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.
Nationwide telecasts of First XV rugby have seen a plethora of young talent burst on to the national spotlight. Names like Konard Hurrell, Michael Collins, Jason Emery (now with the Highlanders), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Michael Fatalofa have all appeared on First XV rugby television in the last three years,soaring to heights few attain while still [...]
St Patrick’s College, Silverstream: 27 (Henry Grey 2, Haize Alatipi tries, Josh Robertson-Weepu, 3 con, 2 pen) Rongotai College: 0
Wellington College: 45 (Ryan Saunders 2, Wesley Goosen, Jack Lawrie, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Vincent Sakaria, Luke Campbell tries, Campbell 2con, 2pen) Rongotai College: 5 (Charles Vailalo try)
Grant Nisbett is the voice of rugby on Sky TV; the veteran commentator has called over 200 All Black tests. But once upon a time he was a very promising player himself. A number 8, who later switched to prop while playing for his club side Poneke, Nisbett even played a first class game for [...]
First XV rugby at Rongotai College started to flourish in the 1950’s. However from 1928-1936 foundation coach, Mr. H.T. Fathers ensured that rugby was always important to the school. Fathers coached the team from 1928-1936 and in those years managed to enjoy five winning seasons. Significantly Rongotai would lose more games than it won from [...]
In 1951 the First XV at Rongotai College enjoyed more wins than defeats in a season for the first time in eight years. In fact the fifties was an era of great progress for the school. In 1957 Rongotai entered the premier division of the Wellington Under 19 competition for the first time and proved [...]
In the seventies the First XV at Rongotai College proved themselves to be a Wellington powerhouse. Building on the success of the sixties, Rongotai in the seventies achieved a record number of wins in a season, their first victory in the Wellington Under 19 Championship and a record interschool victory against Nelson College. It was [...]
Rongotai College: 34 (Matthew Carter, Sepu Ryder, Adam Smith, Costa Pauú-Leuú, Feta Luamanu, Asim Talim tries, Matthew Carter 2 con) Hutt International Boys School: 10 (James Wilson try. Logan Henry 1con, 1pen) HT: 19-3