First XV Premiership – St Pat’s Silverstream, Wellington College, St Pat’s Town or someone else this year?

Based on last year’s form and the hard diet of rugby against some of the top schools in the country that Wellington College and St Pat’s Silverstream have played already, it could be hard to look past these two schools as being favoured to meet in August’s 2026 Tranzit Coachlines 1st XV Premiership final.

Two-time defending champions St Patrick’s College Silverstream are riding an 18-game winning streak and for that reason alone must be considered favourites to retain the Wellington Premiership. Wellington College, whom they beat in last year’s final, could be their stiffest challenger.

But both schools will know that any team can get up to beat another on any day and neither will be taking their positions as the teams to beat lightly.

Indeed, this Wednesday’s Traditional season opener between Wellington College and St Pat’s Town could be one such match. Both schools get up for this and most years it comes down to a special play and often late in the match to decide this one.

Since steamrolling Nelson College in their special 150th anniversary match last month, Wellington College are coming off a four-game losing streak. But it must be said that these have been games against some of the best schools in the country. On Saturday they lost to National Top Four and Sanix World Youth Champions Rotorua BHS 20-12.

St Pat’s Town haven’t beaten Wellington College since a 2022 semi-final. After an injury crisis that sidelined at least 10 players and heavy pre-season defeats to Brisbane State High School (56-17) and Hastings BHS (64-29), things looked bleak for Town. But last Thursday at Evans Bay Park, they stunned Super 8 Champions Palmerston North BHS 34-24.

On Saturday, the remaining four spots in the 10-team Premiership were settled, after Rathkeale College, Scots College and Wairarapa College all qualified last week.

Hutt International Boys’ School booked their place in the last round of grading by defeating Tawa College, with four tries each to winger Ben Park and halfback Will Ahston.

Rongotai College were comfortable victors over Paraparaumu College. Centre Sikeli Tikomatuku has scored seven tries in his last two games.

St Bernard’s College eclipsed Aotea College 26-5 with tries for Tenakee Love, Nikau Rangiwhetu (2) and TJ Fonoti, while Mana College returns to the top-flight like their 2023 team, resisting Hutt Valley High School 43-33.

Silverstream’s player to look out for should they press for that three-peat is undoubtedly year 12 Wellington U16s Player of the Tournament first-five Fletcher Cooper.

Last year, he scored 234 points for the First XV, passing the Silverstream season record of All Black Simon Mannix, who scored 233 in 1989. Cooper kicks with both feet, attacks the line with authority, and has tactical appreciation beyond his years. He will be vital to Silverstream’s ambitions with only four other returning players, three of whom are forwards: powerhouse prop Vaitupu Vaitupu, hooker Jahvaan Hunt, and lock Ryder Thompson.

Centre Shae Taitua will provide a punch from centre, while Troy Waldrom, son of Thomas Waldrom, runs 100 metres in 10.7 seconds. Silverstream has been in the final every year since 2017, and there’s every chance they can be again.

St Pat’s Town have 19 players back. Could they achieve their first triumph since All Black Billy Proctor was at centre in 2015? If New Zealand Under-20 100 and 200 metres sprint champion Zack Kimmins receives plenty of ball, there’s a chance. Town was well represented in the Wellington Under-16s, with Decodah Silva, Joseph Kolinisau, Raphael Mettrick, and PJ Lalaga as crucial figures.

Wellington College have nine returnees, including third-year loose forward Z’Kdeus Schwalger, a genuine talisman. Laifone Kamoto, Julius Toimata, Ben Faitala, Tom Hughson, Harry Baddington, Taysian Davey-TioTio, and Connor Gregor are all back.

HIBS reached the Premiership semis for the first time in 2023 and nearly returned in 2025 with five wins. Emulating that form with only three returnees will be tough. Still, HIBS refuses to label 2026 a “rebuilding year.” Instead, coach Scott Ashton believes HIBS, with its small playing base (28 open-weight players in 2025), has “overachieved” and hopes his “enthusiastic” youngsters can do so again in 2026.

He identified halfback Will Ashton in his third year, and Wellington Under-16 representatives Cooper Bur at fullback and Roscoe Douglas in midfield as players of promise.

Scots College have won the Premiership five times since 2014 but fell away last year. Word is they’ll be better with a solid U15 combination making a final. Sivo Bilivanua and Toby McFarlane are young players to watch.

With 19 back, including a beefy pack, St. Bernard’s College could be a giant killer. Forwards to watch are prop TJ Fonoti and lock Lachlan Wallis. Backs Orlando Sakalia and Arlo Cross bring excitement.

Mana College is flying the flag for the Porirua and Western Bays schools this year. They have a young side on the up, but have had an encouraging pre-season and some former players back helping them this year.  Wellington Samoan U18 fullback Nate Baker will lead a young exciting backline.  Current teacher and 200-game Tawa club rugby player Randall Bishop is one example of the support they have and they have a rich history of players to have gone on to bigger things headlined by TJ Perenara some 15 years ago.

Rongotai College return after winning just one game last year and so the only way is up for them. Rongotai College were semi-finalists in 2016, 19, 20 and 22, so their recent record and proud history means they are due for a return to the top four and a shot at the final.

They need to find a way to close the gap with their ‘traditional’ rivals, in particular Wellington College and Silverstream whom they have been off the pace against in recent years. Talisman former Oriental-Rongotai prop and teacher at the school Whetu Henry is head coach with an experienced coaching and management group alongside him to guide the players. Rongotai have 14 returning players from last year's team, led by captain and hooker Levi Aukuso, Faiva foua (third year player),  James Raemaki  and Wellington U16 reps Marco Stevenson-Loboa and Lome Va'a.

Both Wairarapa College and Rathkeale College will be tough, especially playing at home against Wellington schools.

This is Rathkeale’s second season playing in the Wellington Premiership, while Wairarapa College have been regulars for many seasons and have proven their worth. Both schools have also produced several well-known players over the past few seasons who have gone on to play higher rugby in age grade and senior ranks. For example, Johnny Falloon is in this year’s NZ U20s squad.

There will also be much interest on the Premier 2 competition, which gets underway this coming weekend along with other grades.

Teams to beat include both the Silverstream 2nd XV and the Wellington College XV, but the co-ed schools will be looking to take them down. Amongst these schools, Kāpiti College – who only just lost to Mana College, Aotea College and Hutt Valley High School should give them a good run for their money.

The Silverstream and Wellington College 2nd XVs meet each other first up this Saturday in an Isberg Challenge Cup match.

Other schools in Premier 2 are Paraparaumu College, Porirua College, Tawa College, the St Pat’s Town 2nd XV and the Silverstream 3rd XV.

The annual Beard Trophy challenge series gets underway next Wednesday with holders from the past two years, Tawa College, facing Bishop Viard College.

The second game is between the holder and Aotea College on 10 June, the third between the holder and Mana College on 1 July and the fourth and last on 22 July between the holder and Porirua College.

All Beard Trophy games are at Porirua Park and kick-off at 5.00pm.

As well as the top two grades, there is the Premier 3 Willie Leota Tānoa, Premier 4 Onslow Cup, Premier 5, Under 65kg – Division One Ina Hansen Cup, Under 55kg – David Scott Cup, Under 15 – Division 1Father Gus Hill Cup, Under 15 – Division 2 Ross Findlay Cup, and Under 15 – Division 3 grades all being contested this year.

 

Premiership Draw Round One (at the home school unless stated):

Wednesday 20 May

Wellington College v St Pat’s Town, Evans Bay Park, 12.30pm

Saturday 23 May

Wairarapa College v St Pat’s Silverstream, 12.00pm

Rongotai College v Rathkeale, 1.00pm

Scots College v Mana College, 2.30pm

St Bernard’s College v Hutt International Boys’ School, 2.30pm

 

Premier 2 Draw Round One (at the home school unless stated):

St Pat’s Silverstream 2nd XV v Wellington College 2ND XV, 11.30am

Paraparaumu College v Kapiti College, 11.30am

Porirua College v Tawa College, 1.00pm

Aotea College v St Pat’s Town Second XV, 1.00pm

Hutt Valley High School v St Pat’s Silverstream 3rd XV, 2.30pm

 
Full draws at: https://www.collegesport.org.nz/app-pages/draws/rugby-draws

Article courtesy of College Sport Media

Photos courtesy of Photo Wellington