The arrival of the South Island Boys Schools tournament has meant making a few tweaks to the calendar.
Otago Boys’, King’s and Southland Boys’ will skip the early rounds of the SSRC to play in the SIBS competition from May 2 to June 20.
But following that, they will rejoin the SSRC, which remains the pathway into the top-four national finals later in the year.
The SSRC gets under way with the qualifying rounds from May 2 to June 20 and runs concurrently with the SIBS tournament.
First XVs from Waitaki Boys’, John McGlashan, St Kevin’s, South Otago, Dunstan, Wakatipu, Taieri, Verdon, Cromwell, Mount Aspiring, Hokonui Colleges and Central Southland will jostle for ranking positions.
The SSRC then moves into the competition phase.
The top three qualifiers will be joined by Otago Boys’, King’s and Southland Boys’ in division one.
The next top four qualifiers will be joined by the top two Second XVs in division 2, while the bottom five qualifiers will be joined by the lowest-ranked Second XV in division three.
Timaru Boys’ High School will play in the Second XV qualifiers but are not allowed to enter the competition round of the SSRC.
If that sounds complicated, well, it is. But the competition is following the same format as last year, aside from the qualification round.
Hokonui Colleges will comprise players from Māruawai, Menzies and St Peter’s.
The tweaks have increased the number of maximum rugby games which can be played in the SSRC from 12 in 2025 to 15 in 2026.
These are changes that were essentially forced on the SSRC due to the SIBS tournament.
Southland Boys’ have won the past three competitions and made the finals in 2022 and 2021.
They shape as favourites again, but they only narrowly beat King’s in the final last season.
Otago Boys’ have previously been a powerhouse in the competition but now share the power with King’s when it comes to attracting the best players to the school.
John McGlashan won the tournament in 2022. They had an all-star cast that season.
Having made their debut top-four appearance in 2022, they have decided to stick with the local route, rather than join the South Island competition.
They struggled to match the top three sides last season, but coach Kilifi Fangupo will lean on star first five Zac Cunningham to create some magic and steer a young backline including year 11 centre Hugh Craig. He has shown a lot of potential during the preseason.
Up front, lock James Kinney and prop Jonty Ellis provide strength in an experienced McGlashan forward pack.
The other 14 sides have been operating at a tier below.
Last season, Southland Boys’ 2nds, St Kevin’s, Waitaki Boys’ and Dunstan were the closest in the chasing pack.
But South Otago, Mt Aspiring and Wakatipu will have aspirations of making the top six.
Otago Boys’ 2nds, Central Southland, King’s 2nds, Johnnies 2nds, Taieri and Cromwell will likely compete for the minor placings, while Hokonui Colleges are new but will probably find the going quite tough as well.
St Kevin’s have a couple of players to look out for.
Loosehead prop Wade Smith is a powerful scrummager and ball-carrier, who reads the game well and makes good decisions.
Midfielder Kenton Tokai has great vision and communicates well.
He is a solid defender and a difficult player to bring down.
Cross-town rivals Waitaki Boys’ have maintained a settled squad under regular coach Shane Carter.
No8 and captain Ned Newlands-Carter has a big engine and leads a dynamic loose forward combination beside younger brother Ike, while Chase Kennedy has plenty of skill and enterprise at second five.
Taieri College will look to rangy lock Cameron ter Woorst and powerful loose forward Jeddydiah Solofuti to compete. Halfback Liam Lord is a talented prospect behind the scrum.
Dunstan hooker Wade McAtamney is a key player up front, while Hayvin O’Neill has plenty of pace in the midfield and will shoulder the goal-kicking responsibilities.
Centre Lamont Tourell is expected to shine for South Otago. He is a solid defender and hard to catch when he gets in space, and loose forward Millanian Potae is a tireless worker in the pack.
Mt Aspiring No8 Cameron Wilson puts his head down and does the hard work on defence, and midfielder Jacob Toomey is an organised rugby player with a wide skill set.
Wakatipu have a quality halfback in Charlie Rule, who has great vision and a fierce competitive streak, and openside Lucius Lockhart has grit and speed.
Cromwell College have an inspiring leader in midfielder Rocco Paterson, while wing-turned-lock Layton Davis is an intriguing prospect.
