School Rugby 2025
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@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
@Canes4life said in School Rugby 2025:
Yeah I've heard Solomona is potentially linked with the Warriors but could be wrong.
He and others have been selected for RL age-group teams so I guess he has a decision to make. But Solomona looked like a rugby no.7 as he has good instincts at the breakdown and regularly wins turnovers.
For a year 11 Cooper is mature beyond his years, not many players run the show for their First XV at that age.
It's not that unusual though. Ajay Faleafaga led St Peter's to the Top 4 title as a Y11. Taha Kemara was the Hamilton BHS 1st 5 from Y11.
Oh wow, didn't realise they were so young either.
@Canes4life said in School Rugby 2025:
@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
@Canes4life said in School Rugby 2025:
Yeah I've heard Solomona is potentially linked with the Warriors but could be wrong.
He and others have been selected for RL age-group teams so I guess he has a decision to make. But Solomona looked like a rugby no.7 as he has good instincts at the breakdown and regularly wins turnovers.
For a year 11 Cooper is mature beyond his years, not many players run the show for their First XV at that age.
It's not that unusual though. Ajay Faleafaga led St Peter's to the Top 4 title as a Y11. Taha Kemara was the Hamilton BHS 1st 5 from Y11.
Oh wow, didn't realise they were so young either.
Mika Muliaina was leading the Southland Boys 1st XV as a 15 year old I believe.
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Any more substance to the new South Island Boys 1XV comp next year? Christs College spanking Nelson was an interesting result leading into this weekends final round…
@The-Mule said in School Rugby 2025:
Any more substance to the new South Island Boys 1XV comp next year? Christs College spanking Nelson was an interesting result leading into this weekends final round…
Last I saw, some of the other school principals were putting together a case in opposition the establishment of a South Island wide comp, citing the unfairness, and that it'll effectively end schoolboy rugby outside of the big schools.
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@Canes4life said in School Rugby 2025:
@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
@Canes4life said in School Rugby 2025:
Yeah I've heard Solomona is potentially linked with the Warriors but could be wrong.
He and others have been selected for RL age-group teams so I guess he has a decision to make. But Solomona looked like a rugby no.7 as he has good instincts at the breakdown and regularly wins turnovers.
For a year 11 Cooper is mature beyond his years, not many players run the show for their First XV at that age.
It's not that unusual though. Ajay Faleafaga led St Peter's to the Top 4 title as a Y11. Taha Kemara was the Hamilton BHS 1st 5 from Y11.
Oh wow, didn't realise they were so young either.
Mika Muliaina was leading the Southland Boys 1st XV as a 15 year old I believe.
@WoodysRFC said in School Rugby 2025:
@Canes4life said in School Rugby 2025:
@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
@Canes4life said in School Rugby 2025:
Yeah I've heard Solomona is potentially linked with the Warriors but could be wrong.
He and others have been selected for RL age-group teams so I guess he has a decision to make. But Solomona looked like a rugby no.7 as he has good instincts at the breakdown and regularly wins turnovers.
For a year 11 Cooper is mature beyond his years, not many players run the show for their First XV at that age.
It's not that unusual though. Ajay Faleafaga led St Peter's to the Top 4 title as a Y11. Taha Kemara was the Hamilton BHS 1st 5 from Y11.
Oh wow, didn't realise they were so young either.
Mika Muliaina was leading the Southland Boys 1st XV as a 15 year old I believe.
That's pretty cool. Definitely one Southland need to hold onto then.
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Super 8
Napier BHS 27-10 New Plymouth BHS
Hastings BHS 41-27 Tauranga BC
Palmerston North BHS 15-19 Rotorua BHS
Gisborne BHS 5-71 Hamilton BHSCNI
Wesley College 10–35 Feilding High School
St Paul’s Collegiate 23–7 Whanganui CollegiateOtago BHS v King's HS was the Sky game. A good game to watch. King's TH prop Henry Hunter is a player for the future.
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Midweek games:
Super 8
Palmerston North BHS 30-7 Napier BHS
PNBHS win back the Polson Banner after six years and with it secured a home Super 8 final, likely against Rotorua BHS.CNI
St John’s Hastings 5–36 FDMC@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
Midweek games:
Super 8
Palmerston North BHS 30-7 Napier BHS
PNBHS win back the Polson Banner after six years and with it secured a home Super 8 final , likely against Rotorua BHS.CNI
St John’s Hastings 5–36 FDMCSadly I think it will be RBHS, it's highly unlikely that NPBHS will beat RBHS even if Hastings beats Hamilton (which is difficult up there with the South African era reffing standards.
)My finger are crossed though.
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@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
Midweek games:
Super 8
Palmerston North BHS 30-7 Napier BHS
PNBHS win back the Polson Banner after six years and with it secured a home Super 8 final , likely against Rotorua BHS.CNI
St John’s Hastings 5–36 FDMCSadly I think it will be RBHS, it's highly unlikely that NPBHS will beat RBHS even if Hastings beats Hamilton (which is difficult up there with the South African era reffing standards.
)My finger are crossed though.
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Super 8
Tauranga BC 50-15 Gisborne BHS
Hamilton BHS 31-22 Hastings BHS
Rotorua BHS 36-19 New Plymouth BHSThe final will be PNBHS v RBHS. Rotorua won in Palmy last round.
CNI
St Peter’s Cambridge 67-17 St John’s Hastings
Feilding High School 64-7 Whanganui Collegiate
FDMC 14-31 Wesley College
St Paul’s Collegiate 19-20 St John’s HamiltonSt Peter’s is undefeated and the top seed for the SFs.
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Super 8
Tauranga BC 50-15 Gisborne BHS
Hamilton BHS 31-22 Hastings BHS
Rotorua BHS 36-19 New Plymouth BHSThe final will be PNBHS v RBHS. Rotorua won in Palmy last round.
CNI
St Peter’s Cambridge 67-17 St John’s Hastings
Feilding High School 64-7 Whanganui Collegiate
FDMC 14-31 Wesley College
St Paul’s Collegiate 19-20 St John’s HamiltonSt Peter’s is undefeated and the top seed for the SFs.
@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
The final will be PNBHS v RBHS. Rotorua won in Palmy last round.
Those two have been the pretty clear standout teams this year. I thought PNBHS got bullied a bit in the forwards in their previous match-up. While most First XV teams struggle to find a real blindside, I’d argue that all three of Rotorua’s loosies – Mailulu, Hutchings and Rogers – are natural blindsides, focused first and foremost on winning the collision. PNBHS needs to front up, attack the breakdown and look to move the Rotorua pack around.
The contest between the two fullbacks should also be good. Hunter Kennedy hasn’t looked as dynamic since his injury a couple rounds ago but hopefully he can showcase his counter-attacking ability. Tokoaitua Owen – who apparently has some rugby league connections?– is just such a smooth and smart player. Great footwork, calm under pressure and excellent decision-maker.
St Peter’s is undefeated and the top seed for the SFs.
I’ve only been able to see two games from St. Peter’s but they look like a good side. I was impressed by Brad Meek’s ball-carrying at lock, and their backline is one of the better ones running around. Feilding look very strong to me, though. Fakava and Raviyawa in the pack, with Havea and Tuituba as gamebreakers in the backs. I haven’t seen a lot of 9s who’ve stood out this year but Karnyae Rohipa-WaiWai looks like a quality halfback to me. Throws a speedy pass and just looks very comfortable.
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@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
The final will be PNBHS v RBHS. Rotorua won in Palmy last round.
Those two have been the pretty clear standout teams this year. I thought PNBHS got bullied a bit in the forwards in their previous match-up. While most First XV teams struggle to find a real blindside, I’d argue that all three of Rotorua’s loosies – Mailulu, Hutchings and Rogers – are natural blindsides, focused first and foremost on winning the collision. PNBHS needs to front up, attack the breakdown and look to move the Rotorua pack around.
The contest between the two fullbacks should also be good. Hunter Kennedy hasn’t looked as dynamic since his injury a couple rounds ago but hopefully he can showcase his counter-attacking ability. Tokoaitua Owen – who apparently has some rugby league connections?– is just such a smooth and smart player. Great footwork, calm under pressure and excellent decision-maker.
St Peter’s is undefeated and the top seed for the SFs.
I’ve only been able to see two games from St. Peter’s but they look like a good side. I was impressed by Brad Meek’s ball-carrying at lock, and their backline is one of the better ones running around. Feilding look very strong to me, though. Fakava and Raviyawa in the pack, with Havea and Tuituba as gamebreakers in the backs. I haven’t seen a lot of 9s who’ve stood out this year but Karnyae Rohipa-WaiWai looks like a quality halfback to me. Throws a speedy pass and just looks very comfortable.
@Mauss I went to watch St Peter's play FDMC a few weeks back. They have a strong midfield and 9-10 combo, and some good forwards as you say. A large representation at the Chiefs U18 Development camp too. I expect that they will play Hamilton BHS in the Top 4 Chiefs qualifiers so I will get to see them again.
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Super 8 - final
Palmerston North BHS 25 - 24 Rotorua BHSIt seems that Jamie Viljoen got a penalty in added time to win it. That will be their first title in a long time.
CNI - SFs
St Peter’s Cambridge 29 - 10 Wesley College
Feilding High School 29 - 20 Lindisfarne College -
There is an article from Mark Geenty about the regional playoffs and the road to the Top 4. Here is the summary of what games are to be played:
Hamilton BHS should have been playing St Peter's Cambridge in the Waikato final but the schools couldn't agree on a date. This is always a problem with the CNI finishing a week after the Super 8, and St Peter's has rightly prioritised the CNI final today.
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Here are some of the results from the weekend:
North Harbour SFs
Whangarei BHS 17-17 Rosmini College
Westlake BHS 25-7 Rangitoto College1A SFs
St Kent’s 21-12 Sacred Heart
King’s College 32-32 Auckland GrammarChiefs region BOP playoff
Rotorua BHS 37-0 Tauranga BCSFs
Hamilton BHS v Rotorua BHS
Wesley College v FDMCCNI final
St Peter’s Cambridge 12-48 Feilding HSWellington final
St Pat’s Silverstream 35-14 Wellington CollegeHurricanes region playoffs
Palmerston North BHS 24-21 Napier BHS
Hastings BHS 45-14 Gisborne BHSSFs
Palmerston North BHS v Feilding HS
St Pat’s Silverstream v Hastings BHSCrusaders region
Christchurch BHS 52-0 Christ’s CollegeHighlanders region
Southland BHS 27-26 King’s HSThe South Island Top 4 final will be Southland BHS v Christchurch BHS
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Here are some of the results from the weekend:
North Harbour SFs
Whangarei BHS 17-17 Rosmini College
Westlake BHS 25-7 Rangitoto College1A SFs
St Kent’s 21-12 Sacred Heart
King’s College 32-32 Auckland GrammarChiefs region BOP playoff
Rotorua BHS 37-0 Tauranga BCSFs
Hamilton BHS v Rotorua BHS
Wesley College v FDMCCNI final
St Peter’s Cambridge 12-48 Feilding HSWellington final
St Pat’s Silverstream 35-14 Wellington CollegeHurricanes region playoffs
Palmerston North BHS 24-21 Napier BHS
Hastings BHS 45-14 Gisborne BHSSFs
Palmerston North BHS v Feilding HS
St Pat’s Silverstream v Hastings BHSCrusaders region
Christchurch BHS 52-0 Christ’s CollegeHighlanders region
Southland BHS 27-26 King’s HSThe South Island Top 4 final will be Southland BHS v Christchurch BHS
@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
CNI final
St Peter’s Cambridge 12-48 Feilding HSI watched the livestream of this game. St. Peter’s, Cambridge started really well, getting good go forward through their backline, with Morey and Kamana combining well in the midfield. Feilding, on the other hand, started terribly, their lineout completely falling apart due to the heavy wind and Fakava’s poor throwing.
Ironically, this faltering set-piece brought Feilding into the game, as they started taking quick taps instead of going to their lineout, and they quickly realized that they could just physically bully their opposites. Once Feilding gained physical dominance, SPC found it really hard to get back into the game.
For me, while Raviyawa, Foreman, Tuituba and Havea were really good for Feilding, the absolute standouts were the Feilding front-row of Lucas Goodman (1), Alani Fakava (2) and Tevita Fakava (3). Not only were they immense around the field with their physicality and carrying, but as the game wore on, they also started dominating the SPC scrum, nearly shunting the opposite forward pack off their own feed on several occasions. Great performance from them.
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In the WBHS v Rosmini one ending in a draw, WBHS go through due to scoring more tries in the game (3 to 2)
