Interest in college rugby might be at an all-time high. In 2012 the Rugby Channel’s Landrover First XV series televised 34 matches from Wakworth to Gore and no less than 12,000 spectators attended the 1A Auckland championship final at Eden Park.
The First XV at King’s High School enjoyed an outstanding decade of success in the fifties. During that era they boasted an unbeaten season, a winning record in interschool games, two future All Blacks and a level of consistency rarely matched in their history.
The nineties was an era of considerable strength for the First XV at King’s High School. Twice the school qualified for the National Top Four and three times they achieved a sweep of their annual traditional games.
From 1963-1974 the King’s High School First XV lost 32, drew 7 and won just 9 of their 48 interschool fixtures. However, in 1975, despite scoring a total of only 32 points in their four annual games, King’s produced a remarkable sweep, their first since 1962!
Southland Boys High School: 57 (Jacob Brown 2, Nathan Frisby, Jacob Brown, Metua Aerenga, Sam Stewart, Hayden Pope, Josh Mackie, Michael Molly tries, Henry Burns 4 con, Hayden Pope 2 con) King’s High School: 5 (Josh Crombie try)
Waitaki Boys’ High School: 24 (Don Lolo, Dean Fenwick, Kane McLauchlan, Anthony Wetere-Sweet tries; Marc Fox 2 con), King’s High School: 19 (Ben Williams, David van der Byl, Aranui Crofts tries; Mackenzie Haugh 2 con). HT: Kings, 19-12.
Played: 73 Otago Boys’ High School Won: 46 King’s High School Won: 23 Drawn: 4 Otago Boys’ High School Biggest Win: 79-6, 2012. King’s High School Biggest Win: 23-0, 1961. Otago Boys’ High School Most Wins In A Row: 12, 1976-1988. (Not Played 1977, 1986) King’s High School Most Wins In A Row: 4, 1954-1957, [...]
Played: 72 Southland Won: 43 King’s Won: 21 Drawn: 8 Southland Biggest Win: 62-0, 1980. King’s Biggest Win: 24-0, 1996. Southland Most Wins In A Row: 9, 1978-1989. King’s Most Wins In A Row: 4, 1961-1964. Acknowledgments: A big thanks to Vicki Jopson and Warwick Larkins for their support.
Played: 75 Waitaki Won: 40 King’s Won: 33 Drawn: 2 Waitaki Biggest Win: 83-3, 1979. King’s Biggest Win: 67-9, 2000. Waitaki Most Wins In A Row: 9, 1965-1973. King’s Most Wins In A Row: 9, 1996-2004. Acknowledgments: A big thanks to Vicki Jopson and Warwick Larkins for their support.