First XV rugby: The Quadrangular - a school tournament steeped in history

From 1890 to 1924, a triangular tournament was staged, which Whanganui won 11 times, Wellington 10, Christ’s seven, with a further seven shared.

In 1925 Nelson College was included, and so began The Quad.

By convention, in every school’s first match, they play the school they did not face in the previous tournament.

Last year’s final at Christ’s College was a thriller with Nelson prevailing 31-24, withstanding a 20-plus phase attack by Wellington in their 22 as regulation time extended to at least four minutes of extra time.

Nelson captain Tom Perkins, now with the Newcastle Knights NRL team, was in stirring form and scored a try.

Winners of six of the last seven tournaments, Nelson will have their work cut out to win again after being thumped 43-5 by Wellington in a sesquicentennial fixture in April.

Nelson have won the Crusaders region Miles Toyota Premiership four times since 2019, but haven’t been in vintage form in this campaign, heavily beaten by Southland Boys’ (44-12), Timaru Boys’ (21-5) and Christchurch Boys’ (55-24).

Still, Nelson at their best remain a threat and they have racked up fine wins against St Andrew’s College (31-28), despite trailing 21-0 in that game, and King’s High School (42-24), where they also trailed.

On Thursday, they beat local rivals Marlborough Boys’ College (35-21) in arguably their best display of the season.

Nelson’s strength is their backline. Fullback Liam Soper might nudge the New Zealand Schools, winger Isaac Harvey is a flyer, and Viliami Holani is only Year 10 in midfield but physically equipped to dominate.

The best of the Nelson forwards are loose forward and skipper Rei Pouri-Lane (brother of Black Ferns Sevens captain Risi Pouri-Lane) and Tasman U18 prop Coby Davis.

Wellington last won The Quad in 2023 when Jacob Kennedy scored a hat trick in the final against Whanganui Collegiate.

Kennedy was the leading try scorer in Wellington’s Swindale Shield competition with 12 in 11 matches.

Wellington are top of the premiership this year and have beaten the tougher sides in the draw with wins against top three teams St Patrick’s College, Silverstream (26-17), St Patrick’s College Town (31-26), as well as 2023 champions Scots College and traditional rivals Rongotai College (62-19).

In pre-season, Wellington caught fire in their sesquicentennial romp of Nelson College. Prop Julius “Caesar” Toimata was man of the match with two tries.

Wellington played a mini Super 8 in pre-season, losing to Rotorua, Hamilton, Hastings and Tauranga Boys’, but lost three of those games by less than a converted try and are battle-hardened.

No 8 Z’Kdeus Schwalger is an outstanding captain and a New Zealand Schools-quality loose forward. Centre Ben Faitala is arguably Wellington’s most potent attacking threat. He scored brilliant tries against Nelson, Hamilton Boys’ (twice) and St Pats Town.

Christ’s College last won The Quad in 2018 when future All Black Sam Darry was locking the scrum.

A small team in 2026 has struggled to match the size and power of the leading South Island Boys’ Schools teams, but Christ’s have improved rather than regressed.

A 42-41 win against King’s High School came after a late sideline conversion by Jackson Grace, who nailed all six kicks in that game.

He also bravely scored 16 points in the “College match”, a heavy 55-26 defeat to a so-far unblemished Christchurch Boys’ High School.

Besides Grace, Christ’s best back is hulking centre Hoani Kahukiwa, who in three games this season has scored two or more tries.

The pick of Christ’s forwards are hooker and captain Adriaan Pieter Van Wyk and No 8 Max Osmers, who’s been absent recently.

Whanganui Collegiate suffered a rough start to the Central North Island competition with heavy defeats to leading contenders St John’s College, Hamilton (34-7), St Peter’s Cambridge (49-5), Feilding High School (43-17) and Lindisfarne College (51-10).

Recent outings have been significantly better with near misses against Francis Douglas Memorial College (21-17) and Wesley College (15-10). Whanganui led Wesley 10-0 and rallied from 21-0 down against Francis Douglas to secure their first bonus point of the CNI season.

Collegiate’s captain, James Olds, will compete in his third Quad. The openside has been a hearty, consistent performer.

Charlie Mabin follows in the footsteps of his brother Oscar Mabin, who scored an epic 40m try against Wellington in the 2023 final and has played first-class cricket for Central Districts. Seremaia Waqanisau charges with gusto at No 8. In the backs, Jonathan Afamasaga was also in the Wellington U16s when at Tawa College.

A nostalgic spirit will be abundant among the spectators this week. One of the most famous Quad wins by Whanganui was in 1986.

On the first day, they beat Christ’s 11-10. In the final, they overcame Wellington 14-6 with Mark Lockyer scoring two tries to take his First XV tally to 58.

Lockyer’s record is only bettered by Robert Hunter, who scored 62, including five in one game against Nelson College in 1970, and Jason Bowie, current chair of the board of trustees, who scored 78 tries in 61 games.

Day one, Thursday, midday: Nelson College v Christ’s College. 1.40pm Whanganui Collegiate v Wellington College.

Day two, Saturday: Minor final 11.40am. Major final 1.10pm.

Outright Wins:

Wellington (33) – 6 shared

Nelson (26) – 6 shared

Christ’s (16) – 1 shared

Whanganui (14) – 7 shared

Click here to read article