SPORT Rugby
MiC: Stephen Dods
Our U15B and U14B both had fantastic seasons and are the
Everything we do in the rugby programme would not be possible without the constant and positive support of parents and this fantastic school. It makes going to games and parent functions something to look forward to. Thanks to you all. A successful programme can only work if it is resourced. I constantly refer to our sponsors, but without their support we would not be able to source the intellectual property that enables us to keep the boys safe and get them to their very best. Archibalds and College rugby have a close relationship and their support has been a catalyst to our success. Pak’nSAVE, Anderson Lloyd and Naylor Love have also supported us at high levels and for many years, and Northington Partners has recently supported our U16 tour to Japan and our rugby programme. It is our 18 sponsors and donors who get us to the point where rugby costs are zero for all teams below the 1st and 2nd XV. Being able to provide all these teams with specialist external rugby coaches and a strength and conditioning programme for seniors gives College rugby its point of difference. Former 2018 Head Prefect Max Goodwin successfully initiated the Tamai Project in 2019, ably supported by Gus Coates and Harry Hawkins. The project enables boys and girls from schools in Linwood, Woolston and Aranui to play in a sports team – in our case rugby. Due to logistics and the so many other disadvantages they have to live with, the Tamai Project was the only way many of them could play. It involved engaging closely with the six Tamai schools and forming an U10 team
Our rugby objective in 2019 was to consolidate our structures and prove our rugby programme is sustainable. The 2018 season was arguably one of the best in College history, with a draw in the UC Championship final, a convincing win in the Quadrangular Tournament, and four players selected in the New Zealand schools’ squad. With only six players returning to the 1st XV in 2019, we wanted to prove we have a programme that is not cyclical and College rugby could continue to produce good leaders and fine young men every season on our rugby “conveyor belt”. To do this we have put a lot of energy and resources into our junior teams over the past few years – and in 2019 the result of this policy showed its merit. The 1st XV lost a close semi-final to eventual South Island champions Nelson College by six points. The 2nd XV lost the U18A final and the U16A made the top four of the U16A grade. Our U15A won the South Island U15 tournament and Metro U15A grade competition. The U14A team had a magnificent win over grade winners Christchurch Boys’ High School, but just missed out on a semi-final place by conceding a try in the last minute of the last round robin match. Many of our 1st XV players come through our B teams as boys develop at different times, and recognising these teams at junior level and giving them the same framework as A teams, is critical to our aim of getting every boy to his best and creating an equal pathway for all.
strongest groups we have had in these grades in many years. These grades are a mix of boys who vary between participation and aspiration, which is extremely difficult to manage as coaches have to find the balance between all players in the team. Our U58kg team was perhaps our most improved, losing their semi- final. This grade was new in 2019 and what a success it was. It proved popular with boys and parents alike, and we saw a lot less injuries as a result. In 2020 we will introduce an U66kg U14/U15 grade, which will give lighter players more opportunity to continue in the game. The 3rd XV definitely showed us you don’t have to win every game to have fun. They had good numbers and four enthusiastic coaches and managers who gave so much to these boys. Our 3rd XV is seen as a “social” team, with many Year 13 boys who just want to play with their mates. Seeing the intensity and passion they brought to the match when playing the CBHS U18A team, however, was an inspiration to all who watched – highlighting, perhaps, that there is no such thing as social rugby. It was magnificent to see Zach Gallagher lead the New Zealand Schools and Crusaders Junior Knights teams in 2019. He was one of 24 senior College players who played representative rugby in 2019. One in three of our senior players made a representative U18, U16 or Crusaders Junior Knights team in 2019. Congratulations to all these boys.
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Register 2019 Sport
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