Schools standing in the way of Rotorua and Feilding ambitions this year are Downlands College, a Catholic co-educational school in Queensland (which curiously does not compete in a formal league but cherry-picks its fixtures), Truro and Penwith College from Cornwall, England, and Ratu Kadavulevu School from Fiji.
Osaka Toin High, the 2025 national champions, are likely to be the pick of up to eight Japanese schools competing. But the trickiest opponent of all may be Exeter College, who feature three current England U18 players in second-rower Jeremy Keys, forward Harry Westlake and winger Archie Guyver.
Rotorua, coached by Courtney Mita, Jeremy Te Huia, Tuwharetoa Hapi and former All Black Hika Elliot, last season registered a 17-3 record, outscoring opponents 689-369.
They have lost many of last year’s starting XV, including stars such as Jake Hutchings and Tokoaitua Owen, but have retained the services of inspirational captain Te Ariki Rogers, and leading players such as lock Luke Worsp and centre Taowaru Waititi.
In their opening pre-season match, Rotorua beat Auckland’s Sacred Heart 26-5 in Hamilton.
Feilding, the first Central North Island school to compete at Sanix, last year set a new First XV benchmark for a co-educational state school from small-town New Zealand and are slightly better positioned, with 12 players returning from their 2025 squad, including the bulk of their battle-hardened forward pack.
Feilding received their invitation to compete alongside Rotorua via New Zealand Rugby – and the extra Kiwi presence would appear to be thanks to the absence of a South African school this year.
Feilding had also received a Sanix invitation after making the National Top Four in 2024, but with just six weeks’ notice, on that occasion elected not to pursue the opportunity.
“It is a great honour to be invited,” said Feilding’s media manager, Blair Rogers. “It will also be a great team-building exercise, and a tremendous opportunity to build our own culture within the team, especially with the Year 12s on board for the first time.
“We will see how we shape up and who turns up. But this time last year, who would have even thought we would make the National Top Four?
“We will also support Rotorua Boys’ High as best we can in Japan. They are good people in Rotorua and we like them.”
Meanwhile, Feilding High School had its first hit-out in 2026 at Wellington College. Though Feilding were narrowly beaten (33-29), Blayke Greenem, Alex Wrenn, Fomai Viliamu, Corin Goodman, Ryan Bremner, Frank Wallace, Ben Copsey, Taine Anapu-Burke, Vitor Malaesilia, Iosua Tyrell, Alifereti Raka, Jone Lecia and Sam Emmett all earned their First XV debuts.
Wellington College, with nine returning players from last season, were twice 14 points to the good (14-0 and 21-7) but Feilding pulled it back to lead 24-21 at one stage in the second half. Both teams eventually scored five tries, but Feilding rued sloppy handling. Wellington’s kicker Cooper Werkhoven nailed two sideline conversions.
Wellington midfield back Liam Phelps was penetrative, scoring two tries, and No 8 Z’kedeus Schwalger was vigorous in his third year of First XV footy. Alex Johnson was Feilding’s best spoiler in the lineout and was pesky on defence.
In another pre-Easter fixture, a Feilding Kia Toa XV were beaten 31-29 by a St Pat’s Silverstream Trial XV. Troy Waldrom, son of English rugby international Thomas Waldrom, scored two tries for St Pat’s along with Payton Gleeson, Cormac Sanson and Mea’ole Mai’i. For Feilding, renowned pig hunter Steelie Hammond scored three tries despite an early dislocated finger.
Rotorua Boys’ High Sanix squad: Tahu Aumua, Te Irimana Hatu-Edmonds Huriwai, Massey Mills, Te Ariki Rogers, Mason Barry, Samuel Howe, Awanui Owen, John Taufoou, Loky Chapman, Ollie James, Nate Phillips, Patelisio Tavake, Cruze Conroy, Prynce Love, Samuel Phillips, Nicholas Te Wake, Luke Cunningham, Tommy McBeth, Prince Potae, Taowaru Waititi, Curtis Frederick, Heretaunga Mikaere, Rylin Rasmussen, Hiwa Warbrick, Ihaia Goldring, Luke Worsp, Michael Rogers, Te Rauna Webster-Tarei. Coaches: Courtney Mita, Jeremy Te Huia, Tuwharetoa Hapi, Hika Elliot.
Advice for Rotorua from their 2003 coach
Rotorua Boys’ High shouldn’t underestimate the quality of Japanese rugby teams and need to appreciate how tricky it is to win the Sanix Tournament.
That’s the view of former RBH rugby coach (and headmaster) Chris Grinter, who led Rotorua Boys’ to 237 wins in 280 matches during his decorated tenure from 1993 to 2003 and again in 2006.
His teams scored exactly 10,000 points, including 178 in their five wins to capture their first Sanix title in 2003. In the final, they beat Tonga College 27-12 with tries from Niki Nepia, Sam Cameron, Maurice Stone and Joshua Rauluni. Captain Willie Ripia kicked two conversions and a penalty.
“Winning this tournament is extremely challenging,” Grinter said. “We played two 50-minute pool games in a single day. With limited knowledge of the other teams and their diverse playing styles, quick adaptation is essential.
“Coaching in this environment is demanding. The Japanese teams were technically proficient. We succeeded by moving the ball wide and using our size to create one-on-one mismatches, though that advantage may no longer exist.
“Culturally, the experience was both eye-opening and humbling. Visiting the Nagasaki Peace Park was especially moving. We shared Japanese food, appreciated their unique culture, and formed new friendships.”
Grinter bestowed Rauluni as his man of the match in the National Top Four final later that year in Christchurch. Rotorua beat Napier Boys’ High, undefeated in 45 consecutive matches, 31-11, to earn another trip to Japan in 2004. Grinter reflected that “he was like an Exocet missile despite being the smallest but fastest on the field”.
The Sanix legacy and the Rotorua connection
Sanix is a sports promotion foundation, and over the years its rugby tournament has hosted school teams from 23 different countries and regions. In the process it has served as a stepping stone for future internationals such as Japan’s Timothy Lafaele, England’s Jack Nowell, South Africa’s JP Pietersen, and New Zealand All Blacks Owen Franks, Colin Slade, and Matt Todd.
At the 2019 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, 26 Sanix alumni were involved in the global showpiece, and in France 2023, there were 35 players who had played in the Sanix Tournament. Rugby World Cup winners include All Blacks Franks and Slade and South Africa’s Pietersen.
And even within Rotorua’s champion class of 2003, there are also many interesting links to wider achievements.
Willie Ripia scored 303 points in 66 games for the Rotorua First XV and later had a successful professional career, highlighted by five appearances for the Māori All Blacks. Niki Nepia became a National CrossFit champion, as did his son Hunter, who attended Rotorua Boys’ High (and in 2024 was nicknamed “the fittest boy in New Zealand”.)
Meanwhile, Maurice Stone was a Touch Black for over a decade, as was his brother, Shaquille. Together, they have also coached Rotorua Boys’ teams to national titles. Shaquille’s uncle, Arthur Stone, was an All Black while relatives George, Shane and Darrel Stone also played First XV at Rotorua.
Joshua Rauluni is related to the famous Fijian rugby family, the Raulunis, who include internationals Taito, Jacob and Mosese. Their cousin is World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Waisale Serevi.
Sanix Champions
2025 Osaka Toin High School (Japan)
2024 Osaka Toin High School (Japan)
2023 Hamilton Boys’ High (NZ)
2020-2022: 2022 Cancelled
2019 Paul Roos (South Africa)
2018 Ratu Kadavulevu School (Fiji)
2017 Lycee de la Borde Basse (France)
2016 Glenwood (South Africa)
2015 Paul Roos (South Africa)
2014 Hamilton Boys’ High (NZ)
2013 St Kentigern (NZ)
2012 Kelston Boys’ High (NZ)
2011 Hamilton Boys’ High (NZ)
2010 Hamilton Boys’ High (NZ)
2009 Dax Landes (France)
2008 Glenwood (South Africa)
2007 Westfields Sports (Australia)
2006 Christchurch Boys’ High (NZ)
2005 Christchurch Boys’ High (NZ)
2004 Rotorua Boys’ High (NZ)
2003 Rotorua Boys’ High (NZ)
2002 Boland Landbou (South Africa)
2001 Grey College (South Africa)
2000 Kings Parramatta (Australia)
New Zealand’s world schools champions 1992-2025
While Sanix is the longest-running world schools championship, dating back to 2000, New Zealand schools have also achieved success in other competitions.
For instance, in the past four years, three New Zealand teams have also won the new World Schools Rugby Festival in Thailand and Abu Dhabi.
That includes Auckland’s St Kentigern, who beat Paul Roos Gymnasium (South Africa) 17-13 just before Christmas in Abu Dhabi. In pool play they beat Paul Roos Gymnasium’s second team 24-10, Zimbabwe’s Junior Sables 69-0 and a Ugandan Schools Select XV 40-10.
New Zealand’s proud heritage dates back to 1992, when New Plymouth Boys’ High won a first-of-its-kind World Schools Championship, beating Samoa’s Avele College 16-8 in the final of a 16-team, eight-country event held over two weeks in July.
That New Plymouth side was star-studded, with players like Mark Irwin, Campbell Feather, Michael Collins, Daryl Lilley and future All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne all becoming household names in New Zealand rugby.
In the Whakatāne final, Lilley kicked 11 points and Mathew Gibbs scored a solitary try. New Plymouth’s coach was Ged Rowlands, who later led the Black Ferns to a 15-0 record, including the 2006 Rugby World Cup.
“It was a great set-up,” Rowlands recalled. “The local clubs adopted the teams, which attracted a large following in the community. We were right next to the beach, which we used for training, creating a relaxing environment.
“The games were tough. We had to play two games in two days before we had a bit of a break and resumed again. The Island teams played a really physical and expansive style of rugby that was exciting to watch; they were there to leave their mark. We had to use our structure to grind them out.
“The final was played on TV. When we won, we got a huge response back home. The number of old boys who called with their congratulations was really flattering.”
New Zealand Schools World Champions (with grand final results)
1992, New Zealand: New Plymouth Boys’ High beat Avele College (Samoa) 16-8
1994, Australia: Gisborne beat Maritzburg College (RSA) 44-6
1998, South Africa: Kelston Boys’ High beat Monument High School (RSA) 36-0
2003, Japan: Rotorua Boys’ High beat Tonga College 27-12
2004, Japan: Rotorua Boys’ High beat Higashi Fukuoka High (Japan) 36-18
2005, Japan: Christchurch Boys’ High beat Southport (Australia) 32-8
2006, Japan: Christchurch Boys’ High beat Monument High School (RSA) 34-20
2010, Japan: Hamilton Boys’ High beat Truro College (England) 40-8
2011, Japan: Hamilton Boys’ High beat Ivybridge Community College (England) 35-17
2012, Japan: Kelston Boys’ High beat Truro College (England) 37-24
2013, Japan: St Kentigern beat Hartpury College (England) 40-8
2014, Japan: Hamilton Boys’ High beat Paarl Boys’ High (RSA) 15-11
2022, Thailand: Hamilton Boys’ High beat Grey College (RSA) 22-10
2023, Japan: Hamilton Boys High beat Higashi Fukuoka High 28-22
2023 (December), Thailand: Westlake Boys’ High beat St Michael’s College (Ireland) 28-21
2025 Abu Dhabi: St Kentigern College beat Paul Roos Gymnasium (South Africa) 17-13
Westlake, Tauranga and St John’s also on tour
Westlake Boys’ High started their campaign in the St John’s Rugby Festival in Johannesburg with a 56-35 loss to Monument School from Krugersdorp.
Westlake led early through a try to left wing Aston Fraser, set up by Matt Fleming, but soon trailed 21-7 before Levi Leith scored out wide for 21-14. Fleming, Westlake’s stand-out player, then won a 60m footrace to level the scores at 21-21 at halftime.
But the floodgates opened with four tries at the start of the second spell, which had Monument firmly in control at 49-21.
Fleming claimed a further try from an offload after No 8 Adam Watson took a quick tap and substitute Westlake forward Hadley Pethybridge had the final say with a pick-and-go try.
Monument controlled most of the game with greater physicality. Direct and too consistent, they kept the pressure on and finished their chances well. However, overall the contest was of high quality for the preseason and a worthy showing by Westlake against top opposition.
Westlake: Nic Van Der Merwe, Morgan Seymour, Demetrius Sanft, Sami Vai, Fergus Mahan, Jaxx Latoa-Levi, Brody Kirkland, Adam Watson, Levi Leith, Luke Waller, Aston Fraser, Tuaine Rolleston, Matt Fleming, Flynn Holbrook, Nikau Opuariki. Reserves: Hadley Pethybridge, Toby Inskeep, Chase Sharp, Mana Smith, Arlie Collins, Cohen Cameron, Kody Insgrove, Rocco Chapman. Coach: Rob Mildenhall.
Meanwhile, Tauranga Boys’ College are on a three-match tour of Japan, with matches against Sagami High School (Tokyo), Gyosei High School (Osaka) and a final match on April 11 against the Shizuoka Seiko Academy (Shizuoka).
This month, Hamilton’s St John College are also touring South Africa, with their first match against that country’s top-ranked school, Paarl Bois High (Western Cape), the second against Sentraal High (Bloemfontein) and a third match still to be announced.