School Rugby 2025
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Saw the Southland U16 boys training squad. 41 players from SBHS. Talk about a one school union.
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Sky TV's live game today was St Patrick's College Silverstream versus St Patrick's College Town. The home team dominated to win 38-17. Some Stream old boys were there to watch - Aumua, Higgins and Lakai.
@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
Sky TV's live game today was St Patrick's College Silverstream versus St Patrick's College Town. The home team dominated to win 38-17. Some Stream old boys were there to watch - Aumua, Higgins and Lakai.
Tjay Clarke was with them as well.
Just watched the replay of this game. I’ve heard plenty about this kid but have never been able to see him play apart from a couple of highlights - Fletcher Cooper (Year 11) was very very impressive. Kicks off both feet better than most professionals already. If I were the Canes I’d be trying to sign this kid up now. Has a lot of Stephen Larkham about him and still has two years left of college. Crazy.
Another player that shone was Riley Browne, he looks very much like a young Dane Coles. I’ve popped a try snippet of one his tries, but he also set up an even better try later in the match.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMJqWhOsJtt/?igsh=MTJrdWM1d2k1NXBvYw==
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@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
Sky TV's live game today was St Patrick's College Silverstream versus St Patrick's College Town. The home team dominated to win 38-17. Some Stream old boys were there to watch - Aumua, Higgins and Lakai.
Tjay Clarke was with them as well.
Just watched the replay of this game. I’ve heard plenty about this kid but have never been able to see him play apart from a couple of highlights - Fletcher Cooper (Year 11) was very very impressive. Kicks off both feet better than most professionals already. If I were the Canes I’d be trying to sign this kid up now. Has a lot of Stephen Larkham about him and still has two years left of college. Crazy.
Another player that shone was Riley Browne, he looks very much like a young Dane Coles. I’ve popped a try snippet of one his tries, but he also set up an even better try later in the match.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMJqWhOsJtt/?igsh=MTJrdWM1d2k1NXBvYw==
@Canes4life Yeah, there was another guy with them, who I didn't recognise.
Browne was MOTM and along with the co-captain Solomona was their best player. I'd say those two will be in with a good chance of making the NZS or Barbarians teams. Cooper is definitely one for the future.
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@Canes4life Yeah, there was another guy with them, who I didn't recognise.
Browne was MOTM and along with the co-captain Solomona was their best player. I'd say those two will be in with a good chance of making the NZS or Barbarians teams. Cooper is definitely one for the future.
@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
@Canes4life Yeah, there was another guy with them, who I didn't recognise.
Browne was MOTM and along with the co-captain Solomona was their best player. I'd say those two will be in with a good chance of making the NZS or Barbarians teams. Cooper is definitely one for the future.
Yeah I've heard Solomona is potentially linked with the Warriors but could be wrong.
For a year 11 Cooper is mature beyond his years, not many players run the show for their First XV at that age. The fact he was barking orders as well shows that he's not afraid to tell the older lads in the team what to do.
He's already in the Hurricanes Under 18 squad at 16 years old so by the time he's year 13, he'll be super comfortable. I'm sure plenty of teams will be after his signature when he leaves school. I'm just hoping he lands with Wellington and the Canes.
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@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:
@Canes4life Yeah, there was another guy with them, who I didn't recognise.
Browne was MOTM and along with the co-captain Solomona was their best player. I'd say those two will be in with a good chance of making the NZS or Barbarians teams. Cooper is definitely one for the future.
Yeah I've heard Solomona is potentially linked with the Warriors but could be wrong.
For a year 11 Cooper is mature beyond his years, not many players run the show for their First XV at that age. The fact he was barking orders as well shows that he's not afraid to tell the older lads in the team what to do.
He's already in the Hurricanes Under 18 squad at 16 years old so by the time he's year 13, he'll be super comfortable. I'm sure plenty of teams will be after his signature when he leaves school. I'm just hoping he lands with Wellington and the Canes.
@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.
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@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.
@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.
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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.
