A new era for local secondary school rugby begins in 2026, as St Peter’s College, Māruawai College (formerly Gore High School) and Menzies College join forces to field a combined First XV in the elite Southern Schools Rugby Championship.
Māruawai College and Menzies College have successfully combined for a number of years, and the addition of St Peter’s College is expected to strengthen the side even further.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment between the schools to ensuring all players have access to quality rugby opportunities across the region.
From the 2nd XV down to the junior teams, each school will first try to field their own team, and will work together to field a team or teams where they are unable to do so on their own.
The preference is always for schools to play under their own names.
However, combining where necessary ensures all students have the opportunity to participate.
"This partnership is about giving our young people the best possible opportunities," Māruawai College principal Mel Hamilton said in a statement.
"By pooling our talent and resources, we can offer our players a strong and competitive environment, while still maintaining the pride and identity of each school."
The three schools will be advertising for a coach and team managers in the coming weeks, as preparations begin for the 2026 season.
"It’s an exciting opportunity for our students to play at this level," St Peter’s principal Kieran Udy said.
"Rugby is a big part of our school communities, and we’re looking forward to seeing what this team can achieve together," he said. — Allied Media
