New Zealand Rugby Tour 2023

It was then time to get down to business and the boys left for Dunedin, ready to take on The King's School Dunedin.

The weather was cold and windy and despite the challenging conditions the 1st XV beat King's 17-12, while the 2nd XV lost out 22-14 – a tough game.

For their second game against St Andrew's College in Christchurch, the 2nds were victorious 17-12, while the home team were worthy opponents for the 1st XV.

Valuable training time with coaches from Canterbury and a meeting with All Black superstar lock Sam Whitelock prepared the boys for their final matches against the formidable Christchurch Boys' High School.

"They focused on the core skills of catch and pass, the tackle and the tackle contest with an emphasis and insistence on strict technique. This was undoubtedly a very positive experience for the boys," Director of Sport John Rownes said of the sessions with Canterbury coaches.

For their final games in Christchurch, the 1sts won 29-26 and the 2nds lost 26-29, with Ned Ericsson (Y12) reporting: “Our win against Christchurch Boys' was very tough and well fought by the Knox boys. The players showed resilience in the second half from being down 26-7 in the first half, with the final score ending 29-26.”

Hugh McDonald (Y12) said the 2nds’ game “taught us a lot about staying relentless for the whole 60 minutes of a game and staying switched on.

“Lots has been taken away from not only this game but the entire tour is shaping up for a promising season."

Click here for more information about the Knox Grammar Senior School Sport program.