St Kents: A tale of dominance
The numbers don’t lie – under-fire St Kentigern College is the dominant force in Auckland first XV rugby.
At the end of 2010, St Kentigern had won the Auckland 1A title once, in 2001.
In the eight years since, it has won it five times, losing in the final in 2014 (to Auckland Grammar) and in the semifinals in 2016 (where Mt Albert Grammar went on to win) and 2018 (where
We don’t recruit players because we don’t need to,’’ Hodge told Radio Sport.
‘‘It’s quite clear the reason so many young boys and their families want to come to St Kentigern is because of the quality of the education that they get here.’’
He also said he had a letter St Peter’s went on to win).
Using data from collegerugby.co.nz, it’s possible to look back at results from the past six seasons of the 1A competition.
Considering only round-robin matches – where teams have identical schedules – St Kentigern’s record stands clear above all its rivals.
It has won 59 of its 66 matches since the start of the 2013 season, 10 more than the next-best team – Sacred Heart.
Four other teams have won
from New Zealand Rugby praising the college for the opportunities it gave to young men.
Is New Zealand Rugby getting involved?
This is a complicated issue. NZR has no jurisdiction over secondary schools rugby, which more matches than they have lost – St Peter’s, Auckland Grammar, Mt Albert Grammar, and King’s College.
Across its 66 matches over the past six seasons St Kentigern scored 32.8 points per game, only slightly more than King’s (31.5), followed by Sacred Heart (29.6), and Auckland Grammar (27.3).
Defensively, St Kentigern have allowed just 9.3 points per game, two fewer than King’s (11.4), followed by Sacred Heart (12.3), and Mt Albert Grammar (12.6).
in Auckland is overseen by College Sport and the principals.
But in a statement, they said they were working with the Auckland Rugby Union and College Sport ‘‘to provide advice and guidance as to how they can assist with a resolution on this matter’’. NZR has also conducted