Some of the best schoolboy rugby will be on show this weekend when the Super 8 Rugby competition kicks off with all eight teams taking the field.
Hamilton Boys’ and Tauranga Boys’ are currently at the top of the table. Hamilton Boys’ are defending Super 8 champions, after beating Napier Boys’ 56-22 in last year’s final.
All games feature reo Māori commentary from a fluent kaiako (teacher) or tauira (student) from the home kura. Non-fluent commentators are provided with a rugby kupu Māori list to assist them in introducing reo Māori to language learners. The promotion and normalisation of te reo Māori was a key priority for Whakaata Māori when it established the MĀORI ACTIVE YouTube channel.
Saturday 27 July:
1. Gisborne Boys' High School vs Hamilton Boys' High School.
Venue: Hamilton Boys’ High School.
Kick off: 12.00PM
Game broadcast on Whakaata Māori and livestreamed to MĀORI ACTIVE.
2. Tauranga Boys' College vs Hastings Boys' High School
Venue: Tauranga Boys’ College.
Kick off: 12.00PM
Livestream to MĀORI ACTIVE.
3. Napier Boys' High School vs New Plymouth Boys' High School
Venue: New Plymouth Boys’ High School
Kick off: 12.00PM
Livestream to MĀORI ACTIVE
4. Rotorua Boys’ High School vs Palmerston North Boys’ High School
Venue: Rotorua Boys’ High School
Kick off: 12.00PM
Livestream to MĀORI ACTIVE
Wednesday 31 July – ‘Polson Banner’ game:
5. Napier Boys’ High School vs Palmerston North Boys' High School
Venue: Napier Boys’ High School
Kick off: 12.15PM
Livestream to MĀORI ACTIVE
Polson Banner games draw large and very enthusiastic crowds. It is the trophy Napier Boys’ High School and Palmerston North Boys’ High School play for when the two teams meet. It is one of the oldest interschool rugby trophies in New Zealand dating back to 1904. Napier Boys’ have held the Polson Banner since 2020.
MĀORI ACTIVE is the Whakaata Māori YouTube channel where all New Zealand Sports Collective (“NZSC”) events in the 2024 calendar, including secondary school rugby, athletics, athletics, touch rugby, kī-o-rahi and many others, can be found and watched at any time.
The NZSC is an initiative aimed at promoting secondary school sports and providing schools with funding to further develop young athletes across a wide variety of sports. It is spearheaded by former Olympic rower and ex-Team NZ member Rob Waddell.
The Super 8 schools are Hamilton Boys' High School, Palmerston North Boys' High School, Tauranga Boys' College, New Plymouth Boys' High School, Rotorua Boys’ High School, Napier Boys’ High School, Hastings Boys’ High School, and Gisborne Boys’ High School.
Media are welcome to attend the games.
FULL SUPER 8 RUGBY SCHEDULE:
Date Kick-Off Games Venue
Sat 3 Aug 12.00PM ` Rotorua Boys’ vs New Plymouth Boys’ New Plymouth
Sat 3 Aug 12.00PM Hamilton Boys’ vs Hastings Boys’ Hastings Boys’
Sat 3 Aug 12.00PM Tauranga Boys’ vs Gisborne Boys’ Gisborne Boys’
Fri 9 Aug 12.00PM 2nd XV Rugby Final TBC
Sat 10 Aug 12.00PM 1st XV Rugby Final TBC