FOUR CANTERBURY SCHOOLS HEAD TO NATIONALS AS CRL COMPETITION TAKES BREAK

Canterbury Rugby League’s secondary schools competition takes a breather this week as four teams head up to Auckland for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Tournament.

St Thomas’ of Canterbury are gearing up to defend their New Zealand Secondary Schools Tournament premiership title, while Haeata Community Campus, St Bede’s College and Hornby High School will compete in the championship division from Friday, September 6 to Monday, September 8 at Bruce Pulman Park and Walter Massey Park.

The CRL competition has run for the past three Wednesdays and has again proved a resounding success.

St Thomas’ Blue, Haeata, St Bede’s and Christchurch Boys’ High School Storm make up the Boys Championship grade, while Avonside Girls’ High School, Rolleston College, Te Aratai College and the combined Te Aho Matua ki Waitaha Kōtiro team feature in the Girls Championship.

St Thomas’ Gold, Hornby High, Lincoln High School, Rolleston College, St Bede’s, Christchurch Boys’ Warriors, Te Aratai College and Te Aho Matua ki Waitaha Tama compete in the Boys Development grade, which is split into two pools.

“This is the second year Canterbury Rugby League has run a secondary school competition for boys and girls,” CRL Director of Football Jamie Lester says.

“We’ve had great participation again this year with 16 teams across three grades: four teams in each Boys and Girls Championship grades and eight teams in the Boys Development Grade.

“Getting around the games this year, it’s clear to see that the standard of footy has increased, which is a credit to the schools and their coaches. It’s been a really positive vibe and great to see rugby league being played on school grounds such as St Bede’s College, Christchurch Boys’ High and Avonside Girls’ High.

“We’ve had interest from other school’s that will be playing some friendly games this year, aspiring to join the competition in 2025.”

The local competition recommences next week with the third round of Boys and Girls Championship matches, and the Boys Development semi-finals.

The grand finals will be held at Ngā Puna Wai on Wednesday, September 18.

For now, though, attention turns to the fortunes of the quartet of Canterbury schools making their way to Auckland this week.

St Thomas’ of Canterbury created history in 2023 courtesy of their stunning 12-6 triumph over rugby league powerhouse St Paul’s College in the NZSST premiership final, becoming the first school from outside Auckland to claim the title in 23 years.

The watershed victory was a reflection of the outstanding rugby league program put in place at St Thomas’ by the likes of decorated former Linwood Keas and Canterbury Bulls player and coach Andrew Auimatagi – as well as the explosion in young talent playing our sport in the region as a whole.

ST THOMAS’ NATIONALS TRIUMPH A LANDMARK MOMENT FOR YOUTH RUGBY LEAGUE

St Thomas’ face Aorere College and Manurewa High School on Friday, and De La Salle College on Saturday in their pool matches. The semi-finals unfold later on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Haeata Community Campus, a regular visitor to the national tournament, St Bede’s and Hornby High will be confident of making their presence felt in the second-tier championship competition.

Hornby High have drawn grading matches against Papatoetoe High and Whangaparāoa College, St Bede’s will take on Onehunga High and New Plymouth BHS, and Haeata will square off with Fraser High and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.

“This week we take a break in our competition as we have four schools competing at NZRL’s National Secondary Schools Tournament in Auckland starting on Friday,” Lester continues.

“It’s a massive undertaking for our schools and they require lengthy fundraising campaigns to get to Auckland.

“St Thomas’ of Canterbury College are the reigning national premiership champions, which was an incredible feat last year. Haeata Community Campus will be aiming for a championship title and are joined by St Bede’s and Hornby High.

“It would be amazing to see Canterbury schools get the double bringing home the premiership and championship titles.”