OPINION
Peter Allan Williams
Writer and broadcaster for half a century. Now watching from the sidelines although verbalising thoughts on www.reality check.radio three days a week
peterallanwilliams.substack.com
This is a big week for rugby with the All Blacks first match in the Rugby World Cup coming up on Saturday morning our time. Let’s put that to one side for now.
Because I just want to give the biggest of big high fives, long lasting and super-tight bear hugs and just old fashioned congratulations to Southland Boys High school for their win in the National First XV championship yesterday beating Westlake Boys High School in the final by 32 to 29.
To be honest it’s been a long time since any rugby team from Southland was the best in the country at any level but this first ever national schools title is just a wonderful result for SBHS.
I also love it how some great Southland rugby names are scattered through the team.
The coach is Jason Dermody, no doubt a relation of the former All Black and Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody. Generations back there was Gerald Dermody and Fergus Dermody who played a million games for Tokanui and in the maroon jersey of Southland.
The usual SBHS Ist XV captain is Gregor Rutledge who sadly was injured and couldn’t play the final. I’m presuming this but I guess he’s a grandson of the 1970s All Black Leicester Rutledge, maybe the son of the former Southland hooker Jason Rutledge.
The first five is Rico Muliaina, who is no doubt related to 100 test All Black Mils Muliaina, who let us not forget, was a Southland boy, and an SBHS student, until he was snapped up on a rugby scholarship to Kelson Boys High School in Auckland.
Yes, there were some great bloodlines through that SBHS team but there were other heroes too. Like a 15 year old fullback called Jimmy Taylor who it seems is a goal kicker and drop kicker extraordinaire. He kicked what turned out to be the winning points.
Then there’s a midfielder named Amaziah Mitchell who looks a real prospect for the future with his speed and strength.
I love underdog stories in sport and this is one of the best.
Rugby in the south these days isn’t too flash.
The Highlanders struggle and couldn’t make the Super Rugby playoffs. Neither Otago nor Southland are front runners in the NPC, so this schoolboy success is a real boost.
May these boys stay around the southern rugby scene for a few years to come.