School Rugby 2025

[Mauss]

@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:

Of the form team you selected, the one RBHS loose forward you didn't choose (Jake Hutchings) was in the NZS squad last year, so would be a very good chance again. Their hooker Bronson Van der Heyden was in the Barbarians U18s along with Fakava. They could be the NZS hookers this year.

Hutchings indeed has a very good chance of making the NZS team, perhaps a better one than someone like Te Ariki Rogers who I think is still a Year 12. But I wasn’t always convinced of some of Hutchings’ decision-making and I thought his general work rate could improve as well. He’s definitely not a traditional openside, neither in the defensive nor in the breakdown sense. Should be a good blindside, though.

Bronson Van der Heyden is a good player. Probably a better thrower than either Fakava or Salesa and works hard around the field. But I was impressed with the physicality of both Fakava and Salesa, they look very strong in contact.

[Bovidae]

Yeah, the jersey numbers of the RBHS loose forwards doesn't match their role/strengths in the team. Hutchings is used regularly in the lineout because of his height.

[taniwharugby]

Dam he looks like his dad...

[mikedogz]

Wesley College will be temporarily closing their hostels which half the students use. That might affect their ability to put out a competitive team over the next few years.

[Kiwiwomble]

@mikedogz whats the story? why close them?

[mikedogz]

They have had a long term issue with bullying in the Hostels.

Jane Nixon  /  Oct 29

Wesley College principal says progress overshadowed by past issues - Franklin Times

Wesley College Principal Brian Evans says the South Auckland school is being unfairly portrayed in some reports that describe it as “embattled.” Evans says the label does not reflect the school’s reality or the hard work undertaken by its community to evolve and improve. “That term is unfair and...

[Kiwiwomble]

@mikedogz wow....bullying in schools is not uncommon and even more so in hostels....must be bad to go to these lengths

[Bovidae]

Back to an even number of teams. Matamata is the next best 1st XV in the Waikato outside of HBHS and the other CNI schools.

Matamata College Joins Central North Island (CNI) Rugby Competition for 2026
The Central North Island (CNI) Rugby Competition is proud to announce the inclusion of Matamata College into its competition lineup for the 2026 season. This exciting development marks a new chapter for both Matamata College and the CNI Rugby community, further strengthening the competition’s commitment to fostering high-performance schoolboy rugby across the Central North Island

[mohikamo]

@Bovidae

Matamata was an absolute power house rugby school in my day (George Simpkin).
Remember Murray Taylor hitting the big time straight of school. Then did his knee, and that was kinda fatal in those days, never quite the same afterwards.

[Bovidae]

@mohikamo Yeah, Matamata have produced a few ABs including the Taylor brothers. I have relatives from the area who went to school with them.