News

Story courtesy of Chiefs Rugby:

Four weeks of matches between schools across the Chiefs region involving rising rugby talent culminates this week in the University of Waikato Chiefs Cup, Trophy and Bowl finals. The first of the three finals takes place today with St Peters School hosting Hamilton Boys High School 2nd XV in the University of Waikato Chiefs Trophy final in the 3:30pm match. Hamilton Boys High School 2nd XV have won the University of Waikato Chiefs Trophy for the last two years, while St Peters won it in 2013.

On Saturday the University of Waikato Chiefs Cup final will be keenly contested by St Paul’s Collegiate and Hamilton Boys High School. A large crowd is expected at St Paul’s Collegiate to support both neighbouring schools teams as they compete for the premier title, with kick-off scheduled for 11:30am.  Hamilton Boys High School won the University of Waikato Chiefs Cup in 2012 and 2013, while St Paul’s Collegiate are contesting their first Chiefs Cup final after winning a highly competitive pool involving Wesley College, Tauranga Boys College and Francis Douglas Memorial College.

Finally the new University of Waikato Chiefs Bowl is on the line between hosts Te Awamutu College and Pukekohe High School in the 12:00pm match.  Te Awamutu College won through to the final with wins over Hawera High School and Alfriston College, while Pukekohe High School had wins over Morrinsville College and Hauraki Plains College to make the final from Counties Manukau.

In addition to the three finals, a number of other playoff matches will take place around the Chiefs region. This weekend’s games bring to a close the fifth successful year of the University of Waikato Chiefs Cup, Trophy and Bowl competitions. Over the past four weeks twenty-four teams from across the Chiefs region have competed in the annual secondary schools competition, with a revised format to accommodate the addition of eight teams in 2016.

Chiefs high performance manager Chris Tindall said: “Our Chiefs region secondary schools competition has been successful again this year in providing new competitive matches at the start of the season for 24 School 1st XV’s across our six Provincial Unions, including the positive addition of schools from Taranaki this year.  We recognise and thank the great support for the success of the University of Waikato Chiefs Secondary Schools competitions from the people involved in our Provincial Unions, the schools, coaches and managers, the players representing their schools with pride and their family supporters to make the matches happen.  Schools 1st XV rugby is a great strength of New Zealand rugby and in our Chiefs region for future Gallagher Chiefs players to be identified and develop from.”

The University of Waikato Chiefs Cup and Trophy competition continues to be an important platform to showcase the top echelon of secondary schools rugby talent within the Chiefs region. The competition provides players with the opportunity to stake their claim for selection for the Chiefs Region U18 Schools development camp which takes place in early July. This Camp is utilised as part of the selection process for the New Zealand Schools team.

2016 University of Waikato Chiefs Cup, Trophy and Bowl Finals

University of Waikato Chiefs Cup Final:

St Paul’s Collegiate vs Hamilton Boys High School, at 11:30am on Saturday 28 May at St Paul’s Collegiate

3rd/4th Play Off Match:

Rotorua Boys High School vs Wesley College, at 12.00pm on Saturday 28 May at Rotorua Boys High School

University of Waikato Chiefs Trophy Final:

St Peters School vs Hamilton Boys High School 2nd XV, at 3:30pm on Thursday 26 May at St Peters School

University of Waikato Chiefs Bowl Final:

Te Awamutu College vs Pukekohe High School, at 12.00pm on Saturday 28 May at Te Awamutu College

Other Chiefs region matches

To be played on Saturday 28 May:               

Manurewa High School vs St Johns College, 2:40pm at Manurewa High School - televised on Sky Rugby Channels 

Rosehill College vs Wesley College 2nd XV, 10.30am at Rosehill College

Taupo nui-a-Tia College vs Thames High School, 12.00pm at Taupo nui-a-Tia College

Hauraki Plains College vs Morrinsville College, 11.00am at Hauraki Plains College