Despite six changes from their starting line-up which drew with Rotorua, Hamilton blitzed Napier to lead 21-0 after just 15 minutes. In a flying start, Chiefs U18 prop Deon “Fortress” Fifita and lock Caleb Puamau were bullies.
Hamilton Boys’ High School’s lock Caleb Paumau offloads in the tackle against Napier Boys’ High School. Photo / Bruce Holloway
Fifita is coming into form and fitness after early season injuries.
Puamau is an interesting addition – insofar as he is Fijian and a phenomenal athlete, but relatively new to rugby, so still on a steep learning curve.
Of Hamilton’s starting line-up tweaks, the most significant was Jackson Botherway moving into first five-eighths, a position he had occupied for parts of 2025.
Botherway ran incisively and brilliantly kicked five conversions, and coach Cam Moorby later noted he was also cool as a cucumber.
“We just felt it was the right time for a change,” Moorby said of his switch from fullback.
“Jackson handles the pressure so well and everyone else feeds off his calmness.”
One player you would never associate with calmness was Hamilton’s hungry young No 8 Isaiah Edwards, and he earned his corn with another energetic showing.
Another notable contribution came from right wing Carson Hunter, with an outstanding second-half goose-step, chip and chase try from halfway, as he registered one of his best showings for Hamilton.
In fact, it was a real day out for Hamilton’s hunter-gatherers, with Hunter also scoring in the first half, with hooker Hunter Hammond. So too did centre Israel Marshall-Moore, in enjoying his first start.
By contrast, Napier’s defensive line-speed was far too slow and their lineout was often chaotic.
Further, Hamilton managed to neutralise the power of the Napier pack and potentially dangerous inside back combination of halfback Harry Bain and lively first five Will Lovatt.
Napier Boys’ High School first five-eighths Will Lovatt about to be tackled by Hamilton Boys’ High School’s Liam De Har-Elliott. Photo / Bruce Holloway
Napier had a fleeting chance when Hamilton conceded a yellow card in the 47th minute and they managed to close the deficit to 26-21 three minutes later.
Napier tries came from fullback Riley Winchester, prop Blair Hooton, and another from beneath a bundle of bodies, while Lovatt kicked all four of his conversions.
However, Puamau snuffed out any prospects of a comeback, beating Napier at their own game with a close-range barge.
The teams traded a late try each, left wing Liam De Har-Elliot for Hamilton and blindside Oliver Maclachlan for Napier.
Napier have seldom enjoyed their trips to Hamilton. The last time they won here was when they were national champions in 2002.
They were reasonably clinical when capitalising on Hamilton mistakes, baking a vital four-try bonus point. But identifying three of their scorers required a microscope and it takes more ambition than mauls and feisty “pick-and-goes” to conquer Argyle St.
However, strapping Napier No 8 Carter Pirie continued his noteworthy form, though it did not go unnoticed that he lost his footing a couple of times at vital moments.
Hamilton now host Tauranga Boys’ College on Thursday (12pm) in what has developed as their keenest rivalry in recent years.
Meanwhile, gutsy Gisborne Boys’ High secured their first win of the season, 33-32 at home to New Plymouth Boys’ High, thanks to three tries in the final 29 minutes.
Gisborne trailed 22-0 early, were still down 29-7 at the break, and by an imposing 25 points early in the second spell before staging their incredible comeback.
Mind you, in the final 25 minutes of their past three games, despite being low on the table, Gisborne have outscored their opposition 50-7, underlining how there are no Super 8 easybeats.
Indeed, at the start of the day there was a slim possibility that five teams could have been tied on 11 points.
The Rectory came to life when first five-eighths Ruan Ludewig put Gisborne ahead for the first time in the match with a 65th-minute conversion after a try to halfback Coen-Theros Brown.
Metres from the line, the beautifully mulletted Brown dummied and dived over, with New Plymouth a man down.
Earlier for Gisborne, powerful tighthead prop Lea’asi Tupou snared three tries and left wing Rori Fukushoma-Hall one.
For New Plymouth there were tries to right wing Coredae Wipiiti-Boylan (2), fullback George Le Quesne (2) and halfback Harry Sheehan.
Just as tight was Palmerston North Boys’ High’s 26-25 home win over Tauranga Boys’ College, though in this case it was the eventual winners defending a lead rather than seizing it.
Tauranga fullback Tommy “Ethereal” McQuoid scored a 70th-minute converted try to narrow the margin after Palmerston North led 26-18 with five to play.
Nathan Theron, playing on the right wing, as opposed to first five, accounted for Tauranga’s 20 other points with two tries, two penalties and two conversions.
Palmerston North, desperate for a win after consecutive losses, and playing in front of a gallery which included reunions of their 1996 (national Top Four runners-up) and 2006 First XVs, made a fine start when a well-executed lineout move ended with flanker Jack Greaves crashing over.
Centre Cayden Pardey extended the lead seven minutes later, though Tauranga then seized an 18-14 advantage after a partial charge-down, with Theron scoring his second try.
But after a series of phases inside the 22, Palmerston North tighthead Luke Inlenfeldt got his team back in front. And first five Micah Steinmetz put in a beautiful chip kick which was seized upon by second five Eric Miller, who went 60m to score and extend the lead.
With time almost up, Theron scored under the posts for Tauranga to keep things tense.
Palmerston North lead Tauranga 15 wins to 12 in a close Super 8 rivalry, having also won the 2013 fixture by a point (27-26).
Meanwhile, Rotorua Boys’ High successfully defended the Moascar Cup with a 25-5 win over Hastings’ Boys’ High, leaving them unbeaten in 18 consecutive matches.
Rotorua led 10-0 at the break through a brace of tries to openside flanker Rylin Rasmussen, while a 50th-minute try to right wing Jimione Ratuere kept Hastings in the frame. But tries to lock Luke Worsp and Samuel Phillips made the game safe for Rotorua.
Hastings last held the Moascar Cup in 2020.
Super 8 draw, Thursday, 12pm: Hamilton v Tauranga. Saturday 12pm: Napier v Rotorua. Points: Hamilton 18, Napier 16, Rotorua 16, Palmerston North 15, New Plymouth 13; Gisborne 10, Tauranga 7, Hastings 7.
Top four candidates all win in Auckland
Sacred Heart had to bounce back from a 20-7 deficit before halftime to ultimately record a bonus-point win over Dilworth 43-25, and retain third place in an Auckland 1A competition where all the top teams won.
For much of the first half Sacred were out-muscled and out-thought by a plucky Dilworth unit 18 points adrift of them on the table.
A snapshot of this occurred when a Dilworth quick tap ended with winger Steven Live Luatua bursting down the touchline, fending off two Sacred defenders to score his team’s third try.
By contrast, Sacred continued to surrender possession with knock-ons and forward passes before finally finding some pattern and rhythm in the second half.
Forward tries either side of halftime to prop Oliver Groenewald and two to sub Malakai Havealeta changed things. A deliberate knock on by Dilworth fullback Peyton Hala also helped turn the tide with a penalty try awarded.
For Dilworth, flanker Amjayden Tafatoa Mauga scored twice while halfback Jaydin Munu claimed the day’s opening try.
Auckland Grammar claimed a 17-14 home victory over winless Liston College.
But their inability to secure a bonus point – with just the three tries to Louie Du Plessis (2) and substitute lock Otis Neely – has reduced their margin to one point at the top of the table.
If Grammar dislike publicity for their First XV on account of safety and privacy concerns, even they’re not quite in the class of Liston, who have now not revealed any 1A points scorers for five weeks.
Kelston Boys’ High ran in eight tries in their 50-19 away win over King’s College, even without first-choice first five Max Talbot. Their seasonal points differential is now at least 40 better than anyone else.
Meanwhile, defending champions King’s have conceded half a century in four of their eight 1A matches.
The last time Kelston likely reached 50 against King’s was in 1998 when they won 55-5. That season, Kelston won 30 of 31 games and scored 1415 points. Future All Blacks Steven Bates and Mills Muliaina, captain Boris Stankovich and Nick Buckley were New Zealand Secondary Schools selections.
Fourth-placed St Kentigern were never in danger against St Paul’s, winning 33-6, with tries to centre Leofe Usufono, hooker Ollie Bellard, flanker Peter Mutschel, halfback Keanu Graham and lock Brady Tait.
St Paul’s points came from two Siokatame Kali penalties. It should be noted Kali was also one of the heroes as St Paul’s won the Auckland schoolboys premier rugby league final midweek.
In a rivalry that dates back more than 30 years, midweek St Paul’s beat De La Salle 12-10, after leading 6-4 at the break.
St Paul’s also introduced a new college tradition on the day of the final, presenting ceremonial caps for all players who have made 10 or more appearances for the First XIII.
Of those, Lorenzo Ekeroma (13 matches), Tane Keereweer-Taia: (11) and Kali (14) have also appeared for the school’s First XV this season.
Left wing Afa Nyel-Vaaga scored a hat-trick of tries and hooker Vaai Moli two, as St Peter’s bounced back from three losses on the trot to beat De La Salle 37-24 at The Cage.
On an afternoon of tries for left wingers and hookers, De La Salle’s Blessing Toa-Elisala nabbed two and Folau Sii one.
Mt Albert Grammar are in contention for a top four finish after a 38-5 home win over Botany Downs Secondary College.
Nearly all the backline got in on the action, with tries to second-five Orlando Narruhn, halfback Dylan Yare, fullback Adam Gruebner, centre Arie-Dura Tiumalu Harriman and first five Jarno Andrewes, with only super-sub Buster Garner representing the forwards.
And with Blake Climo starting on the bench, Gruebner slotted the first three conversions.
There are two critical 1A matches on Saturday. Mt Albert Grammar have quietly climbed up the table but will have their work cut out in hosting St Kentigern on Saturday, while Auckland Grammar host Sacred Heart in a battle of one-v-three.
Auckland 1A draw, Saturday (home team first, all 2.30pm): Botany Downs v St Paul’s; Mt Albert Grammar v St Kentigern; St Peter’s v Kelston; De La Salle v King’s College; Auckland Grammar v Sacred Heart; Dilworth v Liston.
Points: Auckland Grammar 38, Kelston 37, Sacred Heart 33, St Kentigern 32, Mt Albert Grammar 28, St Peter’s 23, Dilworth 15, De La Salle 13, King’s College 11, St Paul’s 8, Liston 7, Botany Downs 4.
Rosmini and Westlake on form in North Harbour
Rosmini College have recorded a seasonal double over Rangitoto College in a battle of two-v-three (prior to kickoff) in the Kyocera-sponsored North Harbour competition.
And defending champions Westlake Boys’ High gave an overdue exhibition of their class in a 14-try romp over shell-shocked Ōrewa College.
Rosmini’s five-try, 31-12 win was remarkably similar to the 31-14 outcome back on May 9, and on Rangitoto’s picturesque No 1 rugby pitch overlooking the stunning Hauraki Gulf, made for a decent show.
The first half was a tight contest with Rosmini applying pressure and Kayden Godbold’s tactical kicking and touch-finders mostly keeping Rangitoto in their own half.
Rangitoto College and Rosmini College square off in First XV rugby.
However, several excellent aerial lineout steals by Rangitoto captain Xaver McKinnon against the throw limited Rosmini to a 5-0 halftime lead.
The opening try, shortly before halftime, went to one of the competition’s leading try scorers in Rosmini No 8 Luchian Opperman.
Few have an eye for the tryline as expert as Opperman, and when he dotted down once more in the second half it took his tally to 15 tries this season.
Rosmini opened the second half with a quick try by Luke Friday from a lineout maul. But then came a Rangitoto try to powerful inside back Josef Streeter, who ran 20m from a pick-and-go, bouncing off a Rosmini tackler.
Rangitoto College and Rosmini College square off in First XV rugby.
Lachlan Murray at 12 replied with a try of his own for Rosmini, followed by a strong 40m dash by Rangitoto wing Oscar Faamausilli, who was unlucky not to score in the corner.
Flanker Brodie Tofilau and sub Max Wilkin both scored at the other end from close range for Rosmini.
The game came to a close with a skilful attacking chip-and-regather by Rangitoto first five Campbell Bibbie to score under the posts and then convert.
Meanwhile, Westlake hit their straps with an 84-0 demolition of Ōrewa College in a display that had fans pondering whether they had just seen the ghosts of former free-running school stars Isaac Murray-Macgregor and JD van der Westhuizen.
Rangitoto College and Rosmini College pack down with a picturesque background.
Westlake have now registered 50 competition points for the season and remain four clear at the top of the table.
This was a bright and breezy dress rehearsal for Saturday’s away showdown with second-placed Rosmini.
Westlake could easily have hit 100 as they slid into fourth gear for what was essentially the Matt Fleming show.
The tall Swans’ centre, who can swerve like a comic book character, was at his best and led the razzle-dazzle action with four tries, while Fijian left wing Yisrael Tukania also helped himself to four.
Fleming tends to be a selfless player, but in the second half he just ran the ball himself.
It was disciplined, structured rugby. The forwards ran straight and hard and the backs stopped kicking the ball away.
For a demoralised Ōrewa, it was like getting struck by a tsunami for the second successive week.
Whangārei Boys’ High beat Massey High 39-19, where the feature was four tries to left wing Zac Procter.
It pushed Whangārei up to third, though their showdown with Rangitoto College on Saturday should be more significant in sorting out the final shape of the top four.
Mahurangi College beat Takapuna Grammar 19-15 away, with a 61st-minute try to No 8 Talan Drinnan critical. Earlier there had been tries to lock Toby Leabourn and first five-eighths Harper Young, with Sam Wech converting both.
For Takapuna there were forward tries to Reuben Faletutulu and skipper Blake Tripodi and five points from the boot of Cash Gibson.
North Harbour draw, Saturday (home team first, all 12pm): Rangitoto v Whangārei; Rosmini v Westlake; Ōrewa v Takapuna; Massey v Mahurangi. Points: Westlake 50, Rosmini 46, Whangārei 34, Rangitoto 31, Mahurangi 20, Ōrewa 11, Takapuna 10, Massey 2.
Lindisfarne win a thriller in the Central North Island
Lindisfarne College have won their sixth consecutive First XV match, scoring 40 or more points on every occasion, in surging to an exhilarating 45-42 victory over St Peter’s.
That’s not only thrust Lindisfarne into second place in the Central North Island (CNI) championship, but has allowed them to take home both the Rick Francis Memorial Shield and the newly inaugurated Gilbert Cup from their 570km return trip to Cambridge.
There were 13 tries and five lead changes in a spectacular seesaw, which was also the first win for Lindisfarne against St Peter’s since a 29-24 success in 2019.
St Peter’s rallied from 28-14 down at halftime to take a 35-28 lead after 48 minutes. They then surrendered two tries to trail 35-38 before leading again 40-38, only to lose through a second try by rugged Lindisfarne lock Charlie East.
Lindisfarne College First XV.
Lindisfarne lost centre Reid Palmer, leader in the Jordie Barrett MVP standings, but it mattered little on attack. First five-eighths Te Awarangi Puketapu-Pene opened holes regularly and scored a 12th-minute try with a dummy that would have fooled Sherlock Holmes.
His 59th-minute break from near his own posts saw reserves Waiariki Hunia and Gus Munroe combine to send winger Jay Ladette-Pinfold (five conversions) over.
St Peter’s have won 79 CNI games since 2014, and a points haul of 42 would have won every one of them. Fullback Jack Calcinai clocked up 22 points with a perfect six from six goal-kicking and two tries, his second an 80m solo, dashing arrow-straight.
Barrel-chested prop Joshua Aukuso battered clear twice while the loose forward trio of Mitchell De Luca Oliveira, George Edwards Heeney and Koby-Tre Ross were every bit worth their combined 10 names.
Hamilton real estate agent and World Rugby Television match official Aaron Patterson was the referee. He was coached by Grant Gilbert, after whom the new fixture trophy has been named.
Patterson played in the Lindisfarne First XV alongside current coach Andre Bell, Māori All Black Gordon Falcon (whose son, Tiaan Falcon, is Lindisfarne’s all-time leading points scorer), and All Blacks and Kiwis international John Timu.
With St Peter’s losing, St Paul’s went three points clear at the top of the table thanks to a 47-7 away win over Whanganui Collegiate. There were tries to hooker Jackson Hill-Brown, lock Gus Weir (2), halfback Jamie Silich, flanker Rory Boynton, centre Hadley Thompson and a penalty try.
For Whanganui, No 8 Seremaia Waqanisau scored a 54th-minute try when his team was already 40-0 down.
It’s been a lean season for Whanganui, who always give it heaps, but this is far from their worst. Their biggest CNI defeat was 95-0 against Feilding in 2015. The same year, they lost to St Paul’s 81-7.
The most compelling action came in the 70th minute and beyond at the Dog Pound as Feilding High and Wesley College battled to a sensational 14-14 draw.
Feilding flanker Austin Tunnicliffe looked to have done enough to secure a home win when he scored a 70th-minute try, set up by a scything break by first five-eighths Tuharakia Wallace-Mcleod, which was duly converted by Fomai Viliamu, to give his team a 14-7 advantage with time seemingly up.
However, as stoppage time endured, in a frantic, bruising assault on the Feilding line, it was Wesley centre Apo Aria who finally crossed in the eighth extra minute.
And the miracle comeback was complete when captain Levi Byers coolly converted from near the touchline to snatch the draw.
Earlier, right wing Vetaia Kuruyabaki had scored for Feilding and sub Sam Tuifua for Wesley.
This was the first draw between the schools, with Feilding leading the all-time wins count 10-2.
The last draw Wesley had in CNI was a 22-22 tie with St Peter’s Cambridge in 2023. Feilding also had a 28-28 draw that season with Whanganui Collegiate.
Meanwhile, St John’s Hamilton were never behind as they beat Matamata College 26-12 away to remain sixth on the table.
Central North Island points: St Paul’s 36, Lindisfarne 33, St Peter’s 33, Wesley 25, Feilding 25, St John’s Hamilton 19, Francis Douglas 11, Matamata 5, Whanganui 2, St John’s Hastings 0.
Wellington washed out
Wellington’s weather bomb washed out most weekend sport, including the sixth round of the Tranzit Coachlines-sponsored First XV Premiership.
Spare a thought for the small and diligent team at College Sport Wellington (CSW) of Bryan Dickinson, David Fa’atafa, Nadine Stembridge, Kylie Robertson-Summers and Hemant Lala, who now have the unenviable task of reorganising cancelled fixtures.
A Monday meeting on how best to do that will likely produce an outcome that does not please everyone. The easiest solution would be to give everyone a draw and move on, but the CSW quintet will likely be more pragmatic in dealing with more than 40 schools and stakeholders.
Meanwhile, there could have been an extraordinary plot twist in the two wins on the same day by the Wellington College First XV against Nelson College (43-13) at Whanganui Collegiate and St Bernard’s College (34-12) at Wellington College on June 20.
An administrative error by Wellington College meant an ineligible player was fielded in the St Bernard’s game. His eligibility to play was not in question but the paperwork was submitted after the deadline. Graciously, St Bernard’s refused to take the matter further.
Seismic girls’ upset in the Capital
Are St Mary’s College about to lose their decade-long stranglehold on the Wellington Secondary Schools girls’ title?
On Wednesday they lost their first competition game since going down to a Sacred Heart combined side in 2022, when they were stunned 25-24 by Taita College (NZPAA) after leading 24-10 at half time.
Taita, the school of recent internationals George Bower and Brad Shields, combines its girls’ team with the New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa (NZPAA), a charter school modelled on a kaupapa similar to that of the successful Manukura, current Hine Pounamu National Top Four First XV champions.
NZPAA train with the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ) at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS).
It was the Ana Kerr show in the first half for St Mary’s with her two tries and two conversions, building a comfortable lead.
However, Taita College (NZPAA) rallied in the second half to cause a massive boilover. Three of their five unconverted tries came then.
Ivy West-Nuku scored twice. Lesieli Maake scored the winner. Centre Sina Ioane was a prominent member of the Wellington U16s last year.
In the Hurricanes region, St Mary’s have been the only serious challengers to Manukura. Already this season, they have played twice, with Manukura winning both games 71-0 and 69-0.
St Bede’s stunner
Christ’s College deputy head boy Archie Nijjar is clearly a capable lad.
The talented basketballer and First XI cricketer turned his hand to rugby commentary on Saturday and enthusiastically proclaimed before kickoff against St Bede’s College; “The boys are absolutely pumped for this game today”.
Instead, his boys got pumped 73-32 by soaring St Bede’s.
Only the 2011 Miles Toyota Premiership-winning St Bede’s First XV scored more points against Christ’s. That side, which won 15 of 17 games, scored 74 of their 778 season points against Christ’s.
Restraint is a virtue and Nijjar remained informative, balanced, and enthusiastic while watching his schoolmates get flogged.
It wasn’t all bad. Second five-eighths Harvey Gubb scored two tries, one at 45-15 that resembled Ian Kirkpatrick’s run for the ages against the 1971 British Lions.
Centre Hoani-Manuera Kahukiwa can’t stop scoring tries and first five-eighths Jackson Grace is as compelling as his highly touted opposite, George Kneebone.
The issue for Christ’s against a slick St Bede’s was a lack of size.
Asi-Tui’lagi Fuli ran amok at second five-eighths with two tries and nine conversions for 28 points. Fellow try scorers Aidan Jeremiah Aileone, Jack Gunn, Robbie Corlett (2), and James Allison (2) charged with similar gusto as Christ’s conceded their biggest score of the season.
St Bede’s coach Simon Gunn is satisfied with his side’s progress but mindful of complacency.
“If you’re 5% off in this competition, you’ll get beaten by anyone,” Gunn warned.
“We’d love another crack at Southland Boys’.
“We felt we had plenty of opportunities we didn’t capitalise on, and we didn’t respect the ball enough. That is a credit to Southland, but it’s been a real focus for us.
“I was proud of our try to break the deadlock against Otago that went 25 phases.”
For the record, Christ’s biggest win against St Bede’s was 43-3 in the era of three-point tries in 1922. Christ’s won all 17 matches that year.
Christchurch Boys’ remained unbeaten and retained the Trustbank Cup for a ninth consecutive defence, overcoming three lead changes and conceding four tries to subdue a plucky Shirley Boys’ 37-26.
Christchurch centre William Brown scored two second-half tries, two conversions, and a penalty for a personal haul of 17 points. No 8 Jonty Leary and hooker Max Carr are among the best young forwards in Canterbury and each crossed the whitewash.
Shirley’s lock and captain Luka Richards battled gamely while their four tries came from loosies Shaedyn Lang and Tommi Henry, halfback Jaakoby Gapper, and right winger Charlie Pockson.
St Andrew’s College continued their steady rise in the Miles Toyota Premiership with a fourth straight win, taming Marlborough Boys’ College 26-19.
It was a slog for the Dark Blue and White, with Marlborough bringing plenty of heat up front, lock and captain George Adams to the fore. St Andrew’s are growing in resolve and did enough.
Tries were scored by Jake Farrelly, Lesson Tiakia, Sefo Tito, and Ollie Kirk. Stian Pelser kicked three conversions.
Meanwhile, old boy Torian Barnes debuted for the Māori All Blacks in their 38-31 win over the Japan XV. Barnes was part of the only St Andrew’s team to win the Miles Toyota Premiership in 2020.
Miles Toyota Premiership points: St Andrew’s 30, Christchurch Boys’ 28, St Bede’s 24, Timaru 15, Nelson 15, Shirley 12, St Thomas 10, Marlborough 9, Christ’s College 6.
Southern Schools Rugby Championship gets into gear
The Southern Schools Rugby Championship has stepped up a notch with the grading series complete. The competition proper, consisting of three divisions of six, started on Saturday.
Much interest will focus on how the three boys’ schools, Southland, King’s and Otago, reintegrate into the local tourney after tough, novel rugby against leading Christchurch schools in the Southland Island Boys’ Schools Network competition.
Three-time defending champions Southland Boys’ High look a cut above the rest, with a team that can regularly churn through 20 or 30 phases before striking.
They’re not superstars, but they work hard for each other and enjoy their success.
Otago Boys’ High and King’s High have underperformed so far in 2026, though King’s gave an ominous warning of a possible resurgence with a 90-5 hiding of overperforming (by their own admission) St Kevin’s College, Ōamaru.
First five Lafa “Profile Pic” Tofiga scored a third of those points with two tries and 10 conversions.
Of the three Division 1 qualifiers, John McGlashan College are the best equipped to cause a boilover, and they started their campaign with a 38-19 win over South Otago High School. Centre Luka Riley scored two of John McGlashan’s six tries. Winger Lamont Tourell raced in twice for South Otago.
The biggest surprise in grading was Waitaki Boys’ failure to make division one.
The Ōamaru outfit had four chances to seal a place but squandered each one, including two one-point losses and a draw. This has created a headache for the draws committee because both Ōamaru schools are in different divisions and the annual “Blood Match” is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, which is also a competition date.
It’s hoped the matches involving both schools can be rescheduled to Saturday, July 11, but, being the middle Saturday of the holidays, this is not an easy task given the often vast travel distances separating schools in the series.
The second and third division teams will find their level, and there should be plenty of competitive matches.
Division 1 results: St Kevin’s 7 King’s High 90; John McGlashan 38 South Otago 19.
Division 2: Dunstan 20 Central Southland 15; Wakitipu 12 Southland Second XV 24; Waitaki 29 Otago Second XV 10.
Division 3: Hokonui 34 Mt Aspiring 7; Cromwell 10 Timaru 39; Taieri 38 King’s High Second XV 22.
Southland Boys’ High planted the seeds of a rugby legend known as Cabbage
Bona fide Southland rugby legend Jason “Cabbage” Rutledge played his 300th game for Woodlands in their 66-22 win over Marist at Rugby Park, Invercargill, on Saturday. All Blacks Sevens and Southland Stags outside back Fletcher Morgan scored 24 points.
Rutledge, a 48-year-old 11-time Galbraith Shield winner, held the Southland appearances record with 143 and represented the Highlanders 59 times. He also played alongside his son Gregor Rutledge, who recently signed with the Southland Stags.
The olericulture of “Cabbage” first emerged at Southland Boys’ High School. He was part of the 1994 and 1995 First XV teams that won the Southland U21 championship twice. They toured Canada, winning all four matches, and memorably white-washed Otago Boys’ 9-0 in 1995.
He played flanker partly because future All Black Corey Flynn was the hooker. The Southlandian, the 1994 annual record of Southland Boys’ High, noted Rutledge had an “injury curtailed” season” but was “an instinctive player with a superb tackle, excellent mobility and the ability to read the game”.
In 1995, it was said of Rutledge, “Mobile and constructive player. Strong tackler. Runs good lines”.
In 2023, Gregor captained the only Southland Boys’ team to win the National Top Four. They won 15 of 17 games and outscored opponents 702-222 in an epic title heist against apparently stronger North Island teams. No South Island team had won the National Top Four since 2006.
In 2025, Gregor was part of the Kaikorai premier team that won the Otago senior championship, though he missed the final because of injury.
Jason’s dad is All Black No 784 Leicester Rutledge.
Perhaps the biggest compliment can come from a respected opponent. Kaikorai, Otago Boys’ and Otago rugby legend Des Smith has worked with and competed against the Rutledges over the years.
“They are very good players and absolutely fine people. What a special achievement for Jason and Gregor.”
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