Latest news with #NelsonCollege
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Rugby teams lace up in yellow for child cancer campaign in Lachie's memory
The yellow laces will be worn to remember Lachie Sutherland who died in 2020 after a battle with neuroblastoma. Photo: Supplied Schoolboy rugby teams around the country will sport bright yellow shoelaces this weekend to remember a Christchurch kid who died from cancer five years ago. Lachie Sutherland. Photo: Supplied Kelly Sharpe started Lachie's Laces in 2020 as a way to remember her son Lachie Sutherland, who had neuroblastoma and died earlier that year at just 12 after an eight-year battle with the disease. The laces are in the colour of the Child Cancer Foundation and cost $5 a set, with proceeds going to the foundation. Lachie loved sport and played both rugby and football. Sharpe said the idea to have every team wearing the laces started with Lachie's cousin, now in the Christchurch Boys' High first XV, and one of his best friends, who is at Nelson College. With this year being five years since his death, it would be a special way to remember him. 'I wondered if we could maybe have those teams wear the laces, as something really personal to these two boys who had a close relationship with Lachie,' Sharpe said. That idea extended to an attempt to get all 10 teams in the competition on board, a movement which has been more than successful. Every team in the Miles Toyota Premiership will wear the laces, alongside some schools outside the competition. 'We had Napier Boys' College come on board, we had Wellington College,' Sharpe said. 'Spreading into those North Island teams, which we couldn't have hoped for, is just absolutely amazing.' Photo: Thomas Bird West Melton have also been supplied with more than 100 pairs of laces, which will be worn by their division 1 side, their under 18s and under 16s. For Sharpe, seeing the laces around is always a special reminder of Lachie. 'A conversation I had with Lachie, towards the end when he knew he was going to die, was that he didn't want to be forgotten,' she said. 'That was kind of a promise and a commitment that we made with him, and this is part of ensuring that legacy continues. 'I love it when people post the laces and they'll tag Lachie's Laces so it comes up on my feed, it's a wonderful feeling.' • To support Lachie's Laces or buy a pair, visit
RNZ News
26-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- RNZ News
The Nelson students behind a ballwear pop-up shop
The school ball season - with hair, make-up, shoes, accessories and of course the outfit for the occasion - it can be an expensive time. However a group of school students in the Nelson region have come up with a way to ease the financial load and make ball attire more sustainable. They have opened up a 'pop up' ball wear op-shop. For three weeks, they are taking over a vacant shop in Trafalgar Street in Nelson. Two of the students, Ryan Thelin, a student at Nelson College and Macey Harper from Nelson College for Girls join Kathryn Ryan. The pop-up shop in Nelson is selling second hand ball wear Photo: Sarah Wilson
NZ Herald
25-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson watches New Zealand's oldest schoolboy rugby tournament
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has shown up at a schoolboy rugby tournament, saying: 'I just love rugby.' New Zealand's oldest schoolboy tournament is being held in Christchurch for its 99th year this week. Since 1925, four schools – Nelson College, Whanganui Collegiate, Wellington College and – have come together to play in a four-game competition of rugby in the Quadrangular Tournament.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Auckland Grammar principal calls out Sport NZ over 'Year 14' athletes
1st XV rugby match between Nelson College and Marlborough Boys. Nelson College, Nelson. Photo: Chris Symes / Auckland Grammar principal Tim O'Connor has challenged Sport NZ to take a stand on extra-year students returning to schools on sporting grounds. The issue of 'Year 14' athletes has raised its head again, with Marlborough Boys' College admitting it has five such players in its First XV , which scored a historic - and controversial - win over Nelson College last month. That 28-26 result came after Marlborough were awarded a first-half penalty and instead of aiming for the posts, the goalkicker struck for the corner, where one of his teammates chased it down for a try that was eventually awarded. O'Connor told Checkpoint that bringing students back for an extra year for sporting purposes was a distortion of their roles as educators and openly wondered where the national sporting administrators were in this debate. "Really, our role as principals and our role as schools is to educate young people," he said. "Sport NZ talks about balance is better, but where are they in this discussion? "They haven't come out to say, 'why are we allowing this to occur?' "I'd love to see them being more proactive and having the courage to speak up on this. "Perhaps there are organisations that want to turn a blind eye to what is the pathway for young men and rugby in this country frankly. We need to get beyond that." RNZ has approached Sport NZ for reaction to O'Connor's comments. Auckland's 1A competition has put is members on notice that Year 14 players will not be permitted from next season. O'Connor admits two of the 12 teams currently have two such players each on their rosters. "We discussed that at the beginning of the year and felt the fair thing to do was give everyone 12 months' notice, and then we wouldn't be allowing that to occur again." Earlier this year, the issue led to a ban on extra-year rowers at the prestigious Maadi Cup regatta at Lake Karapiro. School Sport NZ is now considering a total ban on the Year 14 athletes . "There is no doubt there is a distinct advantage - muscle co-ordination and technical ability - in a sixth-year student," O'Connor said. "They're taking away positions from students who are coming through their natural schooling years. "For example, Rieko Ioane could have returned - we could have encouraged him to return, because he would have met all the other criteria, and he could have returned to play rugby for another year, which would have been a huge advantage to our school. "Our view was Rieko should actually carry on with his life and move to the next stage, and we'd fully support him in doing so." Now an 81-test All Black, Ioane debuted for Auckland and the NZ sevens team the year after leaving Auckland Grammar, and made his test debut aged 19. O'Connor insisted his school would not take the field against Marlborough with their Year 14 players. "I don't know why there would be a reason to play them," he told Checkpoint . "I'd rather play in a competition where we know there is a level playing field and we're treating each other with respect. "In the 1A competition, mid-season, we have about six teams who could still win it - that's a great competition, that keeps it alive across multiple schools." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Wales Online
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Bizarre schoolboy try leaves viewers at odds as Nigel Owens enters the debate
Bizarre schoolboy try leaves viewers at odds as Nigel Owens enters the debate The referee didn't see anything wrong with it, so Nigel Owens has provided clarity on the situation. This was the moment lock Finn Neal dotted down. (Image: Sky Sports NZ ) Welsh referee Nigel Owens has weighed in on the debate around a controversial schoolboy rugby try that is doing the rounds on social media. The try was scored by Marlborough Boys' College against rivals Nelson College, with Anru Erasmus simply kicking his penalty along the ground and towards the left side of the try line. From there, his team-mate Finn Neal surged after the ball and duly dotted down for a strange score. The Nelson players were still huddled under the posts when the trickery was produced. The try was awarded by the referee, who did not recognise any foul play. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "It doesn't contravene any law that I can think of, so it's a try," he said. Commentator Jeff McTainsh branded the incident "the most bizarre try you'll ever see". However, Owens has now correctly pointed out that this play was indeed illegal. Commenting underneath the viral footage, Owens wrote: "No try. You must make a genuine attempt to kick at goal before the try can be allowed to stand. This clearly wasn't." The west Walian was then asked what the sanction would be in that scenario, confirming the penalty kick would be void and it would be a free-kick to Nelson. Watch the clip below. Content cannot be displayed without consent Debate has been in full flow on X, formerly Twitter. "Interesting debate .. tough decision to make, as this basically never comes up, therefore isn't coached. And the law isn't that clear. Feel for both Andrew and Nelson College here," wrote one. "Ball is in play, it's a try," commented another. Many others were quick to discount this argument though. Following the intervention of Owens, one viewer asked: "Would that decision change if the player did not tell the ref he was going for goal? "I know the presence of the tee suggests that he had done so but we don't see the ref signalling that a kick is to be taken." The explicit wording of the rulebook provides clarity on this. As per World Rugby: "If the team indicates to the referee the intention to kick at goal, they must kick at goal. Article continues below "The intention to kick can be communicated to the referee or signalled by the arrival of the kicking tee or sand, or when the player makes a mark on the ground." That try gave Marlborough a 15-5 lead going into the sheds for half-time, and they would go on to win the match 28-26, with the points from that try proving crucial in their victory.
