Rugby: St Kents team to beat in Auckland

Auckland's 1A First XV competition kicks off today and is sure to again spark plenty of interest.

The 1B champions from last season, Onehunga, are back up in the top flight after beating Tangaroa 17-6 in last weekend's promotion-relegation fixture, but 2015 champions St Kentigern will again have a target on their backs as they seek a fifth title in six years.

Contenders such as King's and MAGS will have to bring their A game to trouble St Kentigern, who have again recruited aggressively and shown some striking pre-season form. They thrashed both Moascar Cup holders St Andrew's of Christchurch and 2015 national Top 4 finalists Scots of Wellington in the annual Presbyterian quadrangular tournament.

St Kentigern travel to Aorere this afternoon. Aorere will be one of several schools who will have their sights on a coveted semifinal berth. That long list includes Auckland Grammar, Sacred Heart, Kelston BHS, St Peter's and De La Salle, while Dilworth made a very creditable first foray into 1A with a seventh placing in 2015.

Otahuhu stayed up with an 18-8 victory on Eden Park last weekend over Liston in the other promotion-relegation, inspired by a sizzling solo try to openside flanker and man of the match Spencer Fruean.

While the gap between the haves and haves nots appeared to widen last season, St Kentigern coach Tai Lavea does not foresee too many blowouts in 2016, with so many semifinal contenders.

The odds of a fifth consecutive St Kentigern-Auckland Grammar final must be long, given Auckland Grammar, judged on pre-season form and changing personnel, may not have quite the quality of their 2012-15 teams. But you write off a school with 66 1A titles at your peril. On Wednesday night, Auckland Grammar launched a book, by Rob Hunt, on the history of First XV rugby at the school from 1871-2015.

The 1A season, along with 1B, 1C and the schoolgirls' competition - which starts on Monday afternoon - was launched at a function on Wednesday at Eden Park, where there were key messages from the ARU and the NZ Rugby Players' Association on areas such as supplements, nutrition, and player agents.

MAGS will host Otahuhu today, Auckland Grammar welcome Onehunga, De La Salle travel to 'The Cage' at St Peter's and Sacred Heart have an interesting game at Dilworth.
All games will kick off at 2.30pm, except the televised King's-Kelston clash, which is set for 2.40pm.

North Harbour's 1A competition also gets under way today and, for the first time since 2010, Rosmini enter as defending champions.

Captained by No 7 Sam Hasler, Rosmini will travel to Takapuna Grammar
Whangarei BHS, who have joined the North Harbour 1A seeking more meaningful competition, have already shown their hand with a 33-13 away win over Takapuna Grammar last Saturday in a rescheduled round three clash. Whangarei host Orewa today.

Westlake defend the Woodhouse Shield at home to Rangitoto, and Massey host promoted Birkenhead, back in 1A after a year's hiatus. Of note are two midweek rounds. All games kick off at midday.

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