Tuesday 10 November 2026
On Friday, our Junior Rugby Sevens team headed to Bruce Pulman Park for our last rugby event of the year; the Auckland Rugby Year 9 and 10 Sevens Tournament. Although our Junior Sevens programme was short this year, it still gave our students a chance to build confidence in the short form of the game, where there is plenty of space and conditioning.
We played in the Championship grade, made up of two pools of five teams. That meant four pool matches, and only the top team in each pool went straight through to the final.
Game One: St Peter's College Development
It was our first game and the boys were playing with some nerves, but a couple of brilliant individual tries from Niko Tipping (Year 9, Selwyn) gave us the lead at half-time. In the second half, the boys settled into their game and scored some great tries to get our first win on the board.
Game Two: Green Bay High School
We rotated the squad so every player got a start. Nico Fleming (Year 10, Greenbank) made some great runs before taking a knock and coming off. Green Bay put together a couple of strong attacking moves that led to tries, but our boys dug deep and scored two late tries to secure our second win.
Game Three: Tangaroa College
We knew Tangaroa would bring physicality, so the plan was to move the ball into space and stay in support. In games like this you rely on your leaders, and our captain Daniel Parker (Year 10, Parnell), backed by Trey Williams (Year 10, Selwyn) and Leo Waide (Year 10, School), stepped up. The boys were stoic on defence, showed outstanding attack again, and came away with our third win.
Game Four: Te Kāpehu Whetū (Whangārei)
We were in line for a top seed finish but had to get past some real talent from Te Kāpehu. We rotated the squad again, and by now the boys were playing with confidence and real work rate. Hugo Neville-White (Year 10, Averill), Sam Williamson (Year 9, School) and Izzy Kepu (Year 9, Peart) were great on attack and defence, and Tipping scored more long-range tries with his phenomenal pace. We got the result we needed, setting up a final against our neighbours Ōtāhuhu College, who were also unbeaten in the other pool.
The Final: Ōtāhuhu College
Ōtāhuhu brought size and physical presence and scored first, which had their supporters going wild! But this is where I saw our boys come of age. They absorbed the pressure, then pounced with two quick tries to lead at half-time. In the second half, we held the ball through multiple phases until Ōtāhuhu ran out of defenders, opening the way for Trey, Daniel and Leo to score. Thomas Taylor (Year 10, Selwyn) then capped it off, scooping up a loose ball from a ruck and sprinting 50 metres to put the result beyond doubt.
Our boys were crowned Auckland Rugby Year 9 and 10 Championship winners, unbeaten on the day.
After the riveting set of games, Coach Pita Alatini commented; "I am so proud of this group. They represented our school with pride and an attitude to outwork their opposition all day.
A special thank you to Freddie Evans (Year 10, Averill) for supporting our boys, and to Mr Inglis for supporting me throughout the tournament. Thank you, also, to Mr Farr for attending the final! It meant a lot — not only to our boys, but to our rugby programme and community."
The Team 🏆
Leo Waide
Josiah Lea'aetalafo'ou (Year 10, Averill)
Freddie Blagden (Year 10, School)
Jack Rutherford (Year 10, School)
Daniel Parker
Trey Williams
Niko Tipping
James Auva'a (Year 10, Peart)
Thomas Taylor
Izzy Kepu
Hugo Neville-White
Sam Williamson
Wiremu Waitai (Year 10, School)
Nico Fleming