trophy.
In a departure from previous years, the 2021 National 1st XV Rugby Championships will not be held during winter tournament week. NZSRU has always been concerned that the timing of the National 1st XV Championships has dictated the timing of 1st XV competitions throughout the country with local competitions needing to finish earlier than desirable. This was exacerbated by the earlier timing of Winter Tournament Week in 2021. Schools Sport New Zealand have sanctioned the later timing of 17th – 19th September.
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Some schools are already releasing their season schedules so I expect an official announcement soon. The Super 8, for example, looks to be starting on June 12.
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@bovidae Yeah, I saw that. The Miles Toyota Championship (new name of the UC Championship in the Crusaders region) starts on 8 May and the Otago 1st XV competion starts on 15 May (with one early game on 12 May). As I posted earlier in the thread, the CNI starts on 15 May as well. I haven't seen the schedules of other competitions, yet.
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First XV rugby: Elite school hit with radical new playing ban
EXCLUSIVE
A fresh poaching outbreak has led to Auckland's 1A First XV competition imposing yet tougher sanctions on pupils who switch schools.
Fearing that the six-match stand-down that was agreed in 2018 was no longer a sufficient deterrent in dissuading schools from recruiting promising rugby players, the principals of the 1A schools agreed on December 18, 2020 to increase the sanction to two years.
The Herald understands the shift to a longer stand-down was instigated after King's College recruited a pupil from St Peter's College and one from De La Salle College.
It is also understood that King's poached a Year 13 pupil from Auckland Grammar School in the first week of this school year – seemingly unaware of the change in the rules.
Consequently, the talented young player will now be unable to represent the King's First XV at all.
Since late 2018 schools in Auckland's 1A competition have had to abide by an agreed code of practice, introduced after St Kentigern College aggressively recruited a significant number of pupils who had already played First XV rugby for other schools.
It was seen as a deliberate and excessive attempt to use their ability to offer full or partial sports scholarships to entice the best players to their school – causing concern among the other institutions that not only was the competition being skewed, but the education of those switching was being compromised.
As a consequence, the other 11 schools collectively agreed a new code of practice, warning St Kent's that if they didn't sign it, no one in the competition would play against them.
King's College were also warned at the same time about their aggressive recruitment policies but it is understood they avoided the same scrutiny as a result of proactively agreeing to review their policies.
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@machpants What I would like to know is what they're doing against poaching by Auckland's 1A 1st XV schools of players from other regions. I know of one particular player from Napier Boys' who an Auckland School is trying to poach (or has poached) and it makes my blood boil, because he could be a promising player for Hawke's Bay in one or two years.
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@stargazer said in 2021 School rugby:
What I would like to know is what they're doing against poaching by Auckland's 1A 1st XV schools of players from other regions.
Agree. The likes of St Kents and King's will just continue to look outside of Auckland to find players. Northland being one of those regions.
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Seems like a blanket rule like this is just punishing the kids - who may have legitimate reason for moving.
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The first preseason games were played, last weekend (27 March 2021).
I assume there may be more, but these were the results I've been able to find (all 1st XV, unless stated otherwise):
Lindisfarne College 25 - 28 Palmerston North BHS
Massy HS 0 - 39 Rotorua Boys BHS
Hutt Int Boys 1st XV 33 - 46 Palmerston North BHS 2nd XV
Marist St Pat's Colts 22 - 26 St Pat's Coll Town
Tauranga Boys 1st XV Selection 19 - 17 St Johns (Hamilton) 1st XV
Feilding HS 1st XV 17 - 15 Wellington Coll (Principal's XV)
Feilding HS 2nd XV 19 - 12 Wellington Coll (Chairman's XV)Interesting: Neemia Tialata is the new Wellington College forwards coach.
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@stargazer Doesn't seem to have much of an impact on their results yet, give him time though I suppose. From what my ears and nose to the ground tells me Well Coll do not dish out chasing "scholarships" so that puts a bit of perspective on them not reaching the comparative heights of yesteryear. I am not commenting on the Lindisfarne result and definitely not using the "S" word in the same sentence. Maybe Palmy had a lot of guys at the Maadi Cup Regatta?
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@stargazer said in 2021 School rugby:
Interesting: Neemia Tialata is the new Wellington College forwards coach.
Yeah, I read that a couple of weeks ago.
Your favourite coach (Craig Philpott) is now the Head of Physical Education and Health at Scots College.
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@bovidae Hallelujah, hopefully that will see the curtailment of all coaching commitments to any NZRFU funded Teams.
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NZR introducing three new laws focusing on safety to be tested in school-grade rugby (incl video of interview with Mark Robinson)
School-grade rugby will test three new laws this year as New Zealand Rugby looks to make more ground in making the game safer for teenage players.
NZR CEO Mark Robinson spoke to media this afternoon following the body's March board meeting yesterday and highlighted early on in his address that changes are coming to some age grade competitions.
"We had a full update on all the work we're doing around concussion as well as some of the work we're doing to experimental law variations for the upcoming season, especially in the teenage area," Robinson said.
"One [of the new laws] relates to tackle height. We want to see tackle heights be lowered from the belly and below."
Another law change, Robinson explained, will have players using a "split-stance" when guarding the ruck to lower the chances of the neck and spine being exposed to a hit from opposition attempting to clear a player out.
The third law also focuses on safety, but this time NZR hopes to remove the dangers of a contested high ball by one or two airborne players.
"People receiving high kicks will be staying grounded," Robinson said.
The ACC reported rugby union has had the most injury claims among common sports over the last three years, with 43,886 claims made in 2020 alone.
It's not yet known which grades will use the experimental laws.NZR introducing three new laws focusing on safety to be tested in school-grade rugby
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Changes include tackles having to be made from stomach down.
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@stargazer Years ago you had to have at least one foot on the ground to claim a mark. You never saw players jumping for the ball in those days and come to think of it I am struggling to recall all that many contested high balls as attackers seemed to be more concerned in barrelling the catcher as soon as he took it. That was way back in the early 70s so maybe my memory is a bit diminished on that score.
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Preseason games
Kelston Boys 1st XV v Hastings Boys 1st XV - Thu 1 April 2021, ?am (Kelston BHS)
Kelston Boys 2nd XV v Hastings Boys 2nd XV - Thu 1 April 2021, 12.00pm (Kelston BHS)
Lindisfarne 1st XV v Gisborne BHS 1st XV - Thu 1 April 2021, 2.30pm (Pakowhai Field)
Lindisfarne 2nd XV v Gisborne BHS 2nd XV - Thu 1 April 2021, 2.30pm (Ranui)
Feilding HS 2nd XV v Wairarapa Coll 1st XV - Thu 1 April 2021, 2.00pm (FAHS)Wellington Coll 1st XV v Palmerston North BHS 1st XV - Fri 2 April 2021, 12.45pm (Well Coll 1)
Wellington Coll 2nd XV v Palmerston North BHS 2nd XV - Fri 2 April 2021, 11.00am (Well Coll 1) -
@higgins said in 2021 School rugby:
@stargazer Years ago you had to have at least one foot on the ground to claim a mark. You never saw players jumping for the ball in those days and come to think of it I am struggling to recall all that many contested high balls as attackers seemed to be more concerned in barrelling the catcher as soon as he took it. That was way back in the early 70s so maybe my memory is a bit diminished on that score.
Pretty sure back in the day you had to have both feet firmly planted.
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@booboo given you used to have to make a 'mark' too didnt you, I think you are right.
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Preseason games
Wednesday, 31 March 2021
Hato Pāora College 69 1st XV - 0 Freyberg HS 1st XV
Rongotai Coll 1st XV v Scots College 1st XV ???Thursday, 1 April 2021
Kelston Boys 1st XV 28 - 12 Hastings Boys 1st XV
Lindisfarne 1st XV 43 - 3 Gisborne BHS 1st XV
Feilding HS 2nd XV 14 - 20 Wairarapa Coll 1st XVFriday, 2 April 2021
Wellington Coll 1st XV 20 - 26 Palmerston North BHS 1st XV
Wellington Coll 2nd XV 20 - 17 Palmerston North BHS 2nd XVSaturday, 3 April 2021
St John's Coll (Hastings) 1st XV 46 - 12 Napier OB Marist Colts
Wesley College 17 - 52 St Kentigern College (red card for the Wesley left winger in the 2nd minute for a tip tackle) -
Games today:
NPBHS 19 - St Kent's 17
Napier BHS 26 - Wellington College 7
Hastings BHS 38 - Feilding HS 7 (game called off early due to a bad injury to a Hastings player, broken leg). -
More results of preseason games:
Wednesday, 7 April 2021:
Hato Pāora Coll 1st XV 36 - 14 Feilding HS 2nd XVThursday, 8 April 2021(?)
Kelston Boys 1st XV 38 - 7 Westlake Boys 1st XVSaturday, 10 April 2021:
Rathkeale Coll 1st XV 59 - 0 Hato Pāora Coll 1st XV
Wesley College 1st XV ? - ? Tauranga Boys 1st XV
St Peter's (Cambridge) ? - ? Rotorua Boys 1st XVSunday, 11 April 2021:
Lindisfarne Coll 1st XV 43 - 5 Manukura 1st XV (there was a red card for Manukura in the 2nd half; it was 26 - 0 at HT)
St John's College (Hastings) 1st XV 26 - 45 Scots College 1st XV -
Preseason results:
Tuesday, 13 April 2021
Kelston Boys 71 - 6 Gisborne BHS
Westlake BHS 12 - 50 Hamilton Boys
Francis Douglas MC 8 - 15 De La Salle CollegeWednesday, 14 April 2021
Rongotai Coll 7 - 77 Nelson College
Dunstan HS 65 - 7 Morrinsville CollThursday, 15 April 2021
Napier Boys 17 - 14 LindisfarneFriday, 16 April 2021
Shirley Boys 7 - 36 St Andrew's College
Otago Boys 2nd XV 7 - 22 Matamata Coll 1st XV
Whangarei Boys 7 - 17 Mount Albert Grammar
Taupo Nui a Tia College ? - ? Hato Pāora College -
Some of the preseason games to be played tomorrow (Saturday, 17 April 2021):
St Pat's Wellington v Marlborough Boys - Sat 17 April 2021, 10.30am (Evans Bay Park)
St Paul's Collegiate v Palmerston North BHS - Sat 17 April 2021
Feilding HS 1st XV v New Plymouth Boys 1st XV - Sat 17 April 2021, 12.30pm (Border RC, Waverley)
Feilding HS 2nd XV v New Plymouth Boys 2nd XV - Sat 17 April 2021, 11.00am (Border RC, Waverley)
St Peter's Coll (Cambridge) v Tauranga Boys 1st XV - Sat 17 April 2021
Whanganui Coll 1st XV v Hawera HS 1st XV - Sat 17 April 2021, 11.00am
Auckland Grammar v Rotorua Boys - Sat 17 April 2021
Otago Boys v King's College - Sat 17 April 2021
Dunstan HS v South Otago HS - Sat 17 April 2021 -
Nelson College must have played again today, beating St Pats Silverstream 38-5.
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@bovidae Thanks, yes, I had that result on my list above the Shirley Boys - STAC result. Somehow missed it, when copying and pasting the results here.
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Looking at those results things must be looking pretty rosy for a real good season at Nelson College.
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@higgins said in 2021 School rugby:
Looking at those results things must be looking pretty rosy for a real good season at Nelson College.
Nelson College Invitational XV?
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St Patrick's College Town 52 - 5 Marlborough BC
St Paul's Collegiate 38 - 21 Palmerston North BHS
Feilding HS 32 - 35 New Plymouth BHS
Whanganui Collegiate 74 - 5 Hawera HS
St Kents 74 - 0 Manurewa HS
Kings College 41 - 19 Otago BHS
Auckland Grammar 25 - 30 Rotorua BHS
Whangarei BHS 7 - 17 MAGS -
Results Tuesday 20 April 2021:
Southland BHS 29 - 7 King's College
Western Heights HS 10 - 17 Hato Pāora College
St Pat's Wellington 37 - 37 St Bedes College
Rangiora HS 30 - 47 St John's College (Hastings) -
The Kia Tu Pre-Season Rugby Camp is this week. I have no idea whether the games will be livestreamed.
Gameday 1 - Thursday, 22 April 2021
12.00pm: Gisborne Boys v Sacred Heart College (Field 1)
1.20pm: St Paul's Collegiate v Mount Albert Grammar School (Field 1)
1.20pm: WestlakeBoys v Napier Boys (Field 2)Gameday 2 - Saturday, 24 April 2021
3.00pm: Westlake Boys v Sacred Heart College (Field 1)Gameday 2 - Sunday, 25 April 2021
10.00am: St Paul's Collegiate v Gisborne Boys (Field 1)
10.00am: Napier Boys v Mount Albert Grammar (Field 2) -
Kia Tu Pre-Season Rugby Camp
Results day 1:
Gisborne Boys 5 - 69 Sacred Heart College
St Paul's Collegiate 22 - 21 Mount Albert Grammar School
Westlake Boys 5 - 5 Napier BoysIt looks like the day 2 games on field 1 will be livestreamed:
Westlake v Sacred Heart tomorrow: https://sideline.live/play/14531
St Paul's v Gisborne Boys on Sunday: https://sideline.live/play/14532 -
Some results from yesterday:
Palmerston North BHS 20 - 18 Auckland Grammar
John McGlashan College 12 - 22 Francis Douglas MC
Christchurch BHS 12 - 20 Southland BHS
St Patrick's College Silverstream 37 - 39 St Bedes College -
Results:
Sat 24 April 2021
Hastings Boys 2nd XV 19 - 40 Rathkeale 1st XV
Nelson College 57 - 24 Nelson RFC
Timaru Boys 31 - 19 Kings HS
Tangaroa Coll 28 - 12 Wesley College
Kia Tu Pre-Season Rugby CampResults day 2:
Westlake Boys 5 - 12 Sacred Heart College (score after one half; scenarios for rest of the time)
Napier Boys 32 - 10 Mount Albert Grammar
St Paul's Collegiate 40 - 12 Gisborne Boys
Tue 27 April 2021
St Bede’s College 50 - 16 Francis Douglas MC
Wed 28 April 2021
Hastings Boys 40 - 3 Whanganui Collegiate
Sacred Heat College 31 - 7 Christchurch Boys
Presbyterian Quadrangular Tournament at Scots College
Day 1 (Wed 28 April 2021):Saint Kentigern 44 - 21 St Andrew’s
Scots College 36 - 17 Lindisfarne College -
Tomorrow's games:
11am: Match 1 – Consolation final: St Andrew's vs Lindisfarne
12.30pm: Match 2 – Final: St Kents vs Scots CollegeBoth matches will also be live on Sky TV
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STAC dominated Lindisfarne. Their 8 and 6 looked really impressive.
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Some of this weekend's results (including some random schools)
Friday 30 April 2021
Botany Downs SC 5 - 13 Hamilton BHS 2nd XVSaturday 1 May 2021
Palmerston North BHS 40 - 34 Whanganui Collegiate
King's College 22 -14 Christchurch Boys
Nelson College 77 - 0 Rangiora HS
Rotorua Boys 17 - 22 St Peter's (Auckland)
Dannevirke High School 12 - 19 Central Hawkes Bay College
Wellington Coll 1st XV (Principal's XV) 27 - 17 Manukura
Wellington Coll 2nd XV (Chairman's XV) 31 - 7 St Pat's Town 2nd XV
Wainuiomata HS 38 - 20 Onslow/Newlands College
Presbyterian Quadrangular Tournament at Scots College
Day 2 (Fri 30 April 2021):
Final
St Kents 30 - 22 Scots College3rd Place match
St Andrew’s 33 - 10 Lindisfarne -
Nelson 77-0 over Rangiora HS?? WOW
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I watched this game live and have no idea why the St Kents lock was sent off. The AR said striking but there was no video evidence shown, and the ref just accepted his word. St Kents were in control until they were reduced to 14 players.
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@bovidae ...i mean, why wouldn't he accept the AR's word?
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@kiwiwomble Watch the video from 59 mins and see if you believe that was a punch. Even Laban, a Scots old boy, couldn't believe it.
