National Secondary Schools Tournament Grows

PRESS RELEASE

National Secondary Schools Tournament Grows

Auckland, New Zealand, August 15, 2012 -

Last year 16 teams competed in the NZRL National Secondary Schools Tournament. This year that number has swelled to 24 and, as a result, the schools will compete in two divisions at the tournament, which runs Sept 3-7 at Bruce Pulman Park in Papakura.

The Premiership Schools division has 16 teams and is headed by last year’s winners Otahuhu College and the ever-powerful St Paul’s College. Among those out to challenge for the title are Kelston Boys High School, Mt Albert Grammar and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, as well as Taita College (Wellington) and Aranui High School (Christchurch).

The Developing Schools section has eight teams including Auckland Grammar, Central Southland College (who’ll travel the furthest of any team to the tournament) and the host school Papakura High.

Teams in both divisions are split into pools of four. Those teams play each other over the first three days, then there are semi-finals on Thursday. Finals day is Friday, featuring the Developing Schools final at 11.20am and the Premiership final at 12.45pm. All teams play every day.

Last year the tournament received an ‘Innovation Award’ from the NZ Secondary Schools Sports Council for embracing the NZRL’s ‘More than just a game’ motto. This year the students will again be kept busy off the field with the week including a position-specific coaching session with former Kiwis, a leadership module with ‘It’s Not OK’, visits to local primary schools and a prize giving at Mt Smart on Thursday night. SKY TV will again be heavily involved in showcasing the week’s activities.

The schools entered for the 2012 NZRL National Secondary Schools Tournament are:

Premiership Schools (16 teams)
Pool A: Aorere College, Onehunga High, Otahuhu College, Taita College
Pool B: James Cook High, Manurewa High, St Paul’s College, Whangarei Boys High
Pool C: Aranui High, Mt Albert Grammar, Mt Roskill Grammar, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
Pool D: Kelston Boys High, Southern Cross Campus, Tangaroa College, Tokoroa High

Developing Schools (8 teams)
Pool A: Kamo High, Papakura High, Papatoetoe High, St John’s College
Pool B: Auckland Grammar, Central Southland College, Fraser High, Tamaki College

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