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Sport

Welcome to St Thomas and our Sports Hub.

Kia Ora and Welcome to STC.

Our kura has worked hard over many years to build participation numbers in a range of sports. We have a hugely committed staff that work to grow the hearts and minds of our boys outside of the classroom as much as they invest in the classroom. Sport is very much at the forefront in the positive outcomes of our students. Here is a little about some of our sports programmes.

We now have a rugby programme that competes at all year levels with multiple teams in each age grade. Our 1st XV is now seen as a leading team within the South Islands pinnacle secondary schools’ tournament – the Miles Toyota championship. The team won the round robin this year and narrowly lost the semi-final. Numbers continue to grow for our basketball programmme too. Our students are lucky enough to have a world class gymnasium to build their skills in. Our top team lost the Canterbury secondary final in 2022 and looks set to be hugely competitive team next year. Football is consistently in the top 4 of the connectics cup and we are excited about continuing to build our relationship with CFA to benefit our boys. Top quality coaching and facilities will enable the further growth of football in our community.

In our summer sports we have seen huge growth. We now have well over 100 students playing cricket. New grass practice blocks and investment in our playing wickets has allowed our students to experience some of the best facilities in the city. We have projected further growth in this sport from 2023 and beyond. Rugby League also continues to grow within the college with national top 4 placings and numerous students now being selected in national representative teams. Further investment in new rowing boats will allow our rowing team the chance to compete nationally at the annual Maadi cup. This is a proud sport programme within our college, and we look forward to more national success in this space. We offer almost all sports at the college and where there is a will there is a way for us in giving our young men the chance to participate and have a strong and health hauora in whichever sport they wish to participate in.

We look forward to watching your son thrive in the many sporting opportunities we offer.

Nga mihi

Mr Paul Burton

Assistant Principal – Operations and Sport

 

Mr Andrew Cavill

Head of Sport

Sports offered

 

Sports offered by the school include Rugby, Cricket, Basketball, Football, Rugby League, Touch Rugby, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Futsal, Tennis and so much more…

Rugby

Our programme has always been based on a growth mindset, high performance and most importantly making good respectful STC men out of our boys. Through commitment, hard work and dedication the boys will build resilience and find a sense of belonging that will eventuate into the STC Brotherhood.

We are blessed to have a great number of staff and parents who sacrifice their time to coach, manage and support our boys. Mark Hammett (ex-All Black, Super Rugby coach) is involved with our coaching staff who adds a wealth of experience and knowledge to our programme.

We offer the opportunity for our young men to represent STC through teams ranging from U12 to 1st XV. If anyone is keen to get on board as a coach, manager, sponsor or a grounds marshal please email Andrew Cavill, Head of Sport acavill@stc.school.nz Make sure to join the STCC Rugby Facebook page for reports and messages.

 

Our 2022 NZ secondary schools and NZ Maori Representatives. Jack and Richie have signed with the Crusaders in 2023.

 

2022 Highlights

1st XV semi-finalist UC Championship

Finals: 2ndXv and U13blue

U14 Section 2 winners: U13blue

U15 Hurricanes, U14 Hurricanes, U12 Queenstown, U13red Queenstown, U13Blue Timaru/Tekapo, U14red Hamner Springs

Honors Board
PLAYERS

Richie Tuipelehake Tupua’lei: NZ Schools, Junior Crusaders, UC Championship player of the year

Jack Coulthard: NZ Schools, Junior Crusaders

Maretino Kaloudau: Junior Crusaders

Norman Palu: Junior Crusaders

Lachlan Harris-Tatana: Junior Crusaders

Isshin Nakao: Metro U16

Mino Petelo: Metro U16

Monty Taafili: Metro U16

Preston Kelly: Ellesmere U16

Aubrey Gilmour: Ellesmere U18

Liam Ruki: Ellesmere U18

 

COACHES

Mark Hammett: NZ U19 Head coach

Johnny Leo’o: Junior Crusaders Head coach

Dan O’Brien: Canterbury U19 Head coach

Steph Mortimer: Canterbury Womens FPC assistant coach

Kieran Coll: Canterbury U19 and Junior Crusaders assistant coach

Dean Smith: Ellesmere U16 assistant coach

Andrew Auimatagi: Canterbury Bulls League team assistant coach

Daniel Kahura: Junior Crusaders Trainer

Football / Soccer

Football / Soccer 

At St Thomas of Canterbury College, keen footballers are encouraged to involve themselves in the football program. We look to develop a positive and supportive culture based on a holistic approach that is not very prevalent at club level. 

Ryan Nelson ex-All White captain, English Premier League Player and Old Boy of the College would be extremely proud to think about what is happening currently in football at the College. St Thomas First XI has been the team to beat in the Connectics Premier Schools Competition for the past few years. STC won the league in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 as well as the knockout cup in 2018 and 2019.  

Several old boys have gone on to secure scholarships to top American universities including recent leavers Callum Murdoch, Ashton Thackwell and Diego Lavin. Current student Daniel Heyman looking set to follow in their footsteps in 2023-24.  

The season traditionally runs throughout term 2 and 3 of the school year with Nationals taking place in late August. The College had its best result finishing in 4thplace at the 2017 National Tournament held in Napier and has qualified for the Premier tournament for the last 6 years.  

The coaching staff include both full time teachers such as Blair Scadden former U17 All White and Men’s Canterbury Team player, Robbie Lange and outside highly qualified coaches including David Murdoch and for 2023 old boy Jacob Grosvenor. A renewed relationship with Christchurch United is set to commence in 2023, boys at the College will access high level coaching during curriculum time on Mondays and Wednesdays at CFC. This includes a session with ex-Premier League professional Paul Ifill.  

Futsal also runs throughout Term 4 and Term 1 culminating with nationals at the end of March in Wellington each year. In 2019 the Senior side was crowned National Champions after beating Scotts College. The senior boys team are attending Futsal nationals in 2023.  

For any further information about football or futsal you can email:

Blair Scadden

Head of Football

Cricket

Cricket is one of the fastest growing sports at STC, enjoyed by players of all year levels and abilities. Ever since the establishment of our STC Cricket Committee in 2018, numbers have continued to flourish.

Development of our players is a priority here at STC, and this is made possible with the high-quality facilities including a brand-new number 1 pitch, as well as new grass practice nets. Cricketers at STC also enjoy high-quality coaching and development from a team of passionate and experienced members of staff, with first-class and senior experience.

Our players and coaches are supported by an army of passionate parents, supporters and volunteers who go the extra mile to give our lads a cricketing experience that will stay with them for life.

Our First XI squad compete against top schools across Canterbury in various formats, as well as numerous traditional fixtures around the South Island. Our junior teams have continued to grow in popularity as more students set their sights on the first XI. Exciting times lie ahead for STC cricket.

David Hooper

Head of Cricket

Basketball

After a great 2021 season, the teams stepped that up by improving on things again for the school this season.

St Thomas had 22 basketball teams competing this season. 8 of those teams in the Saturday CBA competitions.

In 2022 the Senior Boys qualified and competed at the National tournament for the first time in school history up in Palmerston North. We made our first Thompson Trophy Final for the very first time. We finished 2nd overall in Canterbury in the Regular season. Then off to the South Island Tournament. Finishing 5th overall winning 7 games and losing just 1. Our best result yet!

The results for the First V were particularly impressive if you consider how many young players we have. 4 Year 10’s played, 2 year 11’s, everyone else are Year 12’s apart from Kobe Northmore and Oli Wong. So the majority of our team return for 2023.

Our Under 15 team won their Grand Final in the Canterbury competition which was super exciting. And our Under 17 team made their Semi-Final. Just 3 points away for also making a final. Top results across the board! We also have a Under 13 team play in the Saturday competition for the first time.

We have a NZ representative in Louie Gordon who was selected for NZ Under 17’s and the 3v3 team, Hugo Gonzalez was selected also but was unfortunately unable to travel with the team. But sensational to have them both named.

Mana Martin and Rhylee Henderson were involved in the Under 15 NZ camps. JR Thomas & Jack Fale went to NZ Talent Camps. Mana Martin was also given a huge acknowledgement from Canterbury Basketball claiming the Under 15 MVP & Finals MVP award as well as MVP for the Under 17 grade. Incredible. Stay tuned for a big 2023 season.

Honours Board:

Louie Gordon : NZ U17 Team. NZ 3×3 U17 Team.

Hugo Gonzalez : NZ 3×3 U17 Team (selected but unable to travel)

Mana Martin : NZ U15 Squad

Rhylee Henderson : NZ Talent Camp

Jack Fale : NZ Talent Camp

JR Thomas : NZ Talent Camp

Joe Hammond

Head of Basketball

Rowing

As a sport, rowing provides those who compete with a unique opportunity to engage in a discipline unparalleled by most. Perseverance, resilience, and a rich culture of community are but a few of the many benefits offered to those involved with the sport.

At St Thomas of Canterbury College, the students are encouraged to involve themselves in the rowing program, which provides similar notions of dedication and determination built upon the foundation of brotherhood, informed by the special character of the College. The young men are inspired by both the collective history of the sport as well as a shared sense of commitment to each other. Rowing at school-aged level promotes effective time management skills and has a notable effect on academic achievement, as students become more productive with their time. Most of the students cite these benefits themselves as the reason for continuing their service to the sport while also noting a real sense of personal growth achieved as a result.

Currently, we have a squad of 34 boys plus a team of passionate coaches who are busy training and competing over the summer months. The Selwyn River is where the squad does all their on-water training and regattas are held either at Lake Hood in Ashburton or Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel.

The rowing season starts around August/September time and finishes up with nationals in late March. The boys have a break over the Christmas period before jumping back into training in early January.

The goal of every rower is to be selected in the squad to represent St Thomas at the Aon Maadi Cup. The Maadi Cup is the national regatta for rowing in New Zealand. This regatta holds the record as the biggest secondary school sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere, over 2000 athletes from around the country come to compete for national glory.

Currently one of our old boys Nathan Flannery is part of the New Zealand elite rowing squad with the likes of Robbie Manson and Mahe Drysdale.

If you think you may be interested in joining the rowing team you can email acoulthard@stc.school.nz for more info.

Last Season’s Top Results

U18 NOV 2x GOLD MEDAL South Island Secondary Schools Regatta

U15 4x SILVER MEDAL South Island Secondary Schools Regatta

U15 8x BRONZE MEDAL South Island Club Regatta

U15 4x BRONZE MEDAL South Island Club Regatta

U18 NOV 2x BRONZE MEDAL South Island Club Regatta

National Titles

2010

BU18 4x Aon Maadi Cup Regatta GOLD MEDAL, Trevor Croker Memorial Shield

Daniel Ryan 

Head of Rowing

Rugby League

Our junior and senior teams have been leading the way on the Canterbury Secondary School Rugby League scene since 2013.

Both teams have had great success over the past five years at a provincial, regional, and national level. Recent highlights include winning the Canterbury junior and senior nines competitions Canterbury Secondary Schools Championships and finishing runner-up in the Developing Grade at the National Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships (2013 and 2015).

Our most impressive achievement thus far was our fourth-place finish at the National Championships in 2017, putting us on the map as one of New Zealand’s best Rugby League Secondary schools.

Find us on facebook.

Andrew Auimatagi

Head of Rugby League

St Thomas’ is committed to providing the best coaches throughout the various sports in order to compete at the highest levels throughout New Zealand. We are very proud of the staff that we have that give our students the very best in mentoring, support, and opportunities at the College.

Andrew Cavill Head of Rugby

Blair Scadden Head of Football

Daniel Ryan Head of Rowing

Andrew Auimatagi Head of Rugby League

David Hooper Head of Cricket

Joe Hammond Head of Basketball