KING’ S SPORTS

A new era for First XV rugby.

Kevin Putt is the new coach for the First XV from 2013 and with two pre-season games out of the way, the team is shaping up to be something special. Although both games were an opportunity to trial a big group of hopeful boys, King’ s dominated against Dilworth, winning 36-5 and then a couple of days later went on to beat Onehunga High School 29-3.

King’ s is very fortunate to have a coach of Kevin’ s calibre at the helm. He has an exceptional history playing Rugby Union for New Zealand Universities, Otago, Waikato, Sharks, Springboks, London Irish and Leinster in a career spanning almost 20 years. He was also very successful playing 7s for New Zealand from 1987 to 1989 and Springbok 7s in1995. His vast coaching experience includes his time as Sharks Head Coach( 2002-2005) and for Counties Manukau Steelers ITM Cup( 2006-2007). A teacher at King’ s for the last six years, Kevin has always involved himself with rugby coaching at the College and was most recently the Head of Rugby.

Kevin comments,“ Kings College has a proud history of always fighting above its weight. We have only 800 boys compared to some school rolls of over 1,500. By nature we are not the biggest team in the competition so need to be fitter and smarter than those we play against. We would always be aiming to make a top-four spot, which gives us a chance of winning the competition!

I asked Kevin if he could foresee any barriers or obstacles to achieve that goal?“ The game has

kevin putt & tasesa lavea become more and more‘ professional’ at school boy level, with incredible resources invested in some schools and demands on all players and personnel” he says. Injuries will always be a risk to a College like ours that has limited depth due to limited numbers, but also the riggers of playing in what is potentially the best schoolboy competition in the world are demanding in itself.”

Alongside Kevin is another well-known and successful rugby player, Tasesa Lavea, who plays a major role in the new-look coaching team. Tasesa played Super Rugby for Auckland Blues( 2004- 2006,2009) Waikato Chiefs( 2007-2008); ITM Cup for Auckland( 2003-2007) and captained the Counties Manukau Steelers in 2008-2009. In France, he played for Clermont Ferrand( 2009- 2011), played for Manu Samoa( 2010) and was a member of the Manu Samoa World Cup Squad in 2011.

He also had a stint playing Rugby League for the Melbourne Storm 1999-2001( and was named NRL Rookie of the Year in 2000), Manly Sea Eagles( 2002) and represented New Zealand in the Kiwis World Cup Squad in 2000.

Long-term Manager, Graeme Syms continues his role looking after the team. He himself has a long history of coaching including New Zealand Schools( 1993-1996 unbeaten), Auckland Colts( 1997), Auckland University RFC Premiers( 1998-2001), Auckland Grammar 1st XV( 1990-1994) and King’ s First XV( 1995-1997 and 2002-2003).

2013 sees a solid group of boys, with a number who played for the team last year, including captain Mitchell KARPIK, Joshua IOANE, Teariki BEN-NICHOLAS, Connor BROOKE-COWDEN, Willis ALATINi, Emersen TAMURA-PAKI and Conor

MADDIX-WIKAIRA. There are also three new boys to add into the mix. Jonah LOWE, originally from Hastings, is a 2nd 5 / centre and brother of Hurricanes and Hawkes Bay flanker Karl Lowe. Luke REED is a halfback and goal kicker and played for the Blues Franchise Under-18 team in 2012. Latham TAKAU from Brisbane, is a tight head prop, played for Queensland Schools in 2012, is a shot put champion and tips the scales at 125kg! king’ s vs dilworth pre-season game

1A Draw for 2013

Kevin notes,“ King’ s has long held the traditional view that the players are custodians of the jersey, and this year’ s squad has the opportunity to write their own history alongside some of the great names and teams that have worn the jersey in the past, including the likes of Ian KIRKPATRICK, Ali WILLIAMS and Daniel BRAID.”

This year, King’ s will field 12 teams – believed to be one of the highest amongst Auckland secondary schools- ensuring that there is a lot of depth behind the top team. Looking after rugby for King’ s is newly appointed Head of Rugby, Daryl Williams, who has appeared both nationally( for the Hurricanes) and internationally( Manu Samoa) and has a long history of successful coaching achievements to his name.

Rugby is in good heart and in good hands at King’ s. With Bayleys remaining as the primary First XV sponsor and with additional support from Team McMilland BMW and Red Bage, the game continues to go from strength-to-strength. We look forward to many successes for King’ s rugby in 2013.

Gael Panama Editor

26 AUTUMN 2013 • KING’ S COURIER