Congratulations to the following King’s boys who managed to get a good placing at the recent Junior Touch National Championships from 10th–12th Feb in Christchurch.

The age-grade teams were heavily loaded with a King’s influence with the U16s missing out on a semi-final playoff losing their games to the finalists Waikato and Auckland. The U18s, narrowly losing their final playoff in a drop off over North Harbour.

The Open Mens team scheduled to play early in March will also have a heavy King’s presence with 10 of 16 players featuring along with the Head Coach. All of these Old Boys have gone through the Year 9 and Year 10 Touch Performance Academy programme, and progressed into the Junior 1st and Senior 1st teams. Head Boy Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu mentioned last year in his address to the school at prizegiving – "King’s boys are built different”. See below the team list.

Otago U16 – 5th place of 14 teams

J.Tuhega-Vaitupu (c), H.Smale, J.Moeahu, K.Koni & N.Boylan

Coaches: N.Vaitupu and Mr Koni

Otago U18 – 4th place of 10 teams

D.Pledger, O.Cameron (cc), J.Cook, J.Soal and I.Kramers

Coaches: J.Te Pairi and H.Mitchell-Collie

Otago Open Mens Team

A.Cameron, D.Pledger, H.Moata'ane, J.Te Pairi, J.Duff, H.Mitchell-Collie, M.Horne, O.Cameron, T.Hand, T.Hume

Coach: K.Newton

Bishopcourt Open Mens (Thur 23rd February)

Division 1: King's 1st Touch Team defeated Shrips the 1st , 6-1

Touchdowns: J.Hola (2), J.Harvey, H.Smale, J.Cook, J.Hill

Division 2: King's Junior 1st Touch Team drew to the Barbarians

Touchdowns: N.Boylan, L.Kramers, H.Smale, K.Gray, M.Penese

Oval Open Mens (Tues 21st February)

Social Mens: King's Junior Touch Team defeated Over the Hill, 6-2

Metro Secondary Schools Touch (Tues 22nd November)

• Mohoao Kingi defeated OBHS White
• Hukarere Kingi defeated OBHS Red
• Whatitiri Kingi defeated OBHS Blue
• Tiaki Ha Kingi defeated OBHS Orange
• Repara Kingi defeated OBHS Yellow

Important Touch Dates

• Opens Nationals in Palmerston North (2–5th March)
• Southland Boys' Interschool (Mon 6th March)
• Shirley Boys' Interschool (13–14th March)
• OSS Tournament (Fri 17th March)
• SISS Tournament in Christchurch (25–26th March)