HBHS Provides Both Captains

The captains’ roles for both the New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team and the Barbarians (NZSS B team) have been awarded to Quinn Tupaea and Tane Te Aho respectively. Both young men have been leaders in the HBHS 1st XV this year with Quinn as captain and Tane vice-captain and leader when Quinn was off with injuries.  It is worth noting that this is a first for HBHS as we have never had a player captain the NZ Schools side, let alone both teams.

Both players played important roles in the HBHS 1st XV leadership group that met weekly to discuss initiatives, weekly themes, selection and find solutions to any issues. Leadership became a real strength of this year's team as they won through to the final of Super 8, sharing the title with a very talented Hastings Boys team.

Leadership again featured strongly as the team won through the Chiefs play-offs defeating St John's 49-8, Wesley 36-0, and Rotorua Boys' 31-8, on their way to Top 4.

In the national semi-final versus Southland Boys, the team dominated throughout to win 49-0 and set up the final most people had anticipated with Hastings. Unfortunately Quinn injured his shoulder while scoring in the semi-final and was unable to play the final. Like he had done previously Tane was there to take the reins and lead the team admirably.

Both boys are also joined by school team mates loose forward Charles Alaimalo and midfielder Tauterangimarie Kapea, who were also selected in the New Zealand Schools team.

The schools team are presently in Sydney preparing for games against Fiji Schools, Australian Barbarians and the Australian Schools team. The New Zealand Barbarians Schools team are in Palmerston North and will meet Tongan Schools and the NZ Maori Schools team, in which HBHS team mate Jonas Pomare was selected.