Showing posts with label Nelson College. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nelson College. Show all posts
August 24, 2019
Crusaders Region Rugby
The Crusaders region is still on top in New Zealand rugby. The Tasman Mako are top of the Mitre10 Cup Premiership, their latest victory today's 64-8 romp over Manawatu. On the same day Nelson College beat Christchurch Boys' High School to secure the UC Championship for the Crusaders region 1st XV's, a 35-31 victory. Nelson College are also the Quadrangular Tournament champions for 2019, defeating Whanganui Collegiate in the final held in Wellington. Quadrangular is NZ's most prestigious 1st XV rugby tournament played each year between NZ's top four high schools (I discuss the importance of this tournament and these schools in my book Snob's Guide to New Zealand, link on toolbar above).
October 12, 2018
Snob's Guide to New Zealand
I've written a useful guide to New Zealand, out now in Paperback and on Kindle. This book will need to be read by anyone interested in a move to New Zealand. It reveals how Kiwis think and from a snob's perspective what are the best schools, cities, cool places?
It goes deeper than you find with most guides. What other guides do is gloss over things or they describe only how to do something. They don't contain criticism, or they're too stale. What Snob's Guide to New Zealand does is assume you know how to do things, such as filling in forms. But what you really need to know is; what will you experience and who will you come up against?
But this book isn't just a guide, it will also be valuable for Kiwis too. From this book they can measure where they're at, where they're going, and how to get there. It raises important issues only occasionally addressed in New Zealand.
What are the best schools and universities? Which cities are best? This is a no holds barred type of approach the reader will find invaluable.
Here is the link to the Paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1727804147
Snob's Guide on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J9XRCWK
It goes deeper than you find with most guides. What other guides do is gloss over things or they describe only how to do something. They don't contain criticism, or they're too stale. What Snob's Guide to New Zealand does is assume you know how to do things, such as filling in forms. But what you really need to know is; what will you experience and who will you come up against?
But this book isn't just a guide, it will also be valuable for Kiwis too. From this book they can measure where they're at, where they're going, and how to get there. It raises important issues only occasionally addressed in New Zealand.
What are the best schools and universities? Which cities are best? This is a no holds barred type of approach the reader will find invaluable.
Here is the link to the Paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1727804147
Snob's Guide on Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J9XRCWK
Snob's Guide to New Zealand is indispensable to anyone looking at a move Downunder, or for the locals who want to know how to get ahead in their own country.
Universities
“There is a strict pecking order…Dispense with all international rankings as they’re meaningless.”
Energy
“…the Tesla owner and the ordinary guy in his Nissan Leaf are at war with poor people.”
New Zealand Wars
“The history of these conflicts is one where Maori won all the battles but lost the wars.”
March 26, 2017
Result of the Rugby School Sevens
Nelson College finished in 4th place. The tournament consisted of 12 teams split into two groups. Nelson College finished top of Group B with only one loss to the eventual last place finisher in the group, the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. I'm assuming Nelson were resting players in that game.
Through to the Cup round the next day; Nelson lost both games, firstly the semi-final against Hilton College from South Africa, 14-17. Then they lost to Rugby School 19-24 in the playoff for 3rd and 4th.
The tournament was won by Hilton, beating Clifton College from England 22-7. Clifton had come second to Nelson in Group B, while Hilton had come second in Group A.
Not a bad effort then from Nelson who fielded a team converted from the 15-a-side game, they'd worked on sevens over the southern hemisphere summer leading up to travelling to England. In my head I said they had to qualify for the cup round and they did that, phew. My guess is they ran out of steam and that explains the second day losses.
Through to the Cup round the next day; Nelson lost both games, firstly the semi-final against Hilton College from South Africa, 14-17. Then they lost to Rugby School 19-24 in the playoff for 3rd and 4th.
The tournament was won by Hilton, beating Clifton College from England 22-7. Clifton had come second to Nelson in Group B, while Hilton had come second in Group A.
Not a bad effort then from Nelson who fielded a team converted from the 15-a-side game, they'd worked on sevens over the southern hemisphere summer leading up to travelling to England. In my head I said they had to qualify for the cup round and they did that, phew. My guess is they ran out of steam and that explains the second day losses.
March 17, 2017
Rugby School 2017 International Sevens Tournament
A plug here for my old school, Nelson College. On Friday March 24 & Saturday March 25 they will be competing in a Rugby Sevens tournament hosted by Rugby School in England. The tournament is part of the celebrations surrounding Rugby School's 450th year.
Check out the draw here: http://www.rugbyschoolinternational7s.co.uk/Competition.asp?TSID=3851
Twelve teams will take part. They're split into two groups, the top two in each group go through to compete for the top prize after the group round robin. Nelson College face Clifton College (England), Llandovery College (Wales), Michaelhouse (South Africa), Royal Belfast Academy (Northern Ireland) and Shawnigan Lake School (Canada).
I have no idea of the respective strengths of each school, though Rugby Union teams from England, Wales and South Africa are usually tough. The South Africans will be big and fast, all their teams are.
The Nelson College team is made up of 1st XV players from the longer version of the game. They play in the Crusader region 1st XV competition. Nelson won this competition once in 2007. The standard of Rugby played in the Crusaders region is pretty high, so Nelson will be able to compete, maybe even win in England, wouldn't that be great.
A very old Rugby competition Nelson College competes in is the annual Quadrangular tournament, played between Wanganui Collegiate, Wellington College, Nelson College and Christ's College (Christchurch). These four are the 'old school' in NZ, Wanganui and Christ's being private, while Wellington and Nelson are state schools and publicly funded.
Nelson College played the first game of Rugby Union in New Zealand, against a team from the town, Nelson Football Club. The game caught on and spread throughout NZ, becoming a passion for many. The man credited with introducing the game to NZ was Charles Monro, a former pupil of Nelson College who learnt the game in England. The story goes that he returned to Nelson to find the Nelson Football Club playing a game more akin to Australian Rules Football. He changed them over to Rugby School rules and organised that first game against his old school up the road.
If you are in England and looking to see some attractive Rugby then head along to the games next week at Rugby School. Tickets are only 5 pounds.
(How to find the school: https://www.rugbyschool.co.uk/rugby-Live/assets/File/8132%20Rugby%20how%20to%20find%20us%20flyer%20update%20v1.pdf)
Check out the draw here: http://www.rugbyschoolinternational7s.co.uk/Competition.asp?TSID=3851
Twelve teams will take part. They're split into two groups, the top two in each group go through to compete for the top prize after the group round robin. Nelson College face Clifton College (England), Llandovery College (Wales), Michaelhouse (South Africa), Royal Belfast Academy (Northern Ireland) and Shawnigan Lake School (Canada).
I have no idea of the respective strengths of each school, though Rugby Union teams from England, Wales and South Africa are usually tough. The South Africans will be big and fast, all their teams are.
The Nelson College team is made up of 1st XV players from the longer version of the game. They play in the Crusader region 1st XV competition. Nelson won this competition once in 2007. The standard of Rugby played in the Crusaders region is pretty high, so Nelson will be able to compete, maybe even win in England, wouldn't that be great.
A very old Rugby competition Nelson College competes in is the annual Quadrangular tournament, played between Wanganui Collegiate, Wellington College, Nelson College and Christ's College (Christchurch). These four are the 'old school' in NZ, Wanganui and Christ's being private, while Wellington and Nelson are state schools and publicly funded.
Nelson College played the first game of Rugby Union in New Zealand, against a team from the town, Nelson Football Club. The game caught on and spread throughout NZ, becoming a passion for many. The man credited with introducing the game to NZ was Charles Monro, a former pupil of Nelson College who learnt the game in England. The story goes that he returned to Nelson to find the Nelson Football Club playing a game more akin to Australian Rules Football. He changed them over to Rugby School rules and organised that first game against his old school up the road.
If you are in England and looking to see some attractive Rugby then head along to the games next week at Rugby School. Tickets are only 5 pounds.
(How to find the school: https://www.rugbyschool.co.uk/rugby-Live/assets/File/8132%20Rugby%20how%20to%20find%20us%20flyer%20update%20v1.pdf)