Te Aute College students and staff are heading to Sydney this week for a unique sports and culture tour, blending rugby and league matches with significant kapa haka performances.
Assistant Principal Shane Foster emphasised the trip’s dual purpose: providing an international experience for the boys and connecting with Māori whānau and Te Aute alumni in Australia.
“The main reason is to give our boys the experience of going overseas but also to attract our Māori whānau to say ‘hey, look at Te Aute College’.
“It’s not just a rugby or league trip, it’s a cultural connection for us as well,” he stated.
That will see the college take part in a kapa haka wānanga with a local Sydney rōpū, including performances by three groups (including Te Aute) followed by games and other whanaungatanga activities.
Student Awanui Wano (Ngāti Kahungunu) says the boys have been busy practicing to ensure they can be at their best in Sydney.
“We practice a lot, from 3.30 to 7.30.
“I’m looking forward to performing and showing who we are as a culture.”
The College will also perform at St Mary’s Anglican Church in Bondi on Tuesday, July 8. Foster noted the significance of this, explaining the Church’s vital role in Te Aute’s identity. The touring group will proudly wear kākahu emblazoned with both the school’s logo and that of Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa.
“Last year in Brisbane we played against an Anglican school, and we wanted to play another Anglican school as well but the next best thing for us was to perform at St Mary’s. The Church has an important part of who we are as Te Aute,” says Foster
On the sports front, the 1st XV and Development rugby teams will play 2 games of rugby each within four days. Their first game is against junior teams from the legendary Randwick club. This will be followed by games against Waverley College, a Catholic school on Monday July 7. Both oppositions are renowned for producing Wallaby and Super Rugby players.
Foster emphasized giving the younger players the chance to experience rugby outside New Zealand, focusing on opportunities rather than school size.
“We’ll see how it goes; we don’t let the size of our school determine what we do with our kids. We look at the opportunities our kids deserve, just like any other school.”
A unique addition to the itinerary is a rugby league game against the Manly Sea Eagles Under 16 team. It’s a particularly daunting task as the schools rugby league only played their first games of the year last week. Despite the potential difficulty, Foster sees it as a rare opportunity for players to showcase their talent to scouts, potentially opening pathways to professional sport.
“The score is irrelevant. It’s about your mental fortitude and how you handle yourselves under tough times,” he told the team.
Wano echoed the excitement, admitting to some nerves but eagerly anticipating the new experiences with his teammates.
Beyond scheduled events, the group will also enjoy leisure time, including a visit to Luna Park and attending the State of Origin decider, along with the Warriors’ NRL and NRLW matches against the Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters.
Overview of itinerary:
July 3: Leave Aotearoa for Sydney
July 4: Rugby versus Randwick, Nagle Park, Maroubra from 4.15pm
July 5: Kapa Haka wānanga, Sefton High School, pōwhiri begins 10am
July 6: attend NRL matches at Allianz Stadium
July 7: Rugby versus Waverley College, Queens Park, from 10am
July 8: Performance at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Bondi Junction from 6:30pm
July 9: Attend State of Origin game 3, Accor Stadium
July 10: Rugby League versus Manly Sea Eagles U16, Narrabeen Sports and Recreation centre
July 11: Return to Aotearoa.