Rugby

Every year has its accomplishments and challenges, and this year it’s been a year like no other for Pukekohe High School & Districts Rugby Club.

This year again we have fielded nearly 180 student athletes both male and female across 7 Rugby Union teams and 2 Rugby 7s team that competed at the Condors National Rugby 7s Tournament in November last year. As we know, this year has been a difficult one with much of the 2020 Rugby season being placed off the cards thanks to Covid-19. A lot of traditional rivalry matches, rugby season activations and events weren’t able to take place this year, but the year has taught us to be innovative and appreciate the game more in our community. Our student athletes, coaches, managers and wider rugby community must be thanked for their ongoing support and persistence throughout the rough rugby season and to #StayInTheGame and #PlayYourPart which have been our season activation themes in 2020.

Amongst the difficulty, there have still been plenty of highlights this year for rugby that are worth recognising and have proved to bring excitement to our rugby programme at Pukekohe HS.

Memorable moments from 2020: - Continuing from 2019 with consistent numbers in rugby both boys and girls. - A new partnership formed with Sideline App to broadcast LIVE all home matches played on Field 1. - Hosted a group zoom call called “The Zoom Room” while in lockdown with All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster as our guest speaker. - Building our Social Media activity during lockdown with initiatives such as Live at Five which featured many past students and staff of Pukekohe HS as our guest speakers, Friday Facts Rugby Quiz, Ultimate Workout Playlist and more. - Enhancing our game day hospitality at all home match days throughout the season. - Being presented a Chiefs ‘Womens In Rugby’ playing jersey from the Chiefs in recognition for Girls Rugby in secondary schools. - Three student athletes selected for the Counties Manukau U16 squad in a unique 2020 representative rugby programme. Koheleti Setefano, Jaecob Harris and Jayden Flanagan. (4 selected in U16 wider squad). - One student athlete selected for the Counties Manukau U18 squad who played a one-off match in their short campaign. Cohen Brady-Leathem. - Continuing to build a strong Rugby 7s programme off the back of a successful Condors National 7s Tournament with our U15 Boys and Senior Boys in 2019. Our U15 Boys Rugby 7s Team winning the shield division at the Condors National Rugby 7s Tournament in late November 2019 with our Senior Boys Rugby 7s competing at the Tournament for the first time ever. - The restoration of belief, balance and unity of our Rugby moving forward. 2020 saw also the introduction of new 1st XV Boys rugby coaches. Pukekohe HS Old Boy Brad McNaughten took the reigns as head coach of the team with a passion to give back to the school through rugby. Familiar face, Former Counties Manukau Rugby, Blues and All Black Joeli Vidiri also joined the coaching ranks with our 1st XV boys providing a wealth of knowledge and experience at the highest level to share with the team and rugby community. Both are a massive value to our overall rugby programme alongside their team management.

A big Thank You goes out to all our team managements from our U55kg boys through to our 1st XV Boys and Girls, Counties Manukau Rugby, the School, Rugby Committee, sponsors and partners. Many of our sponsors and partners have done it tough this year so we’re forever thankful for their commitment to ensure that Pukekohe HS Rugby is sustainable for the future. Pukekohe HS Rugby major sponsors: Mitre 10 Mega Pukekohe, Tem Transport, Traillite and SAS Sport.

The potential and talent pool are never ending here at Pukekohe HS and it is vital to continue to provide direction and constant support to see achievements on and off the field for both our boys’ and girls’ teams, school and community in good time. As this season leaves us, there is plenty of rugby ahead of us. The thoughts of what rugby may look like in 2021 is exciting and with Pukekohe HS celebrating 100 years in 2021, this sets up to be a special year ahead to create further opportunity for every boy and girl playing the game and make more rugby memories. To those departing Pukekohe HS, thank you for your immense service to the school and rugby community, we wish you all the very best for the future ahead as you all are capable of great things in life alongside Rugby. To those returning in 2021, we welcome you once again to our rugby scene and may you return to develop your skills, challenge yourselves and continue to make lifelong friendships and memories #PlayYourPart. Yours In Rugby,

Shey Eva, Rugby Coordinator

Email: rugby@pukekohehigh.school.nz Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! - Facebook: Pukekohe High School and District Rugby Club - Instagram: @phs.rugby