The Year Year 9 & 10 Crusaders Rugby 7's Festival took place at Hoon Hay Park on Monday 20th November.

This was an awesome day out for our one and a half Year 9 and 10 Seven's teams.

The growth in player numbers in 2023 meant we found ourselves in the awkward position of having too many players for one team but not quite enough for two.  We were very lucky to have Liesl, the rugby coordinator from Rangiora High School, come on board as they were in the same boat and between both schools we were able to form two teams.

We ended up entering a team of almost all Year 9's with the vision that they gained experience this year and are able to compete again next year, and the majority of our Year 10 players joined with the Rangiora High players.  

The Year 9 team, coached by Ross Christie and Mr Lloyd, were in a particularly tough pool with STAC who went on to play the final against STCC.  This was their first experience of Seven's and they all played with a great deal of grit and tenacity, although fitness became a factor towards the end of the day.  They ended the day having won one, drawn one and lost two games - a great effort from a new team!

The combined team, coached by the wonderful Megan from Rangiora High and managed by Burnside parents Nadine and Jamie, beat everyone in their pool going into the play offs in a very strong position.  Unfortunately they drew STAC in the semi final, and while they managed to keep STAC on their toes, it wasn't quite enough and they headed to the third and fourth play off against Lincoln.  This was a hard fought game that could have gone either way but in the end Lincoln took 3rd place with the combined team claiming 4th.

Burnside High Team: Liam Christie 9WPPK, Brooklyn Cunard 10NRSS, Collin McClutchie 9SJYR, Preston Sadlier-Potae 9NGBB, Aisake Samisoni 9NPRT, Ryan Saville 9WHKR, Duce Taufa 9WRIC, AJ Tuitama'i, Poom Wright 9SJYR, and Jahmayne Matua 10NRSS

Rangiora High / Burnside High Combined: Shean Caramonte 10WWIC, Bertrand Fidow 10WWIC, Ari Keshariya 10SCTH, DJ McLeod 10STNZ, Shannon Rochester 10NSYA, and Kade Thomson 10WWIC.